Ch10: The Darkness Will Seek You Out
Out in the world not much happened. But here in the special night, a land bricked with paper and leather, anything might happen, always did.
Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes
"Don't you think you look gorgeous?" Alice asked, standing behind Renesmee in front of the floor-length mirror in her room. She had played with Renesmee like a life-size Barbie, changing her clothes, hair, and make-up constantly. Renesmee loved her aunt, but this was a little much. "Aunt Alice, I'm only going to see Charlie and Sue," she said uncertainly. Alice smiled sweetly over her shoulder. "Well I know dear, but today is your last day and I wanted you to go out with a bang. Besides, it's a party in your honor, meaning you should dress to impress." Renesmee got the feeling that Alice always dressed to impress, even when she slept.
Renesmee sighed dejectedly as she gazed at her reflection. Alice had settled for a yellow dress with matching shoes that accentuated all of her best features. She had on blush, lip gloss, eye shadow, and glitter. It looked like a whole bottle had spilled onto her in the oddest places.
Alice led her downstairs excitedly, nearly skipping as she went. Her family smiled warmly, amusement lighting their gazes as they took her appearance in. Except Emmett of course, who always had to take a crack at you or make a rude or embarrassing comment. Eyeing the glitter, he said, "What the hell happened to you, Reese? You look like a banana that fell into a vat of sprinkles." Edward looked down at his own feet, smiling as Rosalie elbowed Emmett sharply. Jasper just looked away without comment while Esme fussed at Emmett and Carlisle shook his head. Bella looked inclined to agree with her brother-in-law, but seemed to think better of it after glancing at Alice's face and quickly looking away.
Renesmee sat beside Bella on the couch as they waited for Charlie and Sue. Seth showed up as cheery as ever with his sister, Leah, in tow. The female wolf had only come on account of her brother and mother. She glared at Renesmee as they waited. Seth on the other hand seemed delighted to see her.
Once Charlie and Sue arrived, they talked, those who could eat ate, watched two movies, played a few games, and finally said goodbye. Renesmee went to the cottage to make sure she was completely packed. She reentered the main house with her things to watch TV aimlessly beside of Rosalie. At half-past-five, a knock sounded at the door. They had all heard the crack! that forewarned them someone magical was here.
Edward answered the door. Mr. and Mrs. Fujioka came in with a smiling Kiku who clung to Renesmee for a moment before timidly introducing herself alongside her mother and father, who seemed at ease with the Cullens. Kuro was the quietest, as usual. Five minutes later, Renesmee had said goodbye one last time. Kiku took her father's arm and Renesmee accepted Mrs. Fujioka's. They arrived at a house set back from the road surrounded by trees. She was led through a beautiful garden up to the front door. Kiku excitedly pulled her to her room. Renesmee spent two weeks at the Fujioka's home before she and Kiku went over to Maggie's.
The O'Hara family lived on a farm with acres upon acres, which they seemed to need since they also had children upon children and an unlimited supply of relatives. Renesmee loved the thick, rich accent the whole family shared along with their auburn hair. They weremostly Gryffindors, with the exception of a few Hufflepuffs and one Ravenclaw. It didn't escape Renesmee's notice that there were no Slytherins.
One morning three screech owls from Hogwarts came with their letters and their list of supplies for second year. Glancing over the list, Maggie commented, "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor must be a witch. Blimey look all the Lockhart books! This lot'll cost a pretty penny, trust me."
Kiku nodded in affirmation. "He's famous. Mum talks about him sometimes."
Renesmee remained silent. She would wait and see how wonderful he really was. If he was a vapid and shallow megalomaniac, she would detest him and never have any love for him.
They went to Diagon Alley together Saturday of that week. The little O'Hara members were all forced to stay behind. The store owner looked at the order and said, "Three sets is it? These are selling like hotcakes. New Dame must be real hot for him, asking for all of his books."
While Kiku went to the Magical Menagerie to look at special shampoo for Kei's fur, Maggie went with her brother Doria to pick out a pet for her birthday. Renesmee wandered aimlessly until she came to the end of the street she knew and onto a new one. Glancing at the sign, she realized that she was on Knockturn Alley.
Curious, she continued on. She had heard that this place was a haven for the Dark Arts. As she passed the side street beside a particularly gruesome-looking shop, a hand shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder. Renesmee whipped around, a snarl climbing its way higher in her throat and her wand at the ready. She was prepared to hex whoever it was into oblivion. What caught her by surprise was that she was suddenly looking directly into the black eyes of Severus Snape. "Professor?"
Snape sneered. "Who were you expecting, the Easter Bunny? What are doing down this street Cullen? Shouldn't you be on Diagon Alley?"
Renesmee turned pinker than usual as she was caught red-handed. "I wanted to see what was here," she admitted. "I was genuinely curious, you see." Snape's eyes hardened and his eyebrows rose severely. "Do you realize how very dangerous it is for you to be here, Cullen? What kinds of people come here? What kinds of things are sold here?"
"You're here aren't you?"
Snape looked like he was getting angry, so she said quickly, "If you're so concerned, walk with me."
"Walk with you?" he leered. "What am I, your lackey? You got here, so you know where the exit is. I suggest you use it. I will see you at school."
He stood there barring her way, giving her no choice but to turn around and start walking back. Once she was a few shops down, she peeked over her shoulder. Snape's billowing black robes were just disappearing around the corner. She turned back around and almost ran into a woman coming from another dark side street. She was cloaked in all black and she had her hood up. "Pardon me," Renesmee muttered, making as if to move around her. Her hand, which was withered and ancient, grasped her wrist in an iron grip. She lifted her head enough that Renesmee was able to fully view the hideous features of the crone's face. She had foul breath and pointed yellowing teeth. The most horrifying aspect of all had to be her eyes, her terrible crimson eyes. "I know what you are, do you know what I am?" she hissed, hot breath spewing all over Renesmee's face. Renesmee gagged and spluttered, which made the crone chuckle madly.
"Let me go!" Renesmee cried. "I don't want to hurt you."
The strange woman held up one of her gnarled hands and drew the long, black nail of her forefinger down Renesmee's cheek, drawing a single droplet of blood. She caught the blood in the underside of her nail and dripped it onto her tongue. She licked her lips in a savoring manor. "Just as I suspected," she whispered. "You are the one."
Renesmee didn't know who this was or what she spoke of, only that her instincts were screaming at her to get as far away from this terrifying creature as swiftly as she could. A dark, velvety voice behind her inquired sharply, "Is everything all right, Miss Cullen?"
Renesmee had never before been so glad to hear Snape's voice. Finally succeeding in wrenching her wrist away from the woman, she backed up, bumping into him. The crone answered for her in a cloying voice that fooled no one present. "No sir, the young miss was just a saying g'day to an old woman. Beg your pardon." She bowed herself away into the shadows, her glowing eyes the last thing to fade. "I told you to leave," he hissed in her ear. "I was leaving," she spat. Turning to him she said, eyes narrowed to slits, "And I told you to escort me back. Perhaps you should have listened."
"Perhaps you should never have come in the first place, Cullen," he snapped irritably. His hand clamped down on her shoulder and he began steering her briskly down the cobbled street. When they reached the junction he pushed her away, causing her to stumble. "See you," she remarked bitterly. He jerked his head in assent and left. She knew he was more angry at himself for letting her go unprotected, and she was grateful, but she also knew that he was angry with her for putting herself in danger. Snape was so confusing sometimes, so complex.
She searched for Maggie and Kiku and found them sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They both had cones four scoops high. Kiku had Vanilla Bean with cherry sauce, while Maggie had what looked like a small rainbow. "Where have you been," the Irish maiden asked, somehow putting emphasis on each word. "Oh, here and there," Renesmee answered vaguely. They refrained from questioning her further and began to talk excitedly of next term. Maggie seemed to think that Lockhart was a fraud. Kiku was unsure but determined to find out.
They went back to the O'Hara farm, where she spent the rest of the summer. The night before she was to leave, Renesmee was again visited by Celestia.
She closed her eyes and was immediately suspended in darkness. The cold silence pressed against her, started to smother her. She felt as though she were fading when colors started swirling around her, creating shapes that were all their own. When she opened her eyes, she was in the water meadow again, with Celestia standing before her. "Hello, my child," the angel greeted. Renesmee smiled. "Hello, Celestia. Why have you brought me here this time?"
In answer, Celestia touched her Mark with her fingertips. The contact made Renesmee shiver and inhale sharply. "Watch yourself, Heir of Norgensten, for the Darkness will seek you out," she whispered. "You above all others must be vigilant."
The world around her began to fade. As she opened her eyes to morning light, Celestia's last words echoed throughout her mind.
"You have been Marked for a reason. Two shall become One, Blood spilled in Love will restore Life, Wrath will consume you in the face of Death, and Fifty shall lose Four. Remember, and in time you shall know what is to be done."
What she didn't know was that the Darkness would seek her, had already sought her, and that the first tendrils had snaked around her that day in Diagon Alley.
