Disclaimer – I don't own them, wish I did at times but hey a girl can dream. Anything you recognize belongs to J.K. Rowlings, anything you don't is mine.
Author's note –First I would like to say sorry for not getting this written sooner, but with possible carpel tunnel in my wrist and 3 upcoming AP tests it is kinda hard to get anything done. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed and all those who have continued to read this story even when I am cranky in the author's note. I really appreciate everyone's opinions and I promise to keep writing this until it ends. On another note since I did list Herimone as a main character I am going to try and make her more a part of the story, I am warning readers though it will probably end up causing a slight split in the story with each couple getting their own chapters till I get the story integrated. Oh and the different styles such as italics and the bold typing are to show that a hell hound is speaking, Italics means Cian, bold means his sister and both means their mother, if I have more hell hounds I will try to find a better way to show this. As always I love feedback either in the form of a review or in the form of an email, feel free to email me at web_chick_18@hotmail.com and Thanks again. =)
Chapter 11
Breakfast was a jolly affair for Kalila, Remus and Cian, jokes were traded and stories told over delicious plates of food prepared by the House Elves. Kalila felt better with each bite she took. As the last bite was taken the soreness of abdominal muscles was taken note of, the price of so many jokes. The morning slipped quickly towards noon as Remus and Kalila sat before the fire and talked, growing to know each other ever better. Finding many similar interests and shared views. As they were getting ready to go down to the Great Hall for lunch Akina became preoccupied and agitated, the suddenly she just disappeared leaving behind a gaping Remus and Cian.
"Drat! The council must have been hounding her or something has happened in the Isles. Come with me, I need to speak with the Headmaster and Annie and then I believe our help will be needed in the Isles."
Following Cian towards Dumbledore's office, Remus had to wonder why Cian wanted his help.
"Remus you are the DADA teacher at one of the best schools of witchcraft and wizardry, you have survived one war with Voldemort and are an active participant in the second and Kalila trust you, a rare thing indeed. If it is serious enough Kalila will most likely call upon the Aurors for help, but that will most likely only happen if the Isles are at the point of being overwhelmed. With you there not only will I know that the person you stands beside me can fight, but also that they won't have the impaired judgment that Kalila and I often exhibit."
By this time they had reached Dumbledore's office and had passed by the Gargoyle and were soon standing before Dumbledore.
"Headmaster something has come up that called Kalila away. Either the council was hounding her or something has happened in the Isles. I will speak with Annie shortly to she if she know what is going on but I feel that I am going to need to borrow Remus for a bit to see what had happened."
"Of course. Do you wish for me to send for a group of Aurors to accompany you?"
"No, we should be fine for now and if there is a need I will make sure that someone whether it be Remus, Kalila or myself, sends for them."
"Very well then. I believe Annie will be in the Great Hall shortly. Will you be able to take Remus with you to the Isles? Fae once mentioned it is hard for outsiders to get in."
"Yes, don't worry about that, they won't hinder me. If we haven't returned or sent word by sunset the you shall know that something is wrong."
Bowing as much as his canine form would allow Cian then turned and hurried towards the Great Hall to catch Annie.
"Annie! Have you felt a disturbance in the Isles or a call from the council?"
"No, but then I wouldn't. I am not very connected to the Isles, I have no power in the wards and I am not on the council."
"growls Today was shaping up to be a good day. Thank you Annie." Then turning to Remus, "Hold on to me, what ever you fell do not let go."
Nodding Remus knelt next to Cian and locked his arms round Cian's middle. Closing his eyes and pressing his face into Cian's soft pelt Remus was hit by a fierce wind that was intent on tearing him away from Cian. As the wind continued to rage he was assaulted by a bone deep cold, just as Remus was sure that he would freeze to death or be torn off by the wind they stopped abruptly and instead he felt the sun upon his back. Lifting his head Remus stared at the surroundings, instead of the stonewalls of Hogworts he saw a water fountain and a garden full of flowers. Letting go of Cian, Remus got shakily to his feet for a better look.
"Follow me Remus, the first place we need to check is the Council Hall and if she is not there then palace and school."
Cian started of in the direction opposite the way Remus had been facing, leaving him to follow or be left behind. As they walked along the brick path Remus' head was constantly in motion as he looked at everything around him from the neatly kept flowerbeds to the buildings beyond. All to soon, it seemed, they came upon a great stone building with Massive wooded doors. On each side of the doors stood guards armed with sheathed swords and spears, as they approached the guards stepped up to block their way.
"Halt! No one may enter while the council is in session."
"Then I am no one for I am going to intrude. Move aside or be moved, it is you choice."
"We cannot allow you to enter. By decree of the Lords no one may enter unless baring a pass or escorted by one of the Lords themselves."
"Really? I'll have to inform the Queen, this will assuredly displease her after she decreed all except the most serious of sessions to be open to all. Now move aside, I have business with the council."
Without warning the guards were moved aside and held there as the doors opened inward.
"Coming?"
As Cian walked inside Remus followed and the doors shut behind him. Remus followed Cian down a corridor to another set of regal double wood doors, again flanked by armed guards.
"You cannot disturb the Lords within, the council is in session."
"Is it a secret matter which they are discussing or one which would fall under the category as being declared open to all by the Queen?"
"That is non of your business and irrelevant. Hell Hounds and other magical beings are forbidden from setting foot before the council."
"Well that is new. Now move or be moved, the sneer Lords shall have to deal with their displeasure."
"We will not."
Just as before the guards were moved aside and the doors opened inward, into a large high ceiling chamber filled with men in the fashion of nobility in loud debate. As Remus followed behind Cian the debate halted abruptly.
"I have business to set before the Queen and council. Where is the Queen? It must be she who hears it first."
"voice full of contempt And who are you to demand such a thing? You are nothing more that a beast and not fit to grace such company."
"growling I have more right than you so called lords do. I am Cian, Lord of the Hell Hounds and above your right to question. Now tell me where the Queen is!"
"You are nothing more than an animal. And you sir, who are you to follow this animal?"
"I am Remus Lupin, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogworts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Whom an I speaking to?"
"I am Lord Hiram Mayfield, head of this council. State the business that brings you to disturb this council."
"It is a delicate matter that must be put before the Queen first. We were told to we could find her here."
"All business must go through the council first, surely you must understand?"
"Enough! Where is Kalila?"
"It is no business of yours where the Queen is you Mutt!"
"ENOUGH! Both of you! Cian calm down I'm standing right here. As for you Lord Mayfield you had best get out of my sight! My views on this subject as well as on who may or may not present business and to whom they may present it are well known. The Hell Hounds are our allies in this fight to survive and every last one of you in this chamber need to learn to put aside your preformed opinions and learn to work together with those you don't necessarily like. If you don't the Isles are doomed to fall to Voldemort. Take that to heart Gentlemen for it will happen. Now all of you are dismissed, this council session is over and gentlemen of the council I highly suggest you try to follow my dictates, the next time you don't could be the last time."
Slowly showing their contempt for their Queen the council of Lords filed out of the chamber leaving behind Remus, Cian, Kalila and the two Hell Hounds flanking her: Isolda and an unknown Hell Hound.
"startled Mother?"
"dryly Who did you expect, the Queen of the Fairies?"
"But…but…you never leave our lands…"
"How would you know? You have been alive a fraction of the time that I have. Besides after yesterday and this morning I saw no sense in our kind hiding when we are of better use fighting. As for why Isolda and I are here at this moment shrug like movement Kalila requested our presence."
"Perhaps a better question would be, why are you here Cian?"
"Because I worry when my friend and Queen disappears without a word! So here I am thinking you are in need of help and dragging Remus with me only for it to appear that you need no help and vanished for no important reason!"
"Cian!"
"What did you want me to do Cian stop and say, "Sorry, but the wards round the Isles are flickering and losing power, some dropping so I need to pop over and see if any one is killing the priests and priestess'?" There wasn't time the energy loss was too great and too many of the wards were losing power and falling! sigh As it was I was to late, the ruling priest and priestess are dead as well as a least a dozen of each order."
"Then you should not be here, for that means you are in danger here as well!"
"Cian do you believe Mother and I to be inadequate to the task of protecting Kalila?"
"No it's just…"
"It is just she has been is his care for son long that he finds it hard to entrust her to anyone else's care. But then on this he has a point, Kalila, it is dangerous for you to be here. There is a Dark Assassin loose."
"grimly I know, and it is one of our own. An outsider could have never gotten close enough to kill the ruling priest and priestess. This isn't the place to talk of such matters though, the wall of this room have both eyes and ears."
Taking their cue from Kalila they followed her out of one of the council chambers many smaller doors and down many long corridors in silence. The corridors became less and less formal the longer they walked, when they finally stopped before a door the corridor around them was a startlingly white and lined with flowers. The room beyond the door was a pale green and filled with light from the many windows, everyone was motioned towards the large white cushions upon the floor, arranged around a low wood table. Upon taking a seat Remus was surprised at how comfortable the pillows were. A bright golden light filled the room when Kalila snapped her fingers, only then did she sink to sit upon a cushion, looking happily at the food that had appeared upon the table.
"You know you should be more careful of your magic use, even here, after the events of yesterday."
"shrug I know, but magic isn't as tiring here for me. Now am I the only one who is hungry."
Stomachs round the table chose that moment to growl getting smiles out of all, though the Hell Hound's smiles were odd looking. The all began eating with a vengeance, dishes of chicken, beef, rice, apples, peaches, banana bread and corn diminishing quickly. Remus and Kalila had to dish up the food for the Hell Hounds, but before long the five of them had managed to polish off every last bit of food upon the table. A wave of Kalila's hand and the empty dishes were gone.
"Kalila!"
"I know, I know, but you're going to have to deal with it for the moment since I have one more thing I need to take care of right now."
"Kalila don't you dare! We can do it just as well as you!"
"sigh then go ahead."
Rising to their feet the three Hell Hounds faced each other and was each surrounded by a colored mist; Cian in green, Isolda in purple and Nadia in blue. Before long all three sat down and the mist faded.
"Well?"
"No one is watching or listening or even around for that matter. It is safe as far as magic can tell."
"Now that it's safe would one of you like to explain what is going on?"
"This morning the wards around the Isles were flickering, I thought nothing about it until three dropped in a row, then I worried, as a large amount of the wards kept flickering I knew something was wrong so I teleported here. When I got here I found six wards down, a half dozen close to falling, the ruling priest and priestess dead and dozens more of each order dead. It's not hard to tell the work of an assassin from an accident or chance if you know what you are looking for and even easier to see the work of a dark assassin. It is almost impossible for a Dark Assassin to have come from anywhere but here, and there has to be more than one. The wards against the dark are too strong even with so many weak and falling. Yet how one has hidden amongst us for so long, boggles the mind."
"What do you mean?"
"Those who follow the ways of the dark have an aura that reflects that to some degree. The further immersed in the ways of the dark, the deeper the shade of their aura. Time lightens it, but only if they have had no contact anything dark."
"For this person or people to have remained hidden all this time, this would have had to have been their first dark act ever or in a great while."
"I still don't understand, what would the shade of their aura have mattered since only you the Hell Hounds can see them?"
"Anyone who has ever passes the trials of the orders can see them. quietly whether you wish it or not. The more powerful your initial trial, the more you are forced to see."
With a sudden movement Kalila was on her feet and walking to stand beside the glass leading out into a small walled garden.
"One can only see so much before one doubts one's sanity and the worthiness of the world. When it is almost impossible to see the good through all of the bad you lose hope. To be given glimpses of what's to come and not given an idea of what to do to prevent what will happen is maddening. The question of why I dislike my father had been asked and the answer lies within what I see. I have seen his aura as black when others see it as white and I know of things that might come to be and that I desperately hope do not. I failed those who trusted me, I saw but did not believe and so innocents lost their lives."
As Kalila stared at the scene beyond the door Remus looked at the three Hell Hounds in shock. Then the sun was eclipsed by a sky full of angry looking purple and black storm clouds and rain began to fall, drenching the earth below. The door opened so softly that no one heard it, as Kalila slipped out into the rain. Upon reaching the Isles she had changed into something a bit more formal that her jeans and her silver top and jewel blue skirt were soon drenched by the cool rain, but she didn't notice. She was too intent on blaming herself for the deaths of so many innocents. She had been given a glimpse, had been warned this would come to be and had done little to stop it, because she hadn't believed. Reacting to her emotional state the torches set around the garden and the candles in the room inside flared to life.
In shock and amazement the four stared at Kalila, watching the steam spiral up from where rain drops hit her, and then they saw the ground around her feet, it was black and steaming with ash.
"shaky voice What is going on with Kalila?"
"very shaky voice The weather and the flames are reflecting her emotional state. I have NEVER seen this much power in one person before! It is radiating off of her in waves of what feels like pure energy! We have to calm her down, otherwise the amount of energy moving through her will greatly harm her."
Just as Nadia finished speaking a bolt of lightning struck the ground, only inches in front where Kalila stood and was followed by a great boom of thunder that shook the walls in their foundations. Then as suddenly as the storm had appeared, it melted away revealing a flawless blue sky. As the storm died so did the flames. When Kalila turned to walk back inside a look of grim determination had settled upon her face and there was a ruthless gleam in her blue eyes. "I will catch them," is all she said, but her tone left no doubt as of what would happen when she did.
