I'll say it to be
proud, won't have my life turn upside down
Says the man with some,
with some gold forged plan
Of life so incomplete, like weights
strapped around my feet
Tread careful one step at a time
Orchard of Mines, Globus
Pride
I knew that I was being followed. That was of no shock to me. I was a good enough witch to know that much at least. I had tried to lead them away from the Minister. I hoped they would follow and they did. Perhaps my scarf was my identifying feature, I suppose I will never know. They came. I walked slowly into a dark alleyway, coming to a stop near three trash bins. My hands were steady and my knees did not shake as they did when I was younger. I rested my hand on my hips and waited.
"You're a fool." One of them hissed as I turned around slowly. I could not see their faces for those blasted masks. How I hated those abominations! "We know the muggle is under your protection."
"Ruddy geniuses, aren't you?" I bit out, squaring my shoulders. I held my wand tightly in my left hand.
Moments of silence made me wonder just what they had come for, but I already knew. I had been betrayed. There was not a doubt in my mind. I knew when I began my trek toward Downing Street that I would be attacked. No matter, there was only two. I still had a chance.
"Your entire clan is dead, isn't it?" The taller of the two drawled. I narrowed my eyes. "Yes, I remember that night. It was a bloody good time, wasn't it, Yaxley? The two youngest we saved for last, of course." I kept my temper under control. "They screamed the loudest."
Yaxley shook his head. "I thought that Coralline yelled the best." He sneered. I felt myself beginning to shake. I knew what they had done to my family—to my sister.
The giant raised his wand calmly, a smile breaking on his face. "So, Vance, still as proud as you were in school?"
I pulled my wand up equal to his at the same time. I had relied on the oak wood in my hand since I was but a child. It would get me through another battle. It would. "I should say so. I see no reason for my pride to disperse."
All at once, I threw up a shield as he tried to slice me open. I kept my eyes on his face. He kept his eyes on mine. I knew those eyes. We had met in battle so many times that I could identify him without effort. He tried to hit me with the Killing Curse as I dove out of the way. This continued for a long amount of time, dodging, dancing around death. Even for my age, I could still duel with the best of them!
Yaxley reclined against the brick wall, watching the duel with bored eyes.
I made a single mistake.
Pain shot through my side as a slashing curse cut through the skin. I did not cry out. Even as I hit the ground, I made a swish of my wand, throwing my opponent to the ground. I felt the Cruciatus hit me with a vengeance. I still did not scream. I bit my tongue hard, drawing blood. "Scream, you wretch!" Every nerve burned, seared. I was on the edge of passing out when I felt my wand being kicked from my hand. I did not shed a tear in my fear. I knew what was coming and I accepted it.
A binding spell fastened my legs and arms to the ground. I waded between consciousness and unconsciousness, but I fought to remain awake.
"Let's hear that famous Vance scream, shall we?"
I raised my chin defiantly. The first slash ripped through my lower leg.
The next through my breast.
I wanted so much to simply cry out, but I would not allow it. No.
My mind began to fade. I thought of other things. My sister. My husband. My family. I would be joining them soon. There would be no escape. I had escaped many times before, but this was it: the final breath.
Slashes, blood…no screams. Not one tear fell from my eyes.
"The old bitch simply won't give up!" Yaxley practically yelled.
I saw, somewhere in my haze between life and death, the Death Eater before me grin. With a flick of his wand, he slashed my throat. I stared at him for the longest moment, shocked. He could have continued. I would have fought. I did not need pity, especially not from him. The edges of my vision began to blur and I was transported to another time.
The pain faded with my vision. I could no longer feel my life force fading with the loss of my blood. I couldn't feel the twenty three incisions in my skin, all over my body. I could no longer feel at all.
Some part of my consciousness continued to fight. I had been fighting for so long that I hardly knew how to do anything else.
What more did I want? I could let go and hope for the best for my friends. That the war would end once and for all. I had a long enough life. I had experienced everything one could want. I was not deprived of any life experience. I could die happy even through my murder.
I could die with pride.
I died with pride.
