Here is the latest installment. Thanks to all who are still reading. As always read and REview!
Chapter 10: Unwanted advances
I don't want anyone to look to me, not for protection, not for happiness, not for love, not for anything."
― P.D. James, The Children of Men
"This is no business of yours, daemon… you would be well advised to continue on your way" the man, Edwand apparently snarled at Zyren.
"Is that so?" the red eyed demon asked his voice deceptively calm, staring at the immortal in front of him, as if reading the secrets of his soul.
Harry suppressed a shudder at those infernal eyes….'Wait did immortal's have souls?' Harry mind latched onto a rather benign and unrelated thought, in the attempt to protect itself from short circuiting in panic over his current circumstances. He was not sure what to make of the daemon, he was pretty sure Zyren hated him….would he really help him or was he simply taunting?
Either way, Harry thought that he should probably at least use this situation to gain whatever advantage he could, in case the daemon changed his mind and really did walk away. Using fact that Edwand was distracted, Harry gathered all of his (admittedly) feeble strength and ripped his wrists from the immortal's steel grip while simultaneously bringing up his knee to connect with Edwand's….most sensitive area.
Harry noted that he was at least successful in causing the immortal some pain as Edwand let out a harsh hiss and momentarily took a step back. Not wanting to waste this brief window of opportunity Harry ducked under the immortal's arm and bolted to behind Zyren. He was forced to trust the daemon as he did not think there was much chance of him making it back inside before Edwand recovered. Zyren did not even raise his eyebrow at Harry's maneuver.
"You little bastard" Edwand hissed, rage contorting his normally attractive features into a grotesque mask of hate. He made to move toward where Harry was standing….okay, cowering behind Zyren.
"I really don't think you should do that" Zyren stated his tone flat, his posture at ease.
"You would make an enemy of me daemon for….for that?" Edwand asked in disbelief, directing a disgusted look in Harry's direction, "it is pretty, but there are lots of pretty things."
"Yes" Zyren stated to the question, not elaborating. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise, the daemon's answer both surprising and confusing him. What the hell did he mean? Did he not hate him? He could feel a headache approaching and once again wished for the relative simplicity of the home.
The tense confrontation while quiet in noise was reeking in warning magic, the tense tendrils swirling and testing, looking for a weakness in either of the magical goliaths' shields. The magic apparently did not limit itself to the immediate area and it had made those inside aware of the conflict taking place in the garden, outside. Several of the immortal's made their way out to see what was causing such an influx of hostile magics. Included in these were Leonor, Prince Kiran, Severus and Princess Selene.
"What exactly is taking place here?" Leonor asked his voice quiet but the anger beneath it was apparent to all present.
"My lord…I came upon this miscreant in the process of forcing a claim on your chosen bonded" Zyren answered keeping his eyes lowered in deference to the Ancient in front of him.
There was a sharp intake of breathe from the surrounding crowd. It was not a small offense to attempt to take a possession that was already spoken for.
"Is that true?" Leonor questioned, but instead of directing the question at Edwand who was staring defiantly in the face of Zyren's accusation, he aimed it at Harry.
Not trusting his voice Harry nodded his agreement. "Speak up child" Prince Kiran ordered all the joviality from earlier now absent.
Harry swallowed his throat dry under the many intense stares aimed at him, many filled with suspicion or accusation. "Yes, your majesty that is the truth" he answered his voice coming out strong despite his uneasiness.
The anger that Leonor had been keeping under wraps until this point snapped forward as the immortal lunged forward grabbing the offender by the collar, "How dare you? You dare to lay claim to one of mine?" he hissed his deadly tone making Edwand flinch.
The other immortal did not back down however, "What right do you have to him? As far as I am aware he has not been officially claimed. By law he is free game" Edwand answered in a taunting voice, his expression smug.
Leonor snarled at him but his response was interrupted by the Princess. "What he speaks is true brother. He is within his right to try and stake a claim….as you well know. He may not have gone about this in the correct manner but he is correct none the less" Princess Selene stated a gleeful smile on her face.
Harry felt his heart clenching. What?! What the hell? That sadistic bastard could claim him? Oh no. No fucking way was he about to become that devils play thing. He opened his mouth to protest but was prevented when he felt a strong hand over his mouth silencing him. He began to squirm in an attempt to get free when the familiar cold voice of Zyren whispered in his ear, "Shut up. You will only make matters worse. Wait to see how things will play out first, and then devise a plan of attack."
Harry bit down the reflex to shiver at the smooth, seductive tone of the daemon's voice and stopped struggling. The daemon was right, at the moment nothing was decided, and realistically he had very little chance of winning any sort of fight against anyone in the vicinity.
"What are you proposing" Prince Kiran asked mildly.
"Why tradition of course darling….a fight for rights" Princess Selene answered in a sickly sweet tone.
Silence rang out after this proclamation, "But…but your excellence there has not been such a fight in centuries…." A gorgeously clad woman to the right of Harry exclaimed.
The Princess sent the woman such a deadly glare that she shrunk back, flushing in embarrassment at her brashness. "I am well of aware of that. It is however the proper way of settling disputes such as this" she turned her gaze from the shamed woman to look at her brother, "What say you, brother?" she asked Leonor.
Leonor nodded his head sharply before turning to face Edwand, "I challenge you Edwand of siphern to battle to the death, for the ownership and rights to one mortal, Harry James Potter. Do you accept?"
Edwand who had been suspiciously silent up until now, sneered and nodded "I accept your challenge, Marquees Leonor Diaz, marquee of the shadow realm."
The Princess clapped her hands together in pleasure, "Excellent, the fight will take place at noon tomorrow, in front of the court."
When both opponents nodded their heads the group began to dissipate, some heading back into the grand hall, others wandering further into the lush garden.
"Come Harry" Leonor demanded his voice leaving little room for argument. For once Harry did not see a benefit in defying the immortal and hurried towards him.
Leonor's cold hand closed roughly around his shoulder when he was within reaching distance and pulled him jerkily forwards. Harry let out a cry of surprise as he barely stopped himself from falling into the immortal. The immortal ignored his ire , leaning down, his hands speedily patting down Harry's body, the hand gripping his shoulder moved to his chin and the immortal turned his head side from side scanning him.
"Are you injured, did he hurt you?" he asked sharply.
Harry distracted by the probing and poking taking place managed to shake his head and choke out a "no."
He swore the immortal let out a sigh of relief before releasing him and taking a step back, "You idiot! How could you be so stupid to pull something like this? Did I not warn you of the dangers here? Did I not warn you against wandering off?" he berated.
Harry flushed with embarrassment and shame. It was rather stupid to wander off, especially in a place he had little familiarity with and knew there to be danger everywhere. But he felt like he was suffocating in this place, the newness and change building to the point where he felt as if he would collapse under the pressure of it all. At least with Voldemort he had known what to expect. Better the enemy you know and all that jazz….
"I'm sorry" he whispered, fighting the wetness that was traitorously threatening to come forth now that he wasn't being directly attacked. "I-I just needed air….it, it was getting to be too much" he finished quietly staring at the ground too embarrassed to meet the ancient's eyes.
Leonor sighed, "You ridiculous child, come here" he ordered before pulling Harry towards him once again and to the boy's shock, he was pulled into a hard hug. "Next time listen to me when I warn you about something. Believe it or not I do not do so for my own pleasure"
"I think it's time we go home, no?" Leonor asked once again taking a step back. Harry nodded, once again feeling a swell of unknown emotion. He could not recall the last hug he had received. Well not real hug anyway, sure Hermione hugged him but they were few and far between, and the few times he had seen Mrs. Weasley she had hugged him but somehow they had just made him uncomfortable. As if it was more out of obligation then desire to comfort.
Just as they turned to leave they were once again stopped. Harry flushed again to realize that they their exchange had been witnessed by two others.
"My lord, may I speak to you….in private?" Severus asked sneering in Harry's direction. Harry glared right back at him.
"Can it not wait? Harry has had a long day, I need to get him home" Leonor retorted sounding annoyed.
Harry held his breath, he did not think he could remember a person speaking in such a tone to the dour man and not ending up as potion ingredients. Severus lowered his head in deference but stated, "Please my lord this is important I will be brief"
Leonor sighed, "Very well….Zyren take Harry back to the manor, remain until I have returned…I wish to speak to you"
The sullen daemon stepped forward, "of course my lord" before grabbing Harry roughly by his upper arm and all but dragging him after him. Harry spluttered at his man-handling.
Honestly these immortals were infuriating, he was NOT a object to be pushed and pulled where ever they so desired. The daemon maintained a solid grip on the teen and faded (apparently the daemon form of apparition), letting go when they arrived in front of Leonor's manor.
Harry paused before entering, shifting awkwardly, "er…so thanks….for-for your help back there" he stated nervously, chancing a glance up at the intimidating daemon.
Zyren glared back at him, "If you were not so weak, I would not have had to 'help' you he sneered, "…and Leonor would not be fighting to possible death tomorrow"
With that he spun and marched past Harry into the manor. Harry stared after him indignation rising. Where all immortal's intrinsically arrogant and rude? How was it fair to blame him, a mere mortal, who did not have the benefit for superhuman strength or speed, or the advantage of centuries of knowledge for being unable to stop a sadistic bastard.
He growled under his breath before marching angrily after the retreating daemon into the house. Just wait. He would not let them break him. No, he would wait and learn. He would grow stronger.
He would show them. He was not weak.