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 –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. I am working on writing and typing more, but unfortunately since my AP Statistics grade is now at an all time low, still, and I have to pay a bit of attention to that as math is my weak spot. 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. =) Oh and I did mention that I am not very good at the romance stuff right? Oh and does anyone remember whether I ever stated Kalila's eye color?
Chapter 13
As the full moon approached, tensions mounted. Kalila and Remus grew closer under the treat of her death but others in the castle were at a tension cause impasse.
"Herimone…"
"What? I do not want to hear another speech on how you must do your duty Severus Snape! I have heard it enough. I love you and I am not about to stand aside and watch as you place yourself upon a sacrificial alter so that you can do what you consider to be your duty! It is bad enough that I have been able to do nothing but watch and wait when you are forced to Voldemort's side!"
"Herimone all I have left in me to redeem myself is my love for you and my duty! I cannot afford to lose either or I will be so much less of a man, with little hope of redemption. Before you came into my life duty was all that kept me alive, the only reason not to let my past swallow me. Then there you were and I had an even greater reason. I love Herimone and for that reason I am compelled to do my so called duty, I do it to protect you from what would happen if I didn't."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it! I cannot lose you Severus, keep that in mind the next time you have a chance to get out."
As she turned to flee Severus caught her shoulders and turned her to face him. Putting a hand beneath her chin he tilted her head upwards to meet his gaze. As he did so he took stock of her appearance yet again. The top of her head barely reached his chin; her hair frizzy and unmanageable in school had become a gorgeous mane of tame brown curls; the only thing that hadn't changed since her school years was her eyes, they were still a warm and gentle brown as they met his.
"softly I cannot live without you either Herimone and that is why I do this. sigh I wish it were so simple that I could just quit but I cannot. The only way we can ever be completely happy is if the world is free of shadow. We will most likely only get one chance at that and I have to continue my role for that to happen. I don't know who will face Voldemort in the end, Harry or Kalila, but we can only hope that the one to whom the duty falls will be able to destroy him. cups her face in both of his hands With you here I will always have a reason to return alive from the horrors I have seen and been a part of. Can you see why I must do this Herimone, can you see why Kalila, Harry and I and those like us do what we do?"
"crying softly I understand, but I don't have to like it. My heart and my head disagree on this; my head agrees with you, but my heart want nothing to do with any chance of losing you."
Sighing Severus pulled her tightly against him, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head against his shoulder, underneath his chin. He was content to just stand there with Herimone in his arms as time slipped away and the sunlight faded to twilight. Sighing they broke apart, clasping hands so as not to lose all contact. They ate dinner in Severus' rooms not wishing to have anyone intrude on their understanding of what was to come. Neither could bare to leave the other and so they fell asleep in each other's arms upon the soft carpet before the fire in the hearth.
Elsewhere in the castle another battle was being waged, not between lovers, but between a daughter and her father.
"I have kept the peace Kalila, I have stood by for the last two weeks and done nothing. I did nothing when you collapsed, but now I cannot stand by and watch as you embark on a suicide mission! I lost your Mother to this war, I am not about to lose you to it as well!"
"It isn't your choice, it is mine! It is my duty it is my choice! I didn't come here to argue with you, I just came to let you know something of another nature."
"Then you could have saved yourself a trip, Remus has already talked to me about your relationship. I can't say that I approve of your being involved with someone twice your age, but it isn't for me to decide."
"You're right it isn't. I thought you should know what was between Remus and I, nothing more. But I warn you now if ANYTHING should happen to him I will check first in your direction and then in Arturo's! I see what others cannot, will not and have seen a great deal about you! Do not think that because you contributed to my existence I will over look relevant past misdeeds! I don't need your approval of my actions, I never have!"
"sarcastic What a surprise. When have you ever waited for approval on anything for anyone?! Your mother learned to seek my approval soon after we were married; she found that is made her life far easier. Perhaps it is time for you to learn the same lesson that she and your brother did."
"I don't think so."
"Oh, but I do. It is past time for you to learn your place, below the lowest of the low. The Dark Lord will be greatly pleased to have you kneeling before him, even if you no longer possess your entire mind when you do so. advancing towards Kalila And besides if you disappear it will be assumed that you have gone home to deal with another emergency and no one will know anything. And if you turn up dead who will even think to look for guilt among grieving family members?"
"If you try you will learn first hand what I can do when pushed. Most who have are now in so many pieces that they are no more than dust, but you and your puppet master are welcome to try."
"laughs The amount of arrogance you display is amazing, but then your Mother was like that as well until she met me. She learned then how to obey her betters."
Kalila's expression was that of an innocent completely contradicting the devilish sparkling in her eyes. Rafael had accused Kalila of great arrogance, but the accusation fit him far more, if he had just looked into her eyes he would have foreseen what she was about to do. In the blink of an eye Rafael was thrown up against the wall behind where he stood, and held half way between the floor and ceiling. As he hung there a white light shown through his sleeve in the form of the dark mark Satisfied Kalila let him drop to the floor. A look of anger upon his face Rafael stood and started toward Kalila murder in his eyes only to be thrown against the wall once more. This time when Rafael hit he was held there indefinitely, glaring all the while at Kalila.
"What do you plan to do now daughter? Kill me?"
"No, I won't kill you, yet. Your lord will cause your death in good time. I doubt that your Dark Master will appreciate the fact that when I come before him and I am not weak or scared. laughs But then I never have been."
"He will eat you alive and I will laugh. You will lost to the Dark Lord Kalila and it will be your own fault, for you are under estimating him. You stand no chance Kalila, give up now and perhaps he will let you live as his slave."
"smile I think not."
Still smiling Kalila walked to where he was held against the wall and reached up to touch his dark mark through is sleeve. Backing up she snapped her finders and the lower part of Rafael's sleeve vanished, exposing the dark mark upon his forearm. Stepping forward again Kalila sighed and as she raised her hand to touch the dark mark again she sent out her thoughts to Remus and Cian, then she lowered her hand to the dark mark.
A wild wind tore through the chamber opening books, scattering papers and tugging at Kalila and Rafael's hair and clothing. Then they were gone and the wind died. Else where a figure was walking down a deserted street when he felt a tugging at his scare, concentrating upon the feeling a look of grim determination came upon his face. Taking his wand out and holding it tightly with one hand, he reached up with the other to touch his scare. Not noticing the wind that had sprung up around him, heralding his own disappearance.
