Author's Note: Here, before your very eyes, is the much anticipated third installment of a series that has been known to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses…
If some of you are wondering why the second book was ended so abruptly…don't worry about it. If these four books were all in one, it wouldn't be so shocking.
I continue to look forward to writing Reign's story (and now Caelan's, also) and getting feedback. So please review! (Thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story so far, I love you all!)
Disclaimer: *Sigh* Unfortunately I don't own Harry or his friends, peers, teachers, enemies, etc. They all belong to the genius, my inspiration…J. K. Rowling.
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Lunai-sä Book the Third ~ The JourneyOne
Curses
Reign shot up from her bed, her heart racing as she recovered from her now regular nightmares.
They had been disrupting her sleep for approximately three months now—ever since she discovered her newfound curse of stopping time. She looked to the floor of her bedroom and wanted to cry; the path of moonlight streaming over the rug was in the same position as when she first laid down to rest. That meant that right after she fell asleep, her power awoke and cast its spell on her world, discontinuing time.
Reign fell back onto her pillow and cursed loudly. These random occurrences of her stopping time had also been happening for three months, and she was getting extremely annoyed. The elf clenched her fists and threw them back into her new headboard, flinching as her knuckles came in contact with the unyielding wood.
No longer would that cursed snake haunt dreams, but its evil presence still lingered in her rooms. Albus had offered her a new place to stay within the castle, but she refused, explaining that she would not run away from the darkness shrouding her every move.
And now—as she thrashed in her bed—she wondered if things would be different if she had changed rooms. She wondered if she would be sleeping peacefully at that very moment, instead of replaying the nightmare she had experienced.
Most of her visions were very similar—they always occurred at night in the forest. Dark figures chanted around a blazing fire as one predominant figure stood off to the side, surveying them. Next to him was a smaller, more slender figure, who twitched nervously at the sight.
Sometimes the two figures would leave the ritual and disappear amongst the trees, and other times the smaller figure would attempt to join the crowd. And then other times...
Reign shuddered.
Other times two of the cloaked figures would drag a beaten human into the clearing… sometimes it was a woman, others a man, sometimes an older person, and one time they brought in a young girl, who couldn't have been older than twelve. And then they would begin the sacrifice. The dark men would take turns beating the men, raping the women, torturing every victim with curses from their wands.
And the leader of the group, the man that stood aside, would cackle. And the sound would echo everywhere. It mingled with the screams of his victims and the moans and shouts of his minions.
The smaller figure never took part in the gruesome activities. Most often times he would turn away to avoid the horrendous sights, but then the man next to him would spin him around, and he was forced to watch the sacraments.
And when the victims were broken and near death, they were dragged in front of the chief, and he would pull out his wand. It was as black as midnight and always in perfect shining condition. He would point it at the battered humans and a fierce green light would explode out of the end and straight through them. And then their pain was over.
Reign hung her head between her knees as she wept for those poor souls.
Seeing those visions over and over again and mixing them with no sleep was beginning to take their toll on the young elf.
She released herself slowly back into the soft mattress, pulling her sheets up to her chin and curling her body up for warmth. As her eyes began to shut, her ears picked up the familiar tick-tock of the clock beside her bed...and she hoped that time would continue through the rest of the night, allowing her to rest.
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The Great Hall was bustling once again as Reign entered it in the morning. The day was Friday, and tomorrow was another day at Hogsmeade for the older students. It was the last day of classes until Monday; she could tell from the jaunty faces of students and staff alike. All except Severus, whose face only brightened upon eyeing her sluggish frame approach the staff table.
"Hey Reign! Do you wanna sit with us?" asked a voice off to her right. She turned her head and rolled her eyes as Harry Potter's youthful face popped into her view.
"No, Harry...not today." The words escaped her body with every slow, deep breath. Her vision was slightly blurred from her lack of sleep, but she still managed to catch a glimpse of the frown upon Harry's face.
But she didn't care.
"He is so damned persistent," the elf huffed as she fell into her chair beside the Potions Master, who chuckled at her observation.
"He's a Gryffindor," he replied, following her gaze to the teenage boy.
Reign reached for her goblet and missed. Her head felt so heavy upon her neck. Her eyes began to close; she felt a strong grip seize her shoulder before she fell into her plate.
"Jesus, Reign, what's wrong with you?" The elf fell back into her chair and lowered her chin to her chest.
"I can't sleep."
"I find that hard to believe. You seem to have no trouble attempting to nap in your breakfast."
"Shut up, Severus," the elf snapped—he obeyed. Reign sighed as she lifted herself up, rubbing the sleep (or lack thereof) from her eyes. "Ever since this damned 'power' fell into my lap, it's been eating away at me. I can't control it. It's taken over!" Her fists slammed into the table. Snape place a firm grasp on her shoulder, hinting for her to calm down. "It'll happen in the middle of the night, Severus. I'll feel like I've been asleep for hours...hell, I have been asleep for hours...but after looking at the moon, or my clock...oh Kor…" Her face fell into her hands. "I can't go on like this." Severus placed a cold hand on her back, patting it softly as his eyes darted around the Hall. The damned woman made him so uncomfortable at times.
"Reign, get a hold of yourself," he hissed at her.
"What?" Her head snapped up and she glared at the Potions Master.
"You'll be fine...just a few more months..."
"Severus, I could be dead in a few more months. My biological clock is so screwed up I feel like a bloody plaything for time!" The man stared at her as a familiar wave washed over the elf. Reign growled and flung herself back into her chair. Folding her arms across her chest, she waited patiently for the wave to pass. Her foot bounced impatiently as she crossed her legs and glared at the sea of frozen faces.
She was still mumbling curses when everything began again. Severus stared curiously at her.
"Maybe we should just place you in some dark, isolated, underground cave so you'll never even know what time it is."
"That is not funny." An uncomfortable silence passed between them as they ate. Reign devoured her breakfast in an unimaginably short amount of time; she was done before Severus had a chance to top off his cup of coffee. He jumped when he heard the clang of silverware hit Reign's plate as she pushed back her chair and stood up.
"I'm finished." The tone that she used made Severus think she wasn't just talking about being finished with breakfast. She passed behind him and he caught her arm before she slid out the back door. The elf spun around and glowered at him. Severus sighed as he stood up and led her to the door.
"Is there anything I can do?" The sincerity in his voice softened Reign's features and heart. She shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"Will you let me know...?" Reign gazed into his dark eyes and smiled softly.
"Of course." He let go of her and watched as she slipped away from him. "I'll see you at lunch. Have fun teaching today."
Fun? Did such a thing even exist when he taught?
Severus turned on his heal and walked in the opposite direction as the elf, but his heart and mind never left her side.
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