Chapter 10

Crossing Lines

Hessa came down the stairs and hugged her little girl and her son but instantly could tell that there was tension between them. "Is father home?" Orion asked kindly, he had just finished the Death Eater training and wished to show his father how much he had learned…maybe to spar with him.

"He will be soon, in another hour."

"Or now," a very thick yet smooth voice suddenly came from one of the corridors.

"Oh, I didn't hear you," Hessa looked surprised, normally she could feel Draco a mile away. She looked at her children, "my instincts are apparently getting a little rusty." Helena giggled at her mother.

"No, remember…I can cloak from you if I want to surprise you," he handed her a box. He then acknowledged his son and hugged him hard and then bent down and touched his daughter's face and kissed her forehead, "are you all right, Helena? You seem a little peaked."

The little girl nodded, "it's nothing father, a little tired from the dance."

"Ah yes, I keep forgetting that my lovely Conk women can tire so easily and stay that way for a while. But don't worry, you'll get stronger like your mother."

"I've had too," Hessa smiled, then blushed. Orion rolled his eyes while Helena looked confused.

"Now, now, not in front of the children," Draco stifled a grin. "Aren't you going to open your present?"

"Oh, yes," she unwrapped it carefully and opened the box to find a beautiful necklace that matched her eyes. "Draco, it's beautiful," she hugged her husband with deep emotion.

"It's to go with your gown tonight, one I've picked out for you," he whispered in her ear before he kissed her.

"Oh, ewww…," Helena scoffed. "I'm going to go unpack." Orion raised his eyebrows and grinned at his sister only to follow her lead.

…...

Helena went to her room without a word to her brother and Orion, being as stubborn as his father, would not be moved to apologize. She had to learn that he was her master and so he went to unpack himself and refused to chase after her because she was mad at him like he did when they were younger. As he put his things neatly away, there was a knock and he knew it was his mother's. "Enter."

"Enter' is it now?" Hessa smiled sarcastically. Her son shrugged and gave the usual devil-may-care attitude his father had when they first met. "I'm glad you were able to come home."

"As was I…"

"Although I know I'm not the only reason," she hinted at Helena being able to come had a lot to do with it.

"You are half of the reason," he smiled.

"Orion, what happened between you and Helena? It has nothing to do with the dance, we Conk females are weaker in the physical arena but not that weak."

"I had a bit of a run in with a friend of hers and she didn't like it."

"What kind of a run in? It wouldn't happen to do with the boy that took her to the dance, would it?"

"Ah, she told you already?"

"Practically cried on my shoulder. Orion, you can't do that…she's growing up, she already knows where her loyalty is. You don't need to shove it down her throat every time there is a boy within a mile that likes her. Have you thought about what we talked about?"

"Yes."

"And…?"

"And I still don't know. I don't want to do it."

"Orion…," Hessa sighed heavy.

"Mother," Orion said sharply.

"I didn't come here to argue, I just know it will become more and more difficult and eventually your father will find out. It will make everything easier if you let her be with another."

"Mother, it's your birthday and I don't wish to discuss this now. It will just become an argument and you're weak."

"Sense that, do you?"

"Yes. Have you made arrangements with the Conk city?"

"Yes, you're father is not happy with it."

"But the springs will rejuvenate you and restore your abilities. He's gone a week himself every month."

"Yes, but that's on his terms," she smiled. "And it's always business. I don't know what bothers him more, the fact that I'll be gone for a week or the fact that I get to go on a real vacation without him," there was another reason why the Conks bathed within the hot springs of their city. It wasn't just to be near the water, but to rejuvenate their abilities and their own life force. They often gave so much to their wizard, it exhausted them, and so every few years they left to take care of themselves. Even the ones that came from families that were hard on them were allowed to leave, mainly because it was the law…and it was a welcomed relief for the poor creature. What bothered Draco most was that wizards were not allowed to stay, not even him, even though he was the one that helped capture the city. It's most powerful Conk males and females made a list of laws and demands if they were going to integrate back into wizarding society. Surprisingly the Dark Lord agreed, seeing that they were a true benefit.

"Well, he'll just have to deal with it," he kissed his mother on the forehead.

"Do I now?" again the thick and smooth voice came from the doorway.

"Yes, you will," Orion said sarcastically as if mocking his father's authority. "Mother needs her rest, she gives far too much to all of us. She needs to go every year now that she is forty." His mother frowned a bit. "Not that you look it mother, you nowhere near look forty."

"No, she doesn't…and our link we'll keep her alive for hundreds of years as well as keep her youth. Thanks to the dragon blood of course. So your mother's welfare is thought of," Draco held Hessa close to him. Regardless that it was his son, there was underlying sense of territory over what was his, especially with another dragon in the house.

"Of course, but it doesn't matter how long she lives, she still has to take care of herself…"

"Orion," Draco warned. "I will worry about your mother, you worry about getting through your tests that are coming up so that you may join the Dark Regime."

Orion sighed in frustration, "yes, father."

"Don't worry, I didn't come to chastise you. I came up here to see if you would like to spar," Draco grinned.

Orion grinned back, "you're on."

They started to leave when Hessa grabbed Draco's hand, "don't hurt him too badly, Draco." Draco looked down at her and smiled, then kissed her hand.

"Why don't you come and watch, I like it when you do that?"

"I don't know, you'll technically be battering my little boy around and I don't think I can watch it."

"It will keep me in line," he watched Hessa think about it and then nod her head. Of course there was an ulterior motive for this…he would probably want to mate right after, a good fight always did that to him. Still after all this time, he pursued Hessa like she was prey. He was going to trap her in there afterwards and have his way…he liked to force her now and then.

…...

Hessa tensed as she watched Orion get thrown a few times, but his father got bested too…if only once. The sparring when on for about an hour until it finally ended with Orion crashing on the ground with his father's hand on his throat, "do you yield, boy?"

Orion struggled for a minute, hoping to get out of his father's grasp but realized he couldn't, "yes."

"Good. At least you know your limits," Draco heard his wife come down the stairs. She looked up at her son but did not baby him even though the blood coming from his mouth and nose was still dripping slightly…Draco of course, didn't have a scratch on him. "He'll be fine," he held his wife close to him and hinted for the boy to go.

"Yes, mother, I'll be fine," he moved his shoulder around. "I'll see you tonight," he finally left the room.

Hessa turned to Draco, "I guess I'd better get ready too." But he held her arm and turned her around and looked down at his manhood…it was bulging through his pants.

"You're not going anywhere," she tried to get out of his grasp, she didn't always like it when he was like this. He grabbed her arms this time, "whether you like it or not, you need to be on your back right now." Hessa grew angry with him when he said that and told him that that was enough, that she was weak. "All the more reason for you to comply then," she was thrown to the ground and her clothes were being torn off, her wrists pinned, and her breasts were being suckled and licked until he went down further. Hessa arched her back as his tongue danced around…

…...

Orion put his ears to the door of his little sister's door, there was silence except for a small rustling of clothing, "Helena, let me come in." There was silence, "Helena!"

"All right, fine!"

The door unlocked and he stepped through then shut the door, "did you honestly have to tattle on me to mother?"

"You were being a pratt and mother wanted to know why I was really upset, I can't ever lie to her…she knows, you can't hide anything from her either so don't act like you're surprised."

"True enough. I didn't mean to make you angry, Helena…if you want to be friends with the boy, that is fine."

"It doesn't matter…he wants more and…."

"And?"

"I'm not ready for anyone," Helena sighed.

"No, I guess you are not," Orion came up and gently hugged her and she accepted it.

Finally he came out of Helena's room and saw his father carrying his mother. Her clothes had been shredded but the ribbons were placed strategically. There some scratches on her arms and his mother was limp…he had probably gone too far. Draco caught Orion's eyes and saw the disapproval in his son's eyes, he simply cocked his head and gave a warning look to not say a damned word.

…...

Hessa lay there as Draco tended to the scratches and bites, "I'm sorry, I went too far this time…I hadn't meant to." He moved the hair from her face and saw tears, it grieved him, "please forgive me."

"Why…? Why would you do that when you know how weak I am?"

"I couldn't help it. I think it was the predator in me, it was because you were weak. It should have been the opposite, I should have taken care of you," he cleaned up the rest of her wounds and put a salve on. "I was going to take you out tonight with the children but I think I'll cancel the reservation and we'll stay in."

"Please," she said softly.

"Have I ruined your birthday?"

"Not really, but please remember that when I'm like this…I'm not a rag doll to throw around. I don't care what your dragon senses are telling you to do," Hessa pushed herself up on her elbows and felt Draco's caresses down her back. "I hope you've had your fill, you're not getting anything else tonight…I'm not…"

He stopped her, "I know…." Draco remembered how it started innocently enough and then he turned aggressive, too aggressive. She was telling him how he was hurting her and he didn't listen…instead he covered her mouth. He felt ashamed. "I know…we will relax and watch a movie."

"You don't like the muggle contraptions…the DVD players."

"It's your birthday, you can do whatever you want."

"You're just spoiling me because I'll be gone for a whole week in a few days."

"I don't wish to talk about that."

Hessa turned her body gently around and looked at her husband, "it will go by quickly."

"Not for me," Draco snapped.

"Draco, you are gone every month. Granted, sometimes I go with you…"

"Why are we even having this conversation," he started to get irritated very quickly.

"Because, you're thinking of not letting me go. It's for my health, that way I am stronger for you too," she looked so gentle then. Hessa's long black wavy hair went past her shoulders and caressed her arms, while the blanket covered her, forming to her womanly curves.

Draco looked at her with admiration, she was still the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen, "maybe I don't want you to go…I'm still your wizard. What am I supposed to do without you here?"

"Work."

"Maybe…"

"Draco, stop being so difficult. The coach will be coming for me Monday."

He glared at her, "you are giving me commands?"

"Draco, I love you, but I am doing this. It's for my health…"

"I don't give a shit if it's for your health!" he growled, Hessa jumped. "You can't be away from me!"

"You're being a hypocrite, you can be away from me but I can't be away from you? You're being irrational," she would raise her voice but she didn't have the strength.

Draco glared at her and walked out of the room, slamming the door. Hessa sighed and lay down to sleep…It was just too exhausting.

…...

Helena went upstairs to see if her mother was ready for dinner. Gently the girl knocked but there was no answer, "mother?" She opened the door to find her mother still sleeping, "mother, wake up." Helena went to her mother's side and shook her, but she wasn't moving, "MOTHER, MOTHER WAKE UP!" Helena's screaming brought both Malfoy men to the bedroom, "father, mother isn't waking up!"

Draco folded the thin sheet around his wife and put her on his lap, she was alive, "Hessa!" The demanding sound of his voice barely woke her.

"Father, I warned you she was weak!" Orion snapped.

The glared his father gave him was enough to make any person's blood run cold, but not his son's, "Hessa, my love…please, are you all right?"

Hessa tried to answer, "I'm….just….tired. Please let me sleep." She fell back out within seconds.

Helena started to cry, she could feel her mother slip away, "mother."

"Orion, call on our family Healer, then call on the Conk city. We must take her there immediately, sooner than expected," Draco cradled his wife as if she were a wounded child.

"It's about time you listened to reason," Orion snapped.

"Stop arguing with me and do it!"

Orion ran with great speed and within the hour both the Healer and a representative of the Conk city came and both were not happy with the family. The Conk Envoy looked at Hessa, "why wasn't she brought to us sooner!"

"She chose to come at a certain time," Draco said sternly. "She wanted to spend time with the children on her birthday, I didn't see the harm."

"Your son informs me of the recent sexual activity. May I remind you that when a Conk female is this weak, she is not to be handled that way! It directly contributed to this according to your family Healer."

"I'd be careful in how you address yourself to me," Draco narrowed his eyes.

The Envoy almost scoffed, "I don't care who you are, you are not in charge of the city. No one is. My concern is for your Conk, wife or not."

"Very well then, what do you suggest?"

"That she leaves now."

"NO," Draco snapped.

"She leaves now or she might die, what would you prefer?"

He turned to the Healer, "is this your suggestion as well?"

"Mr. Malfoy. Hessa is in a very unhealthy state and knowing what we've learned in the past years of Conk physiology….I'm afraid that the Envoy is correct."

Draco hung his head and breathed deep, "fine, but I wish to be with her."

The Envoy surprisingly didn't disagree, "normally we don't allow it, but in this case you are her husband and it is a severe medical situation. We will allow you to stay with her until she is better but then you must leave so she can fully rejuvenate in peace."

"Agreed," Draco said almost desperately. It was his fault, he knew it was. Had he not been so rough with her and not argued with her…they wouldn't be doing this now.

The children were told what was happening, Orion agreed to watch Helena and wait for further news. The Envoy and Draco went to a special portal in the Ministry that took them to the Conk city, where Hessa was taken and enveloped in a large glass tank of the special water they needed, a breathing mask was put over her face as she lay suspended and Draco on the other side of the glass.