Chapter 20
Bad Dream
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After that, everything happened very quickly.
Ginny woke up with a start, frantically looking around the chamber. Both Lucie and Harry wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, so they kept the explaining to a minimum. As they were heading towards the exit, Fawkes flew in front of them and motioned for them to grab on to his tail. Lucie didn't hesitate, phoenixes were known to carry great weights.
And so Fawkes made his way through the complicated system of tunnels and turns, withLucie gripping his tail, Harry holding on to her waist and Ginny on to Harry. As they came to a pile of huge rocks, the phoenix flew high and caught a gap just large enough for the three of them to dive through one after the other. On the other side, they met the next Weasley sibling, Ron, who accompanied Harry Potter everywhere. Oddly enough, Professor Lockhart was lying flat on the ground next to him, his feet swinging up in the air. He was mumbling away indistinctive words and sounds.
"What's up with him?" Lucie asked as she watched him attempting a somersault on the ground and hitting his head on a boulder in the process.
"Memory charm backfired," Ron said as he embraced his sister tightly. "Come on, get up."
When he was done holding Ginny, he pulled Lockhart to his feet. Ron and Lockhart joined them in their chain holding onto Fawkes. The phoenix seemed to know exactly where to go. He flew them up a vertical tunnel and out into a bathroom. From there, he proceeded on through the vast hallways until he reached his destination: McGonagall's office.
The group scrambled onto their feet and all but burst into the room. All heads turned in their direction. Professor Dumbledore was seated behind the desk with Professor McGonagall standing by the fireplace.
"Ginny!" A red-haired Wizard and an equally red-headed Witch screeched out. They ran to her and pulled her into a firm hug. The two must be her parents.
"Wha- What? What happened?" Ginny's mother took in the sight of them. Lucie and Harry had torn robes, blood and ink splattered across their faces and clothes - though more so on Harry. Lockhart had decided to crawl around the room on all fours.
Lucie left the explaining to Harry and Ron. She was exhausted. Her head was slightly dizzy and she had the deep desire to lie down and sleep for days. Using Magicae was really draining her.
The adults' faces went from shock to disbelief to shock again. All but Dumbledore, who watched the scene with the utmost calm. Professor McGonagall didn't fail in emphasising how lucky they had been. Lucie couldn't help but agree. She had been the only half-trained warrior in the chamber, but still, she would have had her difficulties alone.
"What still bothers me, though," McGonagall said when they had finished their story. "Is why you, Ms Radcliffe, were down there, too?"
Lucie didn't know what to say. She was still pondering that exact same question in her head. Somebody had brought her down there. She couldn't have accomplished that by sleepwalking. The thing was, the one person Lucie had suspected of being after her, hadn't been. The projection of Voldemort hadn't made any hints about sending those messages and he had been more interested in killing Harry than killing her. For him, she had just been an ordinary Slytherin. Just then, the remaining adrenaline from the action downstairs left her body and it hit her: There was still somebody out there who wanted to kill her. But who could it be?
She cleared her throat. What should she tell the teachers? Since there wasn't a better story that came to her mind, she told them what Voldemort had told Harry: "I, er, I followed Ginny... When I,er..." Why had she been out of the common room? Lucie tried to think of a good excuse. "I couldn't stand it in the Slytherin common room anymore - so I wanted to get some fresh air. Then I, er, saw Ginny walking into that bathroom. Her eyes were all glazed over - and she didn't respond to my calls..." Lucie hoped that Ginny wouldn't speak against that story. But she had been possessed, so surely she couldn't remember. "So I simply followed her... When we reached the chamber I got knocked out... and well, you've heard the rest."
The Weasley's seemed to buy it, but both Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore kept on eyeing her suspiciously. At least, they didn't ask her any further questions.
At the nearest opportunity she got, Lucie excused herself from the room. She couldn't, however, avoid being escorted to the hospital wing. On the way there, she drew an Iratze as quickly and silently as she could onto her arm with her wand. Lucie felt the familiar tingle spread through her body. Her skin heated up and she could feel her blood pumping faster through her veins, speeding up the healing process.
Just as she was pressed onto a chair by Madam Pomfrey, the heat subsided. Madam Pomfrey couldn't find any cut or bruise on her anymore that needed mending. Her ribs were nearly back to normal as well.
"Can I go, now?" Lucie asked impatiently. Her leg was twitching up and down. Although her limbs were exhausted and her body craved nothing more than sleep, she couldn't allow herself to lie down. She had to talk to somebody first.
Madam Pomfrey squinted at her. She was unsatisfied with her examination. "I'd much rather keep you here for the night."
"But there's nothing wrong with me!" Lucie shot up from the chair. "You saw so yourself. I'm perfectly fine!"
"Fine," the Witch said grudgingly. "But promise me to go straight to your dorm and get a good night's sleep."
"Of course," Lucie said quickly before rushing out of the room.
On her way out of the castle, Lucie drew a glamour rune onto her skin. The person she was looking for was going to see her anyways. She ran across the hill and into the Forbidden Forest. Lucie knew exactly where to go. She just hoped Fabrizio would be there, too.
And so he was. Fabrizio was dangling from a branch in his favourite clearing. The moon shone bright that night and cast his eerie light all the way down between the thick trees. Lucie could clearly make out his tiny form, this night clad in an orange suit. The colour of his suit clashed more than ever with his lime green horns and tail.
"Fabrizio?" Upside down as he was, he turned on the spot and came face to face with Lucie. "You won't believe what happened tonight!"
"Oh I believe it, tesorino," Fabrizio squeaked.
"You - you know what happened?"
"I might have ... heard about it from a distance."
"You did?" Lucie asked, astonished. How was one to hear what was going on in the Chamber of Secrets from a distance? Anyways. She shook her head to herself. "Well, see, Harry and I defeated the basilisk, you know, the monster of Slytherin, and the Heir of Slytherin himself ... but turns out, it wasn't the Heir of Slytherin who was after me the whole time. This blurry projection of a young Voldemort didn't know anything about all the messages. That means, Fabrizio, that means-"
"That the person you've been fearing is still out there," the Warlock completed her sentence.
"Yes, exactly!" Lucie started pacing back and forth across the clearing. "I was thinking. It was probably that exact person that took me into the Chamber of Secrets. I mean, it makes perfect sense. Pretend to be the big bully of Hogwarts all that time and then let the actual bully deal with me. I honestly have to say, if it had just been me alone down there ... I don't know if I'd still be standing here talking to you..."
Fabrizio stroked his horns. "That would be a very extravagant plan indeed. Luckily, it didn't succeed, eh?"
"Yes, well, the problem remains ... Who made that plan? Who is still after me? I've tried finding out who is sighted in the school. But I didn't find anybody who could see me with glamour on and fits the, eh, threatening type. So ... Fabrizio, I need to ask you again. Did you see or hear anything suspicious? Anything at all? This whole mystery is driving me crazy!"
Suddenly, Fabrizio released his tail's grip on the branch and landed softly on the ground.
"I actually did see and hear something," he squealed.
"Really?"
"Yes, tesorino. Lately I've been catching up on the person who sent you all those letters and drew all those words on the walls. He's been quite a clever one, concealing himself for so long... He's also quite good with magic as he managed to lure you towards the basilisk two times, no?" Lucie nodded frantically. "And when he took you into the chamber, he managed to mask the parabatai bond long enough so your actions and feelings wouldn't alarm anyone at the London Institute... Yes, very powerful indeed." He turned his back on her, pondering away.
"Well, who is it?" Lucie burst out. "And do you reckon I'm ready enough to defeat him?"
"Oh I know who it is-" Fabrizio whirled around. A cloud wandered over the moon and with it, the light faded from the clearing. The Warlock's face was cast in dark shadows. "Me."
Lucie opened her mouth but no sound came out. What was going on? Silence stretched between the two. Enough time for the moon to come out again, Fabrizio's face a grimace now.
Finally, Lucie found her voice again. "You? You were the one who-" And then she realised it. "It was a test. It was all a test. Right?" She pressed out a laugh. "You were testing whether I could deal with the challenge. Whether I was powerful enough to defeat the Heir of Slytherin. You lured me towards him so that I could defeat him!"
Fabrizio smiled broadly. But there was something off. His smile seemed more like he was fletching his teeth. To be fair, he was such a tiny creature, one couldn't tell properly.
"You're right, I was testing you. I wanted to see how powerful you really were. And now I think I've seen enough." Fabrizio stroked his horns again. "Anything left you want to say, tesorino?"
"What?" Lucie was back to confused. "Say? What do you mean?"
"Well, my Lucie, I have come to the conclusion that you're too powerful for my liking. I thought the basilisk would finish you off, but you got help. How unfortunate. So I guess I'll have to deal with you myself." He rolled back the sleeves of his suit.
"Deal with me? I don't understand!"
"This," Fabrizio gestured up and down her body. "Isn't good for business. You've come closer to becoming the Heiress your wand urges you to be than any of your kind before. You have more ties to both Nephilim and Wizarding people than any of the previous seven. I can't risk the Shadow World and Wizarding World actually reuniting... Bad for business, very bad for business indeed."
"But-" Lucie tried to find the right words. Her heart was racing. She had escaped one deadly situation to walk right into another. And this one was all her fault. She had trusted the Warlock too easily. "I haven't come anywhere close to reuniting the worlds! I don't even want to! I don't want to be the Heiress!"
"You're lying to yourself, tesorino," Fabrizio spat. "I see how you enjoy the power your wand holds, the power you hold. I can't let that power grow stronger, no! Sooner or later, you could actually succeed. You heard the prophecy, too, no?"
"But I don't believe in prophecies!"
"Oh, but I do!" A wild look had taken over his eyes. As if they were made of liquid green poison. "So, Lucie Redcliff-" He put all the taunt he could in those two words. "Time to meet your end. Well, you've already lived longer than quite a few of the other Heiresses. So no regrets there. Don't worry, I'll be quick." Fabrizio flailed out his hands. "You might have the power of the Heiress, but you're neither old nor trained enough to meet what I can do!"
He fanned out his fingers and shot a green ball of light her way. Lucie had just enough time to yank her wand out of her robes and hold it defensively in front of her. The coloured orb exploded at the tip of her wand. Little specks of light flew in every direction.
Fabrizio kept on shooting ball after ball of energy. Lucie did her best to meet all his attacks. But she grew tired, very quickly. She was using up all the energy reserves she had left for her Magicae.
It didn't help that she had to run from tree to tree, dipping down or jumping up to dodge all the attacks that she couldn't defend with her wand. Time was running through her hands. She had to do something. Quick. Something that would end this situation.
If only she could call for help. As she pressed her back to the next tree, Lucie reached for the spot between her shoulder blades. The patch of skin on her spine felt numb. Parabatai was still blocked. Lucie let out a cry of frustration as she conjured up the next golden shield of protection. It died down fast. Too fast.
She picked up into a run again, zigzagging between the trees, hitting the ground every now and then. There was nothing there that could offer even the slightest protection. Even the biggest trees crashed down and landed in front of her feet.
Lucie tried to let some of her Magicae rush through her veins and spread out along her spine. There it was. A faint tingle made her aware that some of the blockage had been lifted.
Kayden! Help!
She had no idea if it would work. Lucie had never communicated with him through the parabatai rune intentionally. The last time, he had been alerted by her feelings. Hopefully, enough of the blockage was gone to let a good deal of her current emotions through. After all, the amount of fear pounding through her veins was a lot higher than normal.
But what was she supposed to do if no one came? How was she best to defeat a Warlock much stronger and smarter than herself? It didn't matter that he was the size of an elfling. His magic was far superior than hers. The only thought that crossed her mind was to get as close as possible. She couldn't beat him from afar.
Lucie took one last glance at the surrounding trees. Her attention was caught by a tree to her right. One branch had an odd colour to it. It was golden. Gold amongst a sea of green. A grin spread across her face and she let a new wave of courage pulse through her veins. She could do this.
And so, Lucie spun around and threw a jet of magic towards Fabrizio. Gold and green collided between them and lit up the forest in a firework of colours. The trees that stood the nearest caught on fire. Fabrizio stopped for the briefest of moments - enough time for Lucie to run towards him and aim a Stunning Spell. He blocked it enough to not get blasted from the spot. But still, he gritted his teeth.
"You won't win," he shrieked. "You can't win!"
Lucie was hit by a blast of neon directly on her left side. As she hit the ground again, her shoulder ignited with pain and she could even hear the already tormented ribs crack at the same time.
"You're too slow. You're too weak. Your magic alone won't save you!"
Lucie crouched on the ground, gripping her chest. Her breath came in unhealthy rattling sounds. She prayed to the Angels that none of her ribs had penetrated one of her lungs.
Fabrizio circled her. His eyes just levelled hers. The edges of his mouth curled upwards into a malicious grin.
This was it. Lucie knew it. But she wouldn't give up. She would be going down fighting. She was a Witch. Maybe she was even the bloody Heiress to both worlds. But most importantly, she was also a Shadowhunter. A Redcliff.
"You're forgetting one thing, Fabrizio. I'm more than just my magic."
With one last cry, Lucie tore her wand up and shot the last of the remaining energy she had in her at Fabrizio. It wasn't enough, she knew it. At the same time, she reached for the dagger secured in her boot and threw it. She didn't have enough time to focus on her target. Lucie just hoped her dagger would land true to its aim.
It did. Not that Lucie had actually aimed for that.
She looked at the Warlock who had frozen in his attacks. His grin was still there, yet it had turned more into a grimace. He was still holding his tiny hands up as he collapsed onto the ground.
Lucie scrambled to her feet. She bent over his small form. Blood was pouring from the wound in his chest and soaked through his saffron suit. Lucie looked at Fabrizio's face and for a second, she thought there was that sweet little Warlock back that had befriended her. But she was wrong. That sweet little Warlock had never existed. She should have been smarter than this. She should have seen it coming. But she had been naive. She had been craving a friend who knew more about who she was and what her place in this world was.
And now that had led to her killing somebody. Not a Demon. A Warlock. A Downworlder. A Person.
Lucie's body trembled as Fabrizio let out his last breath in one loud gasp. He was gone.
By the Angels, she had actually killed him.
"Lucie?"
Kayden's voice reached her ears. Out of the corner of her eye, Lucie saw him as well as Aunt Jodie and Uncle Matthew and several more Shadowhunters from the Institute approaching. She couldn't lift her gaze from Fabrizio's extinguished one.
Not until she could feel Kayden's warm hand on her shoulder, did she tear her eyes away from the limp body. Instead of looking up, Lucie's gaze fell onto her hands. Her hands were full of blood.
Angels, what had she done?
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A/N:
Whew... again it's been awhile. Sorry for the late update. I promise this time you don't have to wait that long again for the next chapter, it's already on the way...
Thank you so much to my awesome new beta reader Storms And Stars! With just proofreading one chapter you've already helped me immensely and made me want to further my writing skills so much more.
Re: Jane Green and AshenMoon42: Thank you for the lovely feedback! It's always great to hear back :)
And thank you to everyone who's still reading! Thanks for sticking with me through the long pauses!
As always, let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy this one!
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"Feels like I'm frozen
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to run, from here
These walls are closing
Closing me in
Wearing me thin, with fear"
Bad Dream by Ruelle