Chapter 50
Hermione came to slowly.
She was lying on a sofa and was pleasantly warm, though she was not covered by anything. Slowly, she sat up, getting about halfway before a pair of soft hands darted in to help her the rest of the way upright.
"Easy, Hermione," Amaya said, keeping her eyes cast down at her hands. "Don't overexert yourself."
Hermione frowned. "Where's–" she started to ask, only to be interrupted by Amaya.
"Over there," Amaya said, nodding her head over at an open doorway across the room. They seemed to be in some sort of library, with bookcases lining the walls and a soft firelight flickering against the brick.
Various doorways marked the walls, but only one was open, light spilling forth onto the carpet. Through the door, Hermione could see an inert form lying on a bed, with Dìona slouched over beside it. A flash of sandy hair showed the figure on the bed to be Chester and Hermione's heart gave a lurch. She should have known something bad was going to happen.
"Is he…?"
"No." Amaya answered firmly. She sighed, running a hand over her face. "But he almost was." She mumbled something else that Hermione didn't catch, but Dìona's gaze jerked over to look at them, her eyes piercing into Amaya's for a moment before being distracted by something in the room and looking away.
Amaya looked at the pair through the door with barely concealed longing.
"Why aren't you in there?" Hermione asked. Amaya hummed in question, not tearing her eyes from the still form of Chester. "Amaya?" Hermione prompted when she didn't respond.
Amaya startled. "Oh!" She looked at Hermione, eyes wide. "I am sorry. I'm afraid I'm a bit distracted."
"It's okay." Hermione reassured softly. She nodded over at the open door. "You should go. I'll be fine."
Amaya shook her head, eyes hiding something within. "No. They knew each other first. I would only be getting in the way."
Hermione's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "But aren't you and Chester composites? I mean, I thought you were Life and Chester was…Death."
Amaya looked around shiftily. "I…yes?"
Sensing she wasn't going to get a straight answer out of her, Hermione switched tracks. "What happened back there? After I passed out, I mean."
Amaya sighed wearily. "That's…complicated."
"What happened to Chester?" Hermione pushed, trying to understand what was going on. "Why is he–"
"STOP IT!" Amaya yelled suddenly, cutting Hermione off. Hermione stopped in surprise and Amaya looked suddenly ashamed of herself, drawing inwards. A quick glance over showed Dìona looking up at them with a creased brow.
Amaya's voice tore Hermione's attention back to her. "Please…just, stop."
Hermione studied her for a minute. Amaya's eyes were shining with unshed tears, and her hair was hanging limply down her back. She looked like death warmed over, and that was being generous.
"Okay," she agreed quietly. "Do…do you want me to talk about something…else?"
Amaya covered her face with her hands. She spoke, muffled, "Yes please."
"Okay," Hermione said again. "Okay, I can do that." She searched the room for something to talk about and her gaze landed on the coffee table in front of them.
Hermione eyed the necklace sitting innocuously on the table. "What is that?"
A/N: i'm here! A tad late but here nonetheless. Bit of a short one this time and I didn't enjoy the abrupt way I ended it, but it's for the greater good i swear (or not, but who cares, right?).
song rec - RUN by San Cisco