~ Of Fleeting Dreams And Evanescent Hearts ~
...
[[Chapter Four: Dirt Clings And Death Sings]]
The knock sounded again, and Helena swallowed in fear.
Part of her was curious, but she knew that if they were searching for her, it wasn't for a good reason. So she went towards her bed, and found the hemp bag which she still kept after so many years, and found the diadem.
There was a back entrance to her hut, so she took advantage of it and fled into the forest.
There was an old oak tree a few yards into the forest, so she headed towards it, knowing it would be a good place to hide the diadem. If the person at the door was looking for her because of the diadem, then she really needed to make sure it wasn't in her possession.
She ran as fast as she could, until the tree was in her sights. She threw herself onto the ground beneath it, and dug into the ground with her bare hands, realising she had left her wand behind in the hut.
She dug it deeply, and finally flung the diadem within, and shoved the ground back on top of it.
Her nails were caked in mud, and were cracked and bloody.
Her long, grey dress was coated in mud, and her travelling cloak was even worse. But she had to run now, so she pulled her dress and cloak into her hands, and darted into the trees, the darkness quickly enveloping her.
Soon, she couldn't see the trees, and she was thoroughly lost. Panic for her safety, as well as her unborn baby's safety, rose up inside her, like a roiling bile, and she just ran blindly ahead.
Her foot caught on a root, and she tripped onto the ground, her legs tangling up with her dress and cloak. Her hair fell from its clasps, and pain seared in her bloodied hands.
Suddenly, a soft whisper of "lumos" caused an artificial light to brighten the area, and Helena knew she was caught.
She turned around slowly, and got to her feet. The man in front of her was a stranger, with rich clothes and a ridiculous powdered wig. But when she looked closer, she realised that his face was very familiar.
It was the Baron.
Eight years had passed since she had last seen him, and he looked a million miles away from the person she knew at school.
She realised she must seem different now. But the look of love in his eyes was still there, though more wild and desperate than it had ever been before. It was a look that frightened her, but she could only wonder why he was there.
"What are you doing here, sir?" She asked him, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
"I am here for you, Miss Helena."
She nodded, knowing that he did not lie. Perhaps it was not about the diadem after all. She suddenly felt foolish in her haste to hide it.
"Why do you need me?"
"It… It is not me that has requested your presence. Your lady mother is the one who needs you. You see, she is close to death, and she wishes to see you one last time before she is gone."
Helena gasped and felt tears come into her eyes. "She's dying? How?"
"Because of you, I fear, milady. Ever since you have left, she has been getting weaker and weaker. She is dying of heartache." His voice was a low and steady as ever.
"Oh," was all she could manage, before sobbing. "But she did not care about me. I was a disappointment."
"No. That is not true."
She nodded as she cried. "It is true! I was never intelligent enough, or beautiful…"
"You were always beautiful to me, my dear Helena." His voice seemed to break on her name.
"Don't… Sir, please, it is impossible."
"Come back with me. Come back to Hogwarts and see your mother before she passes. Come back and I will protect you from those who seek the diadem. Please, milady." He seemed desperate now.
Helena shook her head sadly. "I fear I cannot. I have a life here now. I am to be married-"
The Baron got angry then, and she could tell his temper had flipped in a second. His brow creased up and his lips curled into a snarl. "What?"
"I am sorry, my lord, but I am in love with a man, and I cannot leave him." She paused, and added sadly, "Not even for my mother."
"No. I will not allow this!" The Baron rushed forward, and pushed Helena up against a tree.
She gasped as her head slammed into the bark, and her eyes smarted. His furious face was close to hers and she regretted saying anything.
"You are not married yet!" He spat. "You will come back with me, and we will marry. It is to be done."
Helena sobbed with fear. "I can't," she breathed.
"You will! By God, I will make it happen, whether you like it or not!"
"No! I cannot! My place is here!"
He slapped her then, a rough, violent attack that opened her lip and caused blood to flow down her face.
"Now look what you made me do!" The Baron's eyes were almost bulging from his sockets.
"Stop it, please. Stop!" She tried to push him off her, but he was too strong.
But then his eyes changed and he let her go, a strange calmness in his expression.
She moved away from the tree, and turned away from him. "Please, sir. Please let me stay."
She heard twigs snap as he approached her slowly. "My love, you can stay here forever."
He kissed her on the neck –a cold, clammy kiss that made her shiver with fear-, and he put one arm around her shoulder. The other hand rose to her lower back, and it rested there for a moment.
She thought she heard him whisper, "We will stay here together, forever," before a sharp pain exploded where his hand had been. Her eyes widened and she felt blood flood into her mouth.
The only words she could utter were, "My baby," before she collapsed to her knees. The world span into darkness, and she could just see the Baron leaning over her. A strange, remorseful expressions was on his face, and he started muttering under his breath, and she could see he regretted what he had done immediately.
But it didn't matter.
He was too late, and she was about to die. Before her last breath, she saw him lift the blade her had stabbed her with to his own stomach, and as she passed to the other side, his blood cascaded onto her dress….