Back to back, Fred and Odile faced their opponents, completely surrounded by the shadowy outlines. Faces both familiar and unknown held their wands at the ready, waiting for whoever would make the first move. Although Odile had prepared herself for duels since childhood, facing the real deal was utterly terrifying. For one, her hands were slick with the dark and sticky blood of friends and enemies alike, making her wand grip more difficult. One wrong move and it would be across the room faster than one could blink. Her heart was beating at what felt like a thousand beats a minute, breath coming in short pants. Her ribs ached, and she was pretty sure her thumb wasn't supposed to bend like that; however, there was no time to focus on that. She fought the urge to fling the sweat dripping down her face off, the salt stinging her split lip. She daren't blink for fear of missing the first spell thrown her way.
She nearly jumped out of her skin from the hand that grabbed her free one, but quickly grasped it back, recognising the curves of it immediately. She gave Fred a tight squeeze, hoping that he could understand all the emotions she was transferring into his. How much she loved him, how she couldn't live without him. How they had become one, her other half. She had never truly understood love until she had him. How one person could control her entire being, own her full heart without a shadow of a doubt. She could feel the cool metal of his wedding ring pressed against her sweat-slicked palm, could feel his erratic breathing against her back.
"Come on then brats, who'll be the first to die?" The man on her right squawked, trying to provoke the two into entering the inevitable fight approaching.
"Ready love?" She heard Fred ask from behind her, voice loud enough for her alone to hear.
"As long as you're with me, I'm ready for anything." The grasp on her hand tightened once more, as the standstill came to an end.
"CRUCIO!"
Book 2
Take Flight