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. Stuff with … before the quotation marks is yet another magical beast that speaks. 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? Sorry for the long delay with updates the preparing for the English Lit and Comp. AP test was taking up a lot of time, but now that is over with I will do my best to get caught up…please excuse anything that doesn't make sense 4 hours of testing tend to fry the brain just a bit.
Chapter 15"What have you done Kalila?"
"Taken matters into my own hands, I am sick of fighting this war and I know that it is past time for it to end! If my death means the death of you and Voldemort and those who follow you, then so be it, I will give it freely."
"You are just like your mother, she could have lived forever, ruled the magical world but she had to choose the path of the unselfish, snort of disgust and look how far it got her."
"It got her farther than you will ever go."
"But child your father is right, self sacrifice gets you no farther than death's door. Are you willing to die when so many would do nothing to stop your death?"
With a chilling smile and a look of ice Kalila snapped her fingers and took them all to limbo, her favored ground, and their final destination in the flight of life. With limbo the clay and Kalila the sculpture, terrain was created and molded to suit Kalila's needs. Mountains, streams and trees sprang into being, overhead a storm crashed soaking the combatants as they fought across terrain. The battle raged, two against one, both sides trying to wear the other down to deliver a killing blow.
Kalila felt the call from within her and then the warmth and together she and Remus fought, odds tipped in favor of good at last. They stumbled and fell and got up again and to hurl spell upon spell till finally defenses broke. They watched wearily as the two men fell, never to get up. With sighs of determination they returned to the task. While the Dark Lord and his Commander had fallen at last, others remained waiting upon their fate.
Aurors under the command of Harry Potter rounded up all those baring a dark mark and set about sorting out who still had been serving the Dark Lord and who was no longer involved. It was the job of the Hell Hounds and Kalila, with a little help from the stronger members of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. While everything had gone as Kalila and Harry had planned, sorting out the guilty from the less guilty was a slow process. The sorting was slowly draining Kalila of the little strength she had left after battling Voldemort and her father.
There was no one close enough to be of aid when Arturo appeared with a knife in hand and threw it with deadly accuracy at Kalila. To tired to prevent it from hitting Kalila collapsed to her hands and knees. As she did Arturo was hit with so many curses and energy bolts that he was lifted up and backwards and dead before he hit the ground. As those of the Sisterhood and Brotherhood raced to Kalila's side and enraged bellow filled the air. Still struggling Kalila sat back upon her heels and with a gasp of pain pulled the knife from her chest. Placing her hand upon the wound she used her last bit of strength to seal it. Smiling faintly Kalila collapsed again only to be caught by Remus before she hit the ground.
His heart filled with anguish Remus help Kalila to him and traced her face with a hand. He didn't notice those who surrounded him or their agonized pleas to be allowed to help her. All he saw was her face and all of its familiar features: her long black hair, her delicate bone structure, and the pearl like glow to her skin. He saw it all and yet none of it as memories of all they had shared drifted through his mind. He had known her for so short a time and yet it felt like he had known her for forever and the thought of never seeing her blue eyes looking into his again tore his heart to bits. Sobbing quietly into her hair he held her tightly to him until he felt the presence of an unfamiliar spectral being. Raising his head he looked directly into the eyes of a transparent woman.
"hollowly Open your eyes Kalila you have done well but you still have a choice to make."
"whisper Who are you?"
With a groan Kalila opened her eyes to stare at the woman.
"tiredly, voice filled with pain Yes Mother?"
"hollow but tender sounding It is time for you to choose daughter of mine. Do you choose your life or the lives of everyone in the world? Choose carefully, your choice will echo through out the time line."
"tired, pain filled voice pitiful laugh You have to love choices like that, destroy your own life or the lives of every other being. You know my choice Mother, it has yet to change, my life to heal the world."
"smile I thought as much, sigh why do they enjoy giving me these tasks? forcefully You chose the world, your life you give that the lives of the world go on. Your choice is down and your life is yours till there be need of it. smiling Enjoy this life daughter of mine, enjoy the peace and embrace the love. For even your life may prove too short for what the fates have planned."
"Good bye for now Mother, the stars will sing and we will meet again."
"Yes we will when the world has need."
Then Fae was gone, a blooming orchid where she had stood. sighing Kalila closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Remus.
"Kalila? Kalila!"
"What?"
"What just happened? You chose the world over your life and yet you're still here, with me, not that I am complaining."
"My life is being held in the balance like always, if during my long lifetime there is a need for it to heal the world, then my life is forfeited. Now can we worry about this at some later date? I'm tired."
Keeping her cradled in his arms Remus rose to his feet and looked around for a familiar face. Spotting Harry in the distance he started forward only to be stopped by Isolda.
"Don't worry, she will be fine given time to heal. You can probably spend the full moon together, running free. If you hate what is inside you, talk to Kalila, she can forever silence the beast."
"looks shocked She can?"
"She can, but consider carefully, if she does silence the beast it is a permanent thing. And know that within Kalila is a creature yearning to run free."
"I will keep that in mind, but right now I am more concerned with Kalila. I need to get her someplace safe, like Hogwarts, so she can recover. I would take her, but I don't have the strength to go anywhere by any method other than walking."
"I do believe I can do something to help with that. Follow me."
Isolda led him unerringly to where Harry stood with several high-ranking Ministry officials.
"Excuse me, but these two need to get back to Hogwarts."
"And how would you suggest we get them back?"
"Create a Port Key or something of that nature, I would take them but I and all those from the Isles are still needed here. It is imperative that they along with Severus Snape get back to Hogwarts immediately."
"And who are you to demand such things?"
"She is part of the reason Voldemort is dead, the main reason is lying unconscious in Remus' arms. Severus Snape is another reason today was a success. As for Isolda, all you need to know is that she is a friend. Now are you going to bring Professor Snape here or do I have to find him myself?"
"We'll find him Sir, but how will they get to Hogwarts? We don't have anyone to spare who can take them."
"Worry about finding Snape, I'll deal with the rest."
The Ministry official went off to find Severus, leaving Remus with Harry and the other Ministry officials. Sighing Remus braced himself for a long wait, to be pleasantly surprised when after only a few moments the official returned with a slightly battered Snape in tow.
"Remus, Mr. Potter, to what do I owe this joyful visit?"
"You are needed at Hogwarts apparently. Isolda asks that we send you, Remus and Kalila back. I made a port key to Hogsmede and you'll be met there by the Aurors who have been assigned to guard Hogwarts, there should be a Mediwitch with them in case you need any medical attention."
"Is there concern that death eaters might attack Hogwarts even with Voldemort dead?"
"There is no fear of an outside attack, but of an attack from within. Kalila made all dark marks visible to all Aurors, Hell Hounds, people from the Isles and Dumbledore, so now there is fear that those students with ties to Voldemort will attack Hogwarts from within. Dumbledore has confined the students to their houses, since last night, until Cian and Nadia can do what the Hell Hounds here have been doing. Now here is your Port Key. Good luck."
Leaning Kalila into him Remus reached out with Severus to touch the Port Key, seconds later they were in Hogsmeade surrounded by Aurors. Taking no notice of the Aurors Remus headed towards Hogwarts. If Severus hadn't given the Auror in charge the not from Harry, Remus likely would have been killed and not have noticed the danger. They reached Hogwarts in record time to find the castle eerie and silent. Remus continued walking for some time until he came to end of the corridor and had to choose which way to go, the headmaster's office or the infirmary. He looked at Severus and his dilemma was understood.
"She will be just as well off in Albus' office as she would be in the hospital wing. If there is need she can be treated there by Poppy."
Nodding Remus turned and headed towards the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle let them by as soon as they appeared, without a word. Worried they hurried into the office and found a large meeting in progress. By looks there were teachers, Ministry officials and members of the Isles Council present, the noise level was rather high as the Ministry officials and the council members fought. Feeling Kalila moving in his arms Remus looked down to see an unhappy expression on her face, not even her expression prepared him for what happened next.
"QUIET! If the Wizarding world and the Isles cannot learn to live and work together then someday there will be another like Voldemort and I will not be present, in any form, to help! I have been present every time the world has needed me. I have chosen the world above my happiness and myself for a very long time and I again chose that today! I will not stand by and watch you throw away the gift that resides inside that promise. If you throw that gift away by warring among yourselves I will not be responsible for the world falling to the next Dark Lord to be born!"
"WHAT!?"
"The Wizarding world and the people of the Isles must learn to live and work together. Only together can you face what time will bring. I have been here in time of need, but I won't always be."
Looking at Remus she communicated her desire to be set down, reluctantly he did, as she wanted. Watching as she proceeded to take a few shaky steps so she stood in front of Fawkes and Aidon. Standing there Kalila's form shimmered; her jeans and sweater were replaced by black pants, boots and an almost backless black halter top; her hair shimmered and became an iridescent black, like that of a bird's feather; her eyes became a cleared blue that when they looked at you gave the impression of looking right through you to your soul. It was her back that caught everyone's attention, even more than her words had. On her back was a tattoo of a Phoenix that was almost an exact duplicate of Aidon's every color and feather. Below the Phoenix was the phrase: Semper idem vita, omnis necessitas or ever as life, against need. All the strange inconsistencies Remus had heard from Kalila began to make a great amount of sense, not that Remus like what he pieced together.
"You have been the only Arcane Priestess haven't you?"
"Yes and no, the spirit is the same but Kalila, Atka and Truda have always been separate entities free to do as they choose. To live and grow and develop as they would."
"So who are you?"
"shakes head I am Kalila, but yet I am them all. It matters naught who or what I am at the moment, what matters is the fate of the World. I have endured too much to allow the world to go to hell in a hand basket, so you WILL learn to get along!"
The room was still as she finished, as if everyone was reluctant to breath, afraid it would draw her wrath upon their head. Without warning Kalila collapsed in a heap, before anyone could move toward her Fawkes and Aidon began to sing. As they sang light seemed to gather on Kalila's skin making her glow. The singing also called to Fae and she again appeared. She smiled fondly down at her daughter and you could see the yearning in her eyes to touch her daughter. Instead she turned to Fawkes and Aidon. Between them formed thin lines of golden light, forming a triangle around Kalila. The room was still as the three did whatever they were doing for Kalila. The resulting flash of light blinded everyone in the room. Then the dots and spots cleared from everyone's vision Fae and Aidon were gone and Kalila was standing, if somewhat unsteadily.
"I really hate it when my opinion isn't considered, sigh and the decisions are taken from my hands. Aidon always was bossy, even when we were kids, although I have heard stories about what Fawkes was like."
Fawkes just squawked in protest and gave Kalila a dirty look.
"Of course the same types of stories are told about all phoenixes, each has the memories of their former life."
"WHAT!?"
"You didn't know? Phoenixes don't start their lives as they are they tend to begin their lives as wizards or children of the Isles, depending upon how one lives their life they may have a choice to make upon their death. I'm surprised Fawkes didn't mention it…he and Aidon were the ones who explained it to me."
…Kalila did it ever occur to you that maybe we wanted that to stay a secret?…
"Why? Did it occur to you that perhaps I see a reason for it not to stay a secret? Just because you have lived a long time Fawkes does not mean you are all knowing. I have live three lifetimes and still have a great deal to learn."
…You cannot always know what is best for everyone and you only pet your ego thinking you do!…
"I am not petting my ego, or do you forget that I am cursed to see what may come to be. I have seen a great deal about what may come to be now that Voldemort is gone, and yes he is truly gone, all that is good hinges upon a certain amount of corporation between people to keep the future secure. I am not going to watch the world sink into darkness as you bicker among your selves, if I see that beginning I will destroy the world myself!"
Suddenly Kalila was gone and in her place sat a glaring Black Panther. Standing gracefully, tail whipping back and forth she stalked out of the office and down the stairs with a bound.
"I believe we upset her. She hasn't assumed that form in a long while and the last time she did was when one of the council had annoyed her a great deal. I believe she remained a cat for almost a week before calming down enough to avoid killing the offender."
"Why assume the form of a cat? Why does she assume a form at all when it would be more convenient to remain the same and walk away?"
"Because she can't see much beyond what normal sight sees and magic is near impossible, except for the magic to turn back. The Ministry should not be so shocked she informed all officials of it when she came to be an Auror. As for those of you on the council no explanation should be needed."
"demanding Is it true that Arturo and Rafael are dead?"
"Yes."
"Then the Isles are lost."
"You have Kalila still, the Arcane Priestess and your Queen!"
"What ever she may be Headmaster, the people will not except her as their Queen, not after she killed her brother, the true Ruler!"
"Luckily then, the choice is not up to the council or even the people. It is up to Kalila and those who dwell upon the Isles and have since their creation. We choose and those who created the Isles, not you."
"sputtering Certainly not! Why would beasts like yourselves have a say?"
"Because it was willed to be so when the first of your people set foot upon the Isles!"
…Perhaps the example Kalila has shown be followed this once. Otherwise Kalila may throw something else into the mix, like enforced silence on our parts. There is not much she can't do when she wants it done…
