People might believe that Obscurials have only death as a futur perspective. But some of them have some luck and end up in St-Morgana school. They are located thanks to the invention of a less known member of the Malfoy family. It was a castle in a quite bad shape full of a bunch of kids who fled their abusive families or orphanage. On a list would appear the names of the children showing the first signs of an obscurial in the UK. The school was unknown to the public, it would cause a general panic. Every Minister would go pay a visit after they get elected. Cornelius Fudge went with Lucius Malfoy, who knew well the school, being its biggest donator. They appareted before the castle and minister Fudge almost fell when rats heads greeted him.
« Ouhhh isn't it the new Minister? » said one of the heads.
« It is, it is, dear neighbor. Oh hello Lord Malfoy! How are you today? The headmaster is coming to open the door. He's saying you should put robes you wouldn't mourn. The kids are being quite naughty today.» said a second head.
« When are they not? Discipline is very much lacking in this school... » answered Lucius Malfoy when pointing to himself his wand. His robes changed and we could see a light shild around him. He turned to the Fudge with a bit of disdain, seeing that the man was still looking like a fool at the rats. « Minister, the headmaster is coming soon. You should change as well. » The man seemed finally to come back to his senses and change his robes to awful muggle clothes. Brown pants, purple jumper and yellow baskets, it distasteful.
« Well Minister, dressed like that, you could have as well painted a target on your back. It would have spared us the sight. Welcome to St-Morgana, our very own british school for Obscurials. How do you do? » Fudge had in front of him a man looking very much like Lucius Malfoy. But he was warmer in his demeanor and broader. But the hair was as long and well kept, the eyes as cold with the same disdain for him. He was used to be looked at like that by Lucius Malfoy, but this Malfoy was just a half-blood. He was above this man who was having the audacity of looking down on him. So he said:
« This is not a way to talk to a Minister of Magic. Muggle fashion is of no concern to me, as long as it fulfill its purpose. Could you now please escort us to the castle. I don't have free time to spare. » The headmaster smiled at that and showed the way to his guests.
« Well dear brother, how is your little family doing. I'm still waiting to see my nephew you know. »
« You know the place is not safe for Draco and you can't leave the castle. Pictures will do for now, until he's trained enough to come here. » Fudge began to look alarmed at the choice of words. What training do you need to come visit a relative in a School full of kids. They were not dangerous criminals.
« Oh stop that , you're frightening the Minister. They're just a bit rough when having fun, that's all. » laughed the headmaster.
« Sure, if riding a Nundu and lashing it on me is lot of innocent fun. I think I would have been dead if you weren't here. » Lord Malfoy looked more blasé than angry. He was used to the way of living of the kids.
« Surely you must be taunting when you say kids are playing with Nundus here. Apart from the illegal part of possessing one, playing with it, as is it was a dog, is very much impossible. » Lucius jut laughed at that and the headmaster smiled fondly. Arrived at the castle's entrance, Lucius Malfoy held his wand in a defensive way, waiting for an attack. The other Malfoy was calm and looking around. Fudge began to fear the worst. The most feared political player was being extra cautious when they were just at a simple school. But he was soon regretting not following the other man's position. He didn't even have time to scream when he was shot by very small and very fast things. He just fell and began to cry. The pain was unbearable. It must have been something dark, an illegal spell. It was so painful, he was having a panic attack. He just couldn't die there, when he just got finally elected. He couldn't even call the Aurors, moving was too painful. He was beginning to loose consciousness when he heard:
« Fudge! Get a hold on yourself! Why didn't you raise your shields?! Foul...! » Malfoy was mumbling while moving his wand around his body. The minister fainted when he saw blood around him. Lucius Malfoy tried to stop the hemorrhage, but blood was flowing profusely and his half-brother just looked a bit bored.
« I will have to obliviate him, again, brother of mine. You will have to teach your kids to use magic instead of muggle weapons. Hell, it doesn't stop... »
« Thank you Lucius, but you know how boring it is to stay in the same place years long. If this how they have fun, I won't take it from them. And they're being quite nice by just shooting him, they could use their new toy from Mexico. It's a light drug that make you shit your internal organs. It's like dry acid or something. Here, blood replenisher, stop whining, the dummy will survive. Anyway, let's just take him to the infirmary. Juliet has found traditional alcohol from Somalia, it will put a bit of color in your life dear brother. » With this, he levitated Fudge's limp body and made way to the infirmary, a long trail of blood behind him. Lucius just sighed and followed the Headmaster. He will just change his clothes later. The school was calm, you could just hear some young kids laugh and play with the beast. The hall was a mess, like would be a house with too much children, but those ones were not inoffensive Weasleys. They were young and wild Obscurials, their went from eleven years old to twenty-one. Some of them arrived when they were fourteen or sixteen. It was depending on when their life became so unbearable that their magic bursted out, leaving corpses behind them. Lucius knew those kids were mudbloods with religious parents or halfblooded bastards born from a forgotten liaison or rape. Some here were the kids of deatheaters, married men or women. But the purebloods were not the only one despicable, even halfbloods and mudbloods were having bastards. Rich or not, they were all dirt as parents, leaving their progeny between the hands of frenetical muggles, who were panicked at the sight of a bit of baby magic, seeing the devil. He knew that to become an obscurial, this children were tortured or mentally repressed, afraid of their own capacities, when it was their birth right to be witches and wizards. Many of them kept the wounds of despicable priests or imams, like his brother.
« Lucius, are you ok? You're not so mad about this, are you? It's just innocent play, totally adjustable. » The headmaster was looking worriedly at his younger brother when this one spaced out.
« Yes, don't worry Saros. I was just thinking about a business deal. Do you still keep your homemade whiskey? It would be very much welcomed. I won't be able to cope with his stupidity when he's gonna wake up. Ugh... A pain in the arse really... »
The headmaster laughed at that and let the Minister of Magic fall on the infirmary bed. It was the only quiet and clean place here. Some beds were occupied by young kids, usually the new arrivals. They were wary and jumpy at any noise. A little brunette girl was sleeping with a device on her head. He knew it could produce music without letting the people around hear it. Lucius had to acknowledge it was smart and useful. He might need one, but muggle technology couldn't be seen at Malfoy Manor... Pity...
The girl had bandages around her head and her hands.
« She has been exorcized by an enthusiastic imam in Birmingham. Her mother was quite the religious one. Her father arrived in time, alerted by his other children, when the imam began to take off the girl's clothes and taking her to a room alone. The father didn't know about his wife's actions, working long hours to pay for the mother's luxury taste. He thought he was saving his daughter in time, but he was saving the imam and the mother. The gril was oozing dark magic. I suppose it's a result from her traumas. It was the witch hunt all over again, even if they were muslims. Christians or muslims, stupid people are all the same, not an ounce of originality. He took his daughter out of the building, and took her to the hospital. By the time, the magic went down and the doctors could attend to her wounds. »
« Burns? » asked Lucius,
« Yeah, with drowning, attempting to « clean » her... It was a mess, but not unusual here. It was a miracle she survived this long without magical help. I think her father was the only thing that kept her alive. He is really thoughtful, comes here every week with his other two children to see her. He always bring sweets for the whole school. He cried a lot when I explained him what his daughter suffered. Blocking your magic is very hard and terribly painful for a kid as you know. I had to throw an Incarcerem when he went to kill his wife and the imam. He went bonkers, but calmed a bit when they were thrown in jail. I saw in his mind he was just waiting for them to get out. He even took contact with the local mafia. »
« Salazhar, it's rare to hear about a decent parent. How is she coping? »
« Very slowly. But you know the hardest part is to hope they won't transform into psychopaths because of the traumas. Hence the toys. »
Lucius was angry but used to those stories. But he couldn't help the sadness clenching his heart when he thought about it, even if those kids didn't need pity but support. It still made him sick. While he was spacing out, looking at the girl's frail form, his brother was looking fondly at him. He knew growing up with the pureblood ideals made it hard to cope with the pain he felt for the young obscurials. He had a child of his own, even if the marriage was an arrangement, he loved Draco very much. He was, indeed, too much protective of his son, which turned the child into a cute brat. He was as handsome as his parents. Lucius was tall with broad shoulders and light long hair. His wife was as blond but with a warmer tone. Narcissa was one of the most beautiful woman he ever saw. But she was a bit of bitch, especially the first time Lucius brought her here to introduce his new wife. She hadn't been shot, but she didn't appreciate the fart bag. Lucius told her about his half-brother only when they married. She wasn't happy to hear about how he was born and how he occupied his time. Leading a school full of dangerous obscurials wasn't the epitome of class in pureblood society.
« Help! HELP! I'm being assaulted! » jumped the minister, following the Enervate casted by the Matron. She silenced him right away.
« Shut the fuck up, wanker. It's just a few shots. Be thankful you experienced having some in your miserable life, you wormy disgusting racist motherfucker. Waste of space and ressources... » she mumbled. « Headmaster, I already told you I didn't want to see those ministry bitches in my infirmary. Just dump them in St-Mungo. » she spat angrily. You could tell by looking at her eyes that she was genuinely disgusted by the Minister, who looked at her scandalized. But Lucius knew better and took a few steps back. The
matron wasn't one to trifle with. The Minister was done, leader of magical Britain or not, he was risking his well being. Just for spite, she could throw an impotent malediction, learned in one of the countries she went to for vacation. She always brought dangerous and dark artefacts for the kids to play with. But she's a genius in her field. St-Mungo often sends her proposals, but she always answered with a picture of her hand giving the finger. She was versed in dark magic and muggle medical technology. Malfoy Company could benefit from her expertise, but he preferred to not risk displeasing her. Still, knowing her brain was holding knowledge worth of millions of galleons was frustrating. But he supposed you needed to be a bit off to work in this school and shit on good contracts. He respected her a lot for that. And she was quite fond of him.
« Lucius baby, how are you?! » she went to him and kissed him on both cheeks. Lucius Malfoy was a grown man, way taller than her and feared by all, but she treated him like an infant. She was quite old but still, he had a reputation and the sycophant of a Minster was looking. His face was paler than he ever saw it and he began to draw out his wand in attempt to apparate. Of course, it never happened because this was still a magical school. It wouldn't do if the kids were able to apparate. A noise rose from the other side of the infirmary. It was the young girl. Half her face was covered with the white shits she was trailing behind her. Holding a knife in her right hand, she pointed it at the minister.
« Better not threaten Mrs Johnson or I'll gut you like the pig you look like. » Her voice was one of a kid, but the coldness was one of pure fury and utter indifference to her actions. There was no doubt in her eyes or her hand. She even knew how to hold the knife properly. The Matron went to her slowly.
« It's alright sweaty. The man can't even hurt himself, he's too much of a coward. He was just trying to flight. » the matron said warmly. The headmaster was just looking at the scene, already raising a shild around Fudge, but not alarmed. The minister began to tremble, pointing now his wand at the girl, in a poor attempt of defense. Lucius disarmed the man, looking exasperated. His brother spoke up.
« She's right Leda, but you could guess only by looking at his embonpoint, right? » Then he looked up to Fudge, « Sir, don't worry, if she wanted to harm, you wouldn't have had the time do anything. She's being quite merciful here, so put your wand back in your pocket and let's move on the visit. But first, let's have tea to up the spirits. » He then gave a hand to the man and helped him getting up. Fudge still looked alarmed, but tried to put on a facade of calmness. He scourghified his clothes and strait them. The headmaster lead the group through the castle, giving little information about the place, only pointing few civilities about the esthetical choices. Saying more would put the caste in jeopardy. Even Lucius knew little about the School. He had confidence in his brother, who stil had to prove him wrong. Those kids were in good hands, the best he could think of. Well, some would say that Dumbledore would have done great with those kids, but both Malfoys knew it wasn't the case at all. With all his influence, the man could have
supported them, but he turned a blind eye. Saros met with him many times while putting his school in place, but the only support he got came from the Ministry or his brother. A high percentage of the funds came also from rich muggle-borns and muggle families.
When they arrived at the greenhouse, they only saw an old door. Fudge had a derisive look on his face, which didn't last long, when the headmaster opened it. Lucius loved the place, Narcissa helped a lot with its conception. It was her idea after all. She was quite gifted in herbology and had a penchant for rare plants. The kids helped choosing them, always going for the man-eating ones of course, but still, it was a wonderful time. They all had fun, even Lucius, who had to pay. It still hurt him to think about the space it left in his bank account. But it was grandiose with a gloomy touch. Would make think about a mix between Tim Burton's films and The Addams. Yes, Lucius knew about them. Narcissa loved this muggle invention, « movies » they call it. She even had him watch them with her in their brand new « home cinema ». She insisted on having one in the School too, saying it was important to nurture the kids imagination. As if they were lacking in the area...
The headmaster pressed a button on a machinery and music came from anywhere in the greenhouse. Some kids were playing throwing rats to a really fattened Carnivorous plant. The headmaster pulled a chair, inviting his brother and the Minister to sit with him.
« Gentlemen, what would you drink? »
« Earl Grey for me please. The Minister too. » An elf, wearing a medieval iron casque, appeared with the beverages and bowed before disappearing. The tea smelled delicious, it was home made. The Headmaster had a hidden garden for tea, so the kids wouldn't destroy it, or worse, change the nature of the plants, making them toxic or disgusting, depending on the mood. Those children were quite skilled, but then, they had excellent teachers in the Matron only.
« Lucius, I have to tell you that you look marvelous. What did you do to your hair? »
« Cut out the pleasantries Saros, we have the same damn hair, you know its natural. » Lucius almost wanted to add a hair flip, but they weren't alone to have this type of fun.
« So, you're related by blood? » asked stupidly the Minister.
« Of course we are! But I'm cuter than Lucius. It's unknown to the public and should stay this way, like for the castle, even if you disapprove of our ways. Therefore, I will ask you to swear an unbreakable vow. » The Minister wanted to protest, his first feeling was to close the freakish school and he could, he was, after all, the most powerful man in England.
« Fudge, you're not the first. All your predecessors did so to protect the kids. You remember Grindelwald? He tried to instrument an Obscurial. » Well, there was an easy way to deal with that, putting down those things, like they should have with werewolves.
« Why isn't Dumbledore taking care of them? He's the most powerful in our world. I'm not doubting your abilities Mr. Malfoy, but anyone would agree with me. »
The Headmaster just sighed. It was always the same question, not even the wording was different. Just for that, he wanted the school to go public. He wanted to trash Dumbledore, but politics came first. Always.
« Yes, he was asked to participate, but his timetable wouldn't allow it unfortunately. But thanks to my brother and Narcissa, we're doing very well. »
« I see. I wonder what retains Dumbledore. Anyway, would you like to discuss something in particular with me? Does the school need something? Funds or teachers? » said the Minister, with an extremely polite tone.
The oldest Malfoy was taken a bit aback, he was waiting for more reticence from the man. A bit blunt, but the politeness was welcomed. It was hard to convince them without resorting to illegal means like the imperium...
« We're doing great for the moment, thank you for the generous offer Mr. Fudge. » They sipped their tea in silence for few minutes, while looking at the nature. It was a soothing feeling.
« There is nothing like good tea and good company. I have to say this place is really lovely. » Fudge had a little stupid smile on his face. The Headmaster's face hardened and turned to his brother who was just looking at the kids playing, calmly sipping his tea, legs crossed. The eldest son threw a mufliato charm on both of them and said:
« You druged the bitch brother? »
« 'course I did. He wouldn't behave and was plotting to close the school. » He didn't tell him about the darkest thought where he was executing the kids and the werewolfs. This man was real trash, even if it was mondaine pureblood opinion and wish. Lucius wondered when he changed so much? When did he see those kids like real people, children deserving protection and the best, despite their origins and state? If his father knew... He would have killed him ad raised Draco. Sure those kids were a danger to society, but how was it their fault? Context damn' it!
« Damn' Lucius, why would you do that? How am I supposed to convince him? You won't be able to manipulate him with that all the time. Obliviation is my last resort... »
Lucius looked at his brother, who was a bit on edge. « Lucius, one of our students flight one month ago and we still don't have news or clues about where she is. I need the help of the Aurors. Shivani is more special than my other kids. She's bipolar and even Mrs Johnson couldn't find any medication to help. Her bipolarism is different, new in the field and she was closely watched. She might even have split personalities. We didn't identify them yet but, she is still really suspicious of us and magic in general. She has trouble dissociating reality and her own imagination. We know little of her family, she was just always navigating between foster families. »
The younger Malfoy looked aghast, he wasn't prepared for that. His brother never lost a kid, this one must be quit skilled. « Without help brother, I won't be able to find her. I need the Aurors. And if he agrees, Maugrey would be a great help, but he doesn't answer my letters. I don't know how, but she's able to concile her magic trace. I am at a dead end, and she could be really dangerous for other people. She hurt the Matron badly when she tried to bath her. »
« That won't help the cause of the Obscurials... He's already chocked with medium play. He will release the Dementors for her. He's a coward Saros, he will panic. But I can get you some discrete, good Aurors. For Mad-eye, you'll have to visit him and show him the school, I believe. He needs to understand why it's so important to find her without killing the kid. » The Headmaster knew he had to be cautious with the retired Auror, but he had good instinct, he was his best chance to find Shivani. Lucius took out his wand and to lead the Minister to the gates.
« I think it's time to go, I'll be back with Aurors tomorrow. »
« I understand, thank you Lucius. » He side-hugged his brother with one arm and led them to the gates. Leda watched them walk down the alley from the window. She was eating a bit of Swiss chocolate. She loved the one with milk and crunch. It was bad for her teeth but she loved it. This tall man was really pretty, like a doll, with his long hair. Anyway, she needed to back to bed. Her medications were starting to tire her. She put her head on the cushion and just stared at the ceiling. She wasn't ready to sleep, this places still was foreign to her. Really slowly, she surrendered to Morpheus. She missed her father, brother and sister. Her sister was so cute and loved to eat. Her little brother was a tornado, with who she could fight for fun. They both loved martial arts and Naruto. But the Nurse didn't know about Naruto, she was too old... She didn't understand why when playing fight she could move, but when she was hit, she couldn't. Even though she was quite strong for her age and sometimes really fearless. But when her mother hit her, she couldn't move. She only could feel anger. It built up in her chest until she couldn't breath, she wanted release despratly. Why was that? Why didn't she tell her father? Sometimes, it felt normal, like she deserved it. Like it would help her be better, until things went worse. This new man, this imam who looked like a good person at first. God is supposed to help you right? Especially when you believe in him strongly, when you pray and read the Coran, right? The verses were beautiful and southing. But the imam's words didn't feel beautiful and southing. He asked her why she allowed the djinns in her, why she would make her mother cry and scare her She felt bad sometimes for her mother, but she couldn't control what she was doing. She didn't even know what it was before came the Headmaster. Then she began to cry out of fear, the imam just looked at her with disgust, shaking his head with a severe face.
« You're not muslim, or the djinns wouldn't have approached you. Don't you fear God? »
« No! I am a muslim, I believe in God! I pray and I read the Coran! I don't know what it is! I didn't ask for it! I don't even know what a djinn is! Please, tell my mom I don't know what's happening! I don't want my mom to cry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorr- »
« Shut up! I don't want to hear your lies! You play with sorcery, it a terrible sin! You're a witch! How dare you lie? You don't deserve to touch the Coran, you're filthy. » Leda's face was pale and her face brilliant with her tears. She looked sick, she didn't move. Nobody was believing her. The imam was now just looking at her with superiority. She felt little.
« Mrs Ammad! » he called for her mother, who came in.
« Yes? »
« She needs purification. She must have done sorcery to do what she did. My father has once seen such a case. It only became worse and she even harmed people. We need to begin now! » His eyes were bright with impatience and the mother just looked at her.
« Mom, please! I swear I didn't do sorcery! I never did! Please! Please! Please! » But her mother just slapped her hard, with no warning. Leda just stopped her pleadings and stared at her mother, crying silently. She wanted to die. Fast, with no pain. She looked then at the floor. She gave up trying to convince her mother. She wanted to go back to her bed and sleep, with luck, forever. The imam got up and went looking for something in his office. He came back with ropes, a Coran and a Kanun. When Led saw those, she was terrified. Her blood ran cold. In a second she got up and ran. But when she arrived to the doors it was locked. She began to screech and scream for help and banging on the door the hardest she could.
« HELP! HEEEEELP! HELP! HELP! HELP! PLEASE! PLEASE! » The door banged, and a woman asked for what was happening but then the imam came to the door with her mother who took her and put her hand on her mouth and nose. Leda began to suffocate rapidly. She struggled, trying to escape. But nothing would do, her mother was stronger than her. The imam told the other woman that they were disciplining a kid and Leda's mother confirmed and apologized for the commotion. The woman said it was ok, that even her children could benefit from a good discipline and then went away.
Her mother looked at her with hate.
« See how you're humiliating me. Now everyone will know I have trash for a daughter. You're not even pretty and you're giving me such a hard time. Didn't I suffer enough in this life? Why are problems always following me? You're going to hell, that's for sure. Tiring me, God will punish you for not obeying your parent. You'll be punished for everything you did to me. »
Leda pleaded with her eyes, trying to get the hand off her nose. She couldn't breath, she was really frightened by her mother's words. She didn't want God to punish her. She did nothing wrong. She prayed everyday when her mother didn't. Why would God punish her and she did everything right? She always obeyed her mother. It's true she sometimes disobeyed, but it was because she couldn't lie to her father. Telling lies was a sin and she didn't see why her mother would lie about the money was spent. She always took a coffee and she and her brother and sister took the free sirop, so it wasn't expensive. It was good to save money, it's what her mother said. And to be a good child, you had to give the money to your mother, not spend it. It was a waste to spend it when they were just kids. Her mother always said that she never had money at our age, so she deserved to be happy now.
« You're only causing problems. Now sorcery? You were odd from your birth, ugly and doing abnormal stuff. I saw you. Don't lie, I saw you. You're lucky I didn't give you away... You better not tell your father about this, he will be really sad and ashamed. I've never seen a father care about his kids like your father. You don't want to cause him problems right? »
Leda stopped moving at the word birth. She never asked to be born, even less to be born like that. She didn't want to shame her father. So she shaked no with her head.
« Now you're going to let the imam help you. He's taking a great risk for you and you're dangerous. »
So the imam approached and tied her feet together and then her hands in her back. She was stiff, wanting to escape from there. Go as far away as she could, disappear. She liked the place where she could see mountains. She loved them, so she tried to ignore the prayers of the imam and thought about mountains and the films she loved, like the Shinning and Batman. The Pinguin was so gross, it was amazing, it made her laugh. At the sound of her laughter the imam stopped talking.
« Do you think the words of God are to laugh at? Miscreant! Disgrace! Take your daughter out of here woman! I can't help demon's whores. Get out! »
The mother was angry and just tried to pity the imam. It was her preferred method, to seem pitiful and powerless. It worked well when she was beautiful, but the weight and surgery didn't help her be beautifuler, so she just looked disgusting to Leda. She felt like the girl in the Exorcist, laughing at the religion, even if she wasn't possessed like her. When her mother's pleads didn't work, she took Leda by her arm and shoved her in front of her.
« Get up! »
« I can't, I'm tied... » Leda was crying, being shoved like that was painful emotionally and physically. It was just so cruel, as simply as that. She tried to get up but couldn't. So her mother went to her and removed the ties violently, hitting her doing so. The imam just stared sternly. When the ties were finally removed, her mother grabbed her by the back of her pullover and pulled her body on her feet. Leda fell back on the ground, she couldn't keep her balance then her mother kicked her in her back.
« Get up, whore! Stop your play, you'll get punished. As soon as we're home, you're going to clean the whole kitchen and living room. You'll see, I'll educate you, scum. » Leda got up like she could. She cried silently and followed her mother to the exit.
Her mother pinched her hard on her arm. « Tidy yourself, don't embarrass me. » she whispered and walked away to the parking. Leda tided her clothes, but couldn't stop crying. The tears were just going and going. Everything felt overflowing, overwhelming. She had a hard time to breath, to move. She felt the air getting heavy, the temperature going down. Her eyes were closed, she didn't see her mother coming back for her. He mother grabbed her like a snake would attack, really fast, Leda didn't notice her until the pain on her arm woke her up from her trans. There was a force, the second she felt the pan, that unleashed. She felt like it was coming from her tummy. It was liberating, like when you breath fresh out after an apnea contest you won. When she could focus, she saw her mother on the floor, but way further than she was standing. He mother looked like she had been pushed really hard that she flew. But there was no one outside her mother and the imam. His face looked panicked and was sickly pale. His mouth was opened, no muscle was being able to keep his mouth shut. Leda watched him with a certain fascination. He was really ugly, like disfigured. A friend at her school told her that his parents were cousins and that his grand-parents were too. Inbreeding to keep in the family some land was stupid in Leda's eyes. It's not like they were billionaires or something. Her mother began to make noises trying to get up. She didn't seem like bleeding, but maybe the shock hurt her. The imam just went back in the room and closed the door. Leda didn't move, she knew her mother was going to blame her for this, even if she didn't understand what happened. She felt she was going to die, her mother was going to kill her by trampling on her wither shoes on. She already lived it and with the anger that was showing on her mother's face, Leda knew the last time was oing to be really enviable. Leda couldn't move. She wanted to fly away, but just couldn't. She was going to die in a minute. Her mother approached her rapidly, grabbed her hair and dragged her to the car. She threw her on the back sit and slammed the door two times, because the first time, Leda's legs were on the way. Leda cried out and and crawled fast to the other side of the car. When her mother got on the front sit, she closed her door and said nothing. The drive was fast and silent. Leda felt her fear growing, litterally growing. The car began to make noises it shouldn't do. The glasses began to crack lightly. Leda looked up to the noise. Where was it from? Was she really possessed? She prayed so much, how come God was giving up on her like that? She was pious, respectful and obedient. Didn't that count? She just cried even more. When the car stopped in front of the house. Her mother told her to get out. She opened the door and closed it behind her. She felt numb. She walked behind her mother with a safe distance from her mother but not too much so people wouldn't notice. Her pace matched her mother's. At the house door her mother stoped.
« Get in, in front of me. » Leda obeyed and got in. She took off her shoes first and then her jacket. She let place for her mother to do the same but didn't go strait to her room, where she wanted to hide. She didn't notice that she stopped crying the minute she got off the car. Dry tears where on her chicks, and her eyes were fixed on the floor. She heard her sister come to the hall.
« Go back to your room. » said her mother coldly. Leda's heart rate fastened. Her sister obeyed and but she looked at her sister few seconds before doing so.
« GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM! WHY NOBODY LISTEN TO ME IN THIS HOUSE?! » Her sister flew to her room, too afraid to get beaten. She was rarely beaten because she was lucky enough to be born with grey eyes like their mother. Her mother preferred beautiful people. Leda was too ugly for her. She always belittled her on the subject. But being ugly was way better than being a freak, a possessed whore. Her mother dragged by her hair to the bath room and placed her under the shower. She ran the water on her, the water was freezing, so much it felt like it burned her skin. Her mother began to to slam her head on the wall while she hissed to Leda. The stringer was the hiss, the harder she slammed her head. This way, no marks would appear on her body, but she would get beaten.
« Whore. Dirt! How dare you push me? How did yo do it? Did you asked the demons? Don't you fear God, you piece of shit? How dare you? Cheap whore... demons slut... I should throw on the streets where you belong. You don't deserve the food I give. You should go work, scum, and pay for yourself. You should just go die. Miscreant, whore, you're going to stay in your room until tomorrow. And then you'll can the whole kitchen, scrub every thing. You'll pay for what you did. God will punish you for what you did. »
While talking, she slowly put leda's face under the jet, she couldn't breath and was breathing in the water. She was drowning. When she stopped talking, she took her out of the bathtub and drew her on the floor.
« I don't want to see the floor wet, dry it and go change. I want it done in 5 minutes. » Then she got out of the bathroom. Leda got up and vomited the water in the sink . She tried to catch her breath while moving to the drag to dry the floor. She was freezing, I was hard to move. She dried the floor and went to her room. She took off her clothes and dried herself with her towel. She put clothes on and she sat at her bed. She couldn't cry even if she wanted. It was almost the worst feeling. Crying helps a little when pain is overwhelming. But when it was so much too much, tears refused, like the system was blocked. Leda wanted to die. It was too hard. « God never tests you more than you can » or something was wrong. It was bullshit and she was done with it. She did everything by the book, but was still punished. This world was rotten. Behind her window was standing a man, dressed in robes with long blond hair. She didn't see him, but he was there, watching her. When she turned around, he was gone. She felt a presence, but didn't dare to look. It might have been a demon. She might be really possessed after all, but she couldn't accept such an idea. It was too horrible. She heard her father get homeland felt like she could breath again. The second she stand, her door opens. Her mother just looked at her, opening slightly her eyes, her expression was threatening. Leda knew it was a warning to not speak to her father and look happy. She walked to the living room and said hello to her father and gave him a peck on the chick per usual. He then went to cook diner and everyone went back to their room. The mother never cooked. In fact, she did nothing but enjoying herself or work her part-time job she had for more pin-money. She only worked two hours a day at the school nearby for a good salary. But she never had enough. She tool her kids pin-money given by the father. She even raided the son's money pig when he had only few pounds earned here and there doing some work for the father, like helping him washing the dishes. He cried and was really upset when he saw his piggy broken. The mother was really sick. She tried to shush him gently because he didn't respond to threats and beating like his older sisters. Maybe going up seeing them getting treated like gave him reason to stand up for himself. But when she beats him, she beats harder than his sisters. She even put harissa in his eyes ones. Well, she did put harissa on Leda's private parts too. Even if the mother was always denying that, Leda would never ever forget. She remembers the scene too well.
She felt waking up. When her eyes opened she felt good, like there was no pain. Did she dream her life? She searched for the Matron with her eyes, but only saw an empty infirmary. She dreamt the first time she met the imam. After that day, Leda knew for sure that God didn't exist or he just ignored her, which would be worse. No God is better than an absent or unfair one.
She wanted to take a walk outside but it was too soon they told her. She didn't miss studying though. She hated failure, but now it was just too boring. Magic seemed interesting. At least it was not demonic and even if it was, she didn't care. A sound came from the entrance. It was a tiny boy, almost an infant. He was carrying a burnt doll and was sucking his thumb. He reminded her of her neighbors in Birmingham. The family had lots of kids, they were neglected. The parents had them for the money the state gave per child. This one seemed lost, looking left and right, surely looking for the Matron.
« She's not here. Do you need help for something? » spoke up Leda. The boy stared at her, a bit frightened. The Headmaster explained her that the other kids were coming from similar situations. Ever past was really personal, but the damage and the hurt was almost the same or they wouldn't have been obscurials. She still had difficulties to understand that word. It was sort of latin. The Headmaster had really pretty hair and was really respectful. He didn't punish her for having a knife with her. He didn't even asked how she got it. In fact, it was her father who gave it to her with other self-defense tools. Now her brother and sister had to take boxing classes and he even took them to shooting lessons. He couldn't bear the thought of having them vulnerable like before.
The little boy approached her slowly. Leda didn't move and just watched him, she didn't want to startle him y getting up. She didn't want his powers to hurt her if he felt in danger. When he arrived at her bed, he tentatively pointed to her fudge bag. So Leda slowly took the bag, opened it and reached for a fudge. She then gave it to him. He took it and took out his thumb.
« I am not supposed to accept candy from strangers. What's your name? » he said with a hushed voice.
« I'm Leda. What's yours? »
« Charles. I'm four years old. » He showed his five fingers, proud of himself. Leda shoed him then four of her fingers.
« This is four. You're showing me five fingers. »
« Ah okay. » He stopped smiling and sucked his thumb again. Leda felt she had been harsh on him. She felt guilty.
« Did you need something else? You can wait for the Matron here if you want or call for an elf. He can her for you. » he just looked at her and then said:
« I don't like elves, they're scary and ugly. »
« Okay then I'll call one for you. But you know, they're really nice and they're not ugly. They're just different and have lots of powers. You should ask a teacher about them. » Then Leda called for the only elf she knew. He was helping feeding her.
« Titi, coude you please come? We need your help. » They heard then a loud crack followed by an elf. The tiny creature was the same size as the kid. That was maybe why he was so scared. The scale was different for him. She would be scared if the elf was the same height as her.
« Good evening Titi. Charles here needs the Matron. Could you call her? »
« Sorry miss Leda, but the Matron had to go out for this evening, but I can call the Headmaster. »
« Oh okay, if it's okay with you Charles ? » The child nodded yes and then there was another crack with no elf to be seen. Few seconds later the Headmaster appareled bear them.
« Good evening kids, did you need something? »
« I want to see my papa, where is he? » Charles said. He was almost crying with no warning. The Headmaster took him in his arms and hugged him.
« You know you can't see your father anymore Charles. He's with your grand-parents beyond the veil. We spoke with him, remember? But we can't do it often, because it's hard for the dead to reach us. We might speak to him in few weeks, okay? »
Leda was astonished. They spoke to dead people. How come? He talked about a veil, so there was an afterlife. She wanted to ask questions to the Headmaster, but couldn't bring herself to interrupt the conversation.
« Now Charles, you have to go back to bed. Would you like a story before? »
« No, I want my dad to read me a story and you're not my dad! » Charles began to cry loudly and there was dark energy, looking like lightening.
« I know you miss your dad a lot Charles. » The Headmaster just rocks him like a baby while trying to south the kid.