In a luxurious room overlooking a snow and ice covered garden twinkling with fairy lights, Callie stood staring out at the falling snow. Her hair had been expertly twisted and tumbled down into soft curls, secured on one side with large purple and white gardenias, and the ice white gown she wore shimmered slightly in the light of the fire accenting her figure. the back dipped low and she had been careful to cover her bruised flesh, at least for the moment, although she knew that the moment would come when such things would need to be revealed. Silent tears trickled down her face as she awaited her fate. With a sigh she reached for the gilded mask on the table, wiping the tears from her face without bothering to conceal the redness of her eyes. It felt as though she hadn't stopped crying since she returned to the manor.
Jasper slipped into the room, the living area of Callie's suite, closing the door quietly behind him. Callie's head shot up when she heard the click, exhaling deeply as she realized it was only her brother and not one of the others. He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, "it will be alright..."
"What if it's not? From everything you've been telling me Blood Rage is supremely uncommon, only the most powerful are supposed to be able to do it. What if I can't?"
Jasper pulled back his hands remaining on her shoulders so she faced him head on, "Cal, when have you ever doubted your abilities? I know you can do this, the things you can do with even the royal magic are leaps and bounds ahead of mother. You will be able to do this, and he will be there to help you."
A sharp rap sounded at the door, the guards were forbidden to enter the princesses suite, "Your highness, the guests have arrived, your presence is requested."
Callie sighed, "of course it is."
"Just remember that I'll be beside you the entire time, and he's here, he will be helping you every step of the way." Jasper murmered smoothing the lapels on his dress robes.
Sighing once again Callie secured the mask in place and checking her reflection once more she took Jasper's arm and together they proceeded from the room.
Sirius checked his reflection in one of the many mirrors that covered the walls of the ballroom, he was still always so surprised at the capabilities of magic, as anyone looking at him would see James. The tamed hair being the only real giveaway it wasn't the Potter heir, since anyone who knew James knew that his hair had a distinct stubborn streak and refused to lie flat no matter what was done to it.
Lily stood next to Sirius, her arm looped through his, trying to keep her calm and ensure that Sirius didn't fly off the handle. Malfoy had already walked past them with his family and the simpering goons he called friends, sneering at them as he passed, and her grip on Sirius' arm hadn't loosened since. She of course looked stunning and was trying to give off the impression of a girl in love who was enjoying a fancy party, even as she scanned the room for Callie and watched for trouble from Malfoy.
"Stupid sneering git," Sirius muttered under his breath.
"You said it..." Lily muttered back through her smile.
A long burst of fanfare sounded and the lights dimmed slightly, a blonde man in a dapper set of dress robes stood at the bottom of the elaborate staircase. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the royal family," the man stepped aside as all eyes in the hall turned to the staircase, and the grand doors opened, "Her majesty Queen Elsebeth and her husband Reginald." The royal couple stepped through the doors and made their way down the staircase.
Sirius took in a deep breath, watching Callie's parents, the ones who had caused them such pain and were about to inflict the unimaginable on their daughter, enter the room. His teeth gritted and Lily squeezed his arm in support as they watched the blonde couple glide down the steps.
"And their royal highnesses Princess Calliope Rose and Prince Jasper Edward."
Callie stepped through the doors onto the staircase on Jasper's arm, aware that every eye in the room was now on her. Her smile was forced as she slowly descended the stairs, knowing that at the bottom she would be presented over to Lucius. She swept the room with her eyes, trying desperately to find a friendly face, searching for Lily or Sirius, but before she could find them she had reached the bottom. Callie looked to Jasper, her eyes betraying her desperation and nervousness though the rest of her face showed only happiness. His eyes sad, he took her hand in his and presented her hand to Lucius who stood at the bottom of the staircase.
"Princess." Malfoy drawled, as he bent to kiss her hand.
Callie remained silent, her eyes once again searching the crowd beyond Lucius' head, even as he led her onto the dance floor she did not make eye contact with the boy. Her fingers tingled with pent up anger and frustration, until she caught a pair of stormy silver eyes in the crowd hidden behind a red mask and a flash of red hair beside him as she turned on Lucius' arm. Just that one glance was enough to calm her and give her the confidence and strength to get through the night.
"You are a vile bastard Malfoy..." Callie said through her teeth, her eyes storming in flashes of purple, red, and silver.
"Ah yes, but I will be your vile bastard..." Lucius' sneered, "and you shall be the dark lord's mage."
The dance ended, and Lucius led Callie back over to the pedestal where her parents sat, forcing her arm through his and refusing to leave her side once they arrived.
The steward called for attention once more and the royals stood from their thrones.
"We have joyous news," Elsebeth began, "on this occasion we have far more to celebrate than simply the coming new year."
"It is our pleasure to announce that this evening our daughter Calliope and Mr Lucius Malfoy will be entering into a betrothal, as she has accepted his hand in marriage." Reginald finished, ignoring the fact that Callie's eyes were flashing dangerously as a tinge appeared around her fingers.
"Her eyes..." Lily breathed.
"And her fingers," Sirius murmured back.
Callie met Sirius' eyes and took in a shaky breath, attempting to pull her arm from Malfoy's grasp. He tightened his grip and pulled her closer to him.
"To honour this match, we will return to traditions of old." Reginald continued.
"A betrothal ceremony, in celebration of our daughter's impending joy." Elsebeth said, ignoring the gasp of the crowd, "we ask you all to bear witness to this momentous event."
"We need to move closer..." Sirius whispered to Lily, his eyes never moving from Callie's form.
The ceremony began as Reginald forced Callie to take Lucius' outstretched left hand, ignoring her flashing eyes and the balls of energy that were forming at the tips of her free hand's fingers. Standing on either side of the couple Callie's parents began to chant the spells that would bind her to Lucius. Reginald and Elsebeth reached the middle of the second verse when the gasp of the crowd diverted their attention and they were forced to actually look at their daughter. Lucius was staring mesmerized at Callie even as sweat ran down his brow and he began to cry out in pain.
Callie's eyes turned a deep blood red, as though the irises had burst, and the rims around her eyes darkened to match. Many of the crowd automatically stepped back, but many, mainly males, were drawn forward. Lucius' screams began to overcome the hall, but a smirk appeared on Callie's face and she dropped his hand turning to face her parents next. Her eyes glowed red as she stepped towards the people who had tried to force her into a fate she did not deserve.
"Callie!" Sirius called out to her, still too far away to touch her.
Her parents looked up at their daughter in devotion, before cringing away as they felt a burning sensation course through them.
"Callie," Sirius tried again, stepping onto the platform, again she ignored him. Stepping closer he pressed a hand to her shoulder, "Callie."
Callie whirled around to face him, her gaze bearing down on him.
"Cal, baby it's me...it's me." Sirius whipped off the mask covering his face.
Callie's eyes instantly wavered, "Sirius?" she said, her voice echoing eerily. Her gaze bore into his eyes, as though she was searching for the truth through the darkness that had overcome her, her eyes faded slightly as she found the love in his gaze, the love she had been looking for.
"Yes Cal it's Sirius, it's your Sirius...it's all right now."
Callie's eyes faded back to her normal brilliant golden brown, the red rims fading away as she collapsed into Sirius' embrace. Crushing her lips on his in desperation to feel him.
"Calliope Stewart! Explain yourself." Elsebeth demanded, though she was still lying prone on the ground.
Callie spun to face her parents her eyes burning a deep blood red once more, "You are a terrible leader, so influenced by money you are willing to submit your heir. Not to mention your own flesh and blood! To a level of influence so extreme it would seriously compromise the ruling of our nation." she spat at the woman at her feet and turning to the crowd of people continued, "I will never marry a man such as Lucius, a man so evil he attempted to sully the name of your princess over and over again," she ran a hand over her body revealing the mottled bruising that covered her arms, neck, and back. "I refuse to bow down to the darkness that my parents are so willing to allow take over, I will not allow my people to fall to the dark lord. As your princess I promise you this, so long as I am still standing, the veela will not serve the dark lord." She turned back to her parents, "you two disgust me, so willing to put the safety of your people and of your daughter at risk for money. I wish you both luck in the coming darkness. Know this, a great ruler puts the well being of her people first, and will protect them to any lengths necessary. You have now seen what I am capable of, interfere with my life again and you will not enjoy the consequences."
The clock struck midnight, and a murmur went through the crowd, Sirius took her hand linking their fingers together in support, "That chime marks my birthday. Marking me as a veela queen, the council now has the opportunity to make a change. But recognize I will make my own decisions, the time for compliance has passed."
She looked to Sirius and the pair stepped off the platform, walking through the stunned crowd to the door where Lily, Jasper, and the Potters waited. Callie turned back, "do not try to find me, you will not succeed. If the council needs to speak with me, contact Albus Dumbledore he will pass on your message."
The group proceeded through the gilded doors, closing them loudly in their wake.
The crowd stood stunned, though before long the whisperings started.
"What was that?" one stunned guest asked.
"The blood rage," a council member's voice rang out.
"But it hasn't been seen in a veela in thousands of years." another responded.
"Indeed, it seems our princess is highly powerful, perhaps the most powerful we've ever seen." the original member spoke. The council gathered in the center of the hall advancing on their monarchy, "and you almost ruined her."