Chapter Nineteen: Where's the Happy Ending?
"Stop squirming, Sydney." Amissa Moon ordered playfully.
"I would if I could get this damn coat to hang right."
"Let me do it."
Sydney obeyed. His uniform was black and simple, not lending itself to any form of decoration or adornment. It was not designed for such purposes. This was an Auror's set of fatigues, war dress and Sydney was making a statement by wearing them into his interrogation. He refused to wear his class A's (the rich Navy robes Aurors were famous for) or his dress (a black and blue set reserved for parties and state dinners.)
He made it known he was viewing this as a war.
He watched skill hands run over his chest, folding the robes of his uniform to rest properly over his strong frame. They ran over the row of buttons fastening them, then sliding them down to straighten and soothe out any wrinkles.
"So," He attempted to smile. "Can I see you after this?"
Amissa Moon glanced up at him from under her frost color bangs and smirked. "Why Mr. Van Ness, are you are attempting to compromise my virtue."
"Depends, would it work?"
"It might."
Sydney slid his hand into her hair and leaned down to kiss his fiancée.
She was easily on of the most powerful women in Hecate, the Minister of the entire Runes Division of Hecate's armies. Younger then Sydney by some years, they had met when she followed Dahlia and Severus out a year after they had come. She was the daughter of the famous Runes Master Tristan Moon, a man Sydney had grown up admiring along with the other Illuminatti legends, including the Snape brothers, Kaiser and Reiner, and the Minister of Magic Byron. He had known them as heroes of his youth but in Amissa he had known a love never experienced before. There was something powerful about their love, something secretive and strong and beyond all words. When he was with her nothing under Heaven could be at fault, and death had no sting for him.
Theirs was a storybook love.
And he would do anything to protect her from heartache. He felt the need to do something to shield her from this hell…
And Sydney felt a swell of pain that caused him to pull away.
"Sydney? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He lied. He closed his eyes. "Nothing at all…I can't be late."
"I'll be waiting for you afterwards, alright?" She said, reaching over and touching his arm. "Just come and find me."
"Nothing will stop me." He promised. He turned away and began to wall down the corridors towards the offices he knew so well.
Sydney, and all the members of his squad were officially called Auror Unspeakables, but a more apt name for them would be Interrogators. They had a certain stomach for doing deeds that were better left unsaid and in some cases, like Severus, Unspeakables had a deadly sort of panache. If this was just a stronger stomach or more sadistic will, no one could tell, but as Sydney entered the room where his fate would be tried, he decided he liked being on the other side of the table better.
The room was small and sparse, and painted a cream with a nondescript blue carpet and one overhead light that leered down. There was one large table, four chairs and a pitcher of water and two cups set out. The two chairs facing the door were occupied by two people, one male and female.
The man was Ellis Pearse, the International Wizardry Council's top spy hunter. Officially he held the rank of an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries but he held no loyalty to department or country. He was famous for his ease and prowess when it came to finding spies and moles, known for his soft-spoken voice but poisonous command of words. He held no love for Hecate or Aurors and was even said to harbor a fierce distaste for both.
And today he was going against a Hecate prince, Sydney Van Ness.
It was going to be a good day.
Beside him was a Kaga Companion he was told to call Sanyu Hecate. She was in charge of personnel at Hecate Compound and answered only to the Headmaster himself. She could make or break careers and lives with a nod of her head. She was cold, calculated and inhumane when it came to these choices.
Today, she was out for blood.
"Who are we seeing first?" Ellis asked softly.
Sanyu consulted her files. "KC9017, and Van Ness."
"Ah, the whore and the commander." He chuckled to himself. "Nice game."
Sanyu looked up just as Sydney entered the room. She picked up a quill, inked it and in her softest voice whispered to him. "Happy hunting."
"State your name, rank for the record." Ellis said, as he picked up a quill and began to write.
"Patrick Ness, Auror at Arms."
"Your real name."
"Sydney Van Ness."
Just then the door opened and admitted a woman, about twenty years old and black hair pulled into a bun. She was wearing the slate gray uniform of a Kaga Companion and she walked in crisp, precise steps that echoed on the hard floors, announcing her presence. As she came closer the light revealed bronze color skin, gray eyes lined with green and an angular face that gave the deception of appearing European. Although not stunningly beautiful, the woman could be called graceful, as one would call a swordsman's hand graceful in combat.
This was Alexander Rouge's so-called whore. Ellis glanced up, met her eyes and looked down quickly. "State your information for the record."
"My name is Erised Hecate."
Sanyu glanced up at her and narrowed her eyes. "Unassigned Companions are not given legal names, state your serial number for the record. That's an order."
"KC9017." The woman replied in a voice devoid of emotion. "They call me Erised Hecate."
Sanyu licked her lips and made a sound akin to disgust. She turned back to the papers. Sydney reached his hand under the table and grasped the woman's hand. He smiled at her but the Kaga gave no sign of recognition.
And that was Erised Hecate. She was the Kaga Companion of his superior officer, Malachi Smith and probably the only person alive who could order him around. She had been his aide and bodyguard since she was sixteen but by that young age had already established herself as one of the foremost Companions in Hecate.
Passive in her appearance, she had never allowed herself idle hobbies or casual activities and had always been impassive and aloof to the everyday occurrences or the little unrehearsed dramas of life. Some described her rightly as cold especially when met with her formulated gaze she always used- be you friend or foe. It gave the chilling impression that she could see pass you, through you and in a moment, if she chose, the ability to destroy you. She was fiercely devoted to her Kaga training and to Malachi and held little regard for anything outside that sphere.
Severus Snape had said she was a like a Guardian Angel who would protect her charge even as heaven and hell fell to ash around her. She would exist in chaos and stillness with angelic peace. And that peace in battle, he said, became delicate, musical and deadly. As she fought, she mirrored a viper's methodical dance, matching rhythm to rhyme as she attacked.
She looked like an Angel and had a serpent's heart.
They had shared something, that much was true, but what was hard and indefinable. Not love, not exactly, for neither of them fully understood love. They had a sort of acceptance for each other, an admiration that in time had grown into respect, that in turn had grown into to something undefined, something beyond reason, or rhyme.
They had said it was even beyond hope.
But that time was gone, and no one knew that better then her. It wasn't a sad thought for her, she was someone who didn't feel fear or pain, love or joy. She was someone who saw the world not in black and white, but in the shade of her gray uniform.
She was simply Erised Hecate, Malachi's Guardian Angel, and Severus' Ashwinder and to everyone else that her knew her best, she was simply Ari.
"Let's get down to business, shall we?" Ellis said softly. "Mr. Van Ness, can you tell me about your squad…"
Hecate was a city besieged and no one could tell if her greatest danger was from within or without. A new darkness was looming over the entire world, caused by a Dark Lord named Voldemort and his ghostly followers who carried names like the Stranger and the infamous Jack the Ripper. The underworld itself was in chaos, the death of the powerful clan leader Daniel had thrown the vampires into civil war allowing alliances to be formed among rouge werewolves, other changelings and dark arts cults around the globe. Voldemort was creating an army and it seemed only Hecate stood in his way.
But Hecate was dying from a Judas kiss. Somewhere within its walls laid a mole, someone who was feeding information to Voldemort and making Hecate follow smoke and mirrors. And the venom of Ellis and Sanyu was seeping through Hecate's halls like a poison, casting doubt on friends, turning brother against brother, and driving warriors to their knees. Those who rebuked this witch-hunt found their voices silenced by transfer, reassignment, or worst- imprisonment. If the mole was not discovered and soon, Hecate would be lost.
And a war the likes of which never seen before would ensure. Those closest to the storm could already hear the distant thunder and raging winds of a tempest about to break.
"Severus? It's a little late to be out, don't you think?" Silas Malfoy asked as he crawled out of the window and shuffled to Severus' side. He reached inside his pocket and offered him a cigarette. "Why don't you come inside?"
Snape was on the roof of the Looking Glass, lying against the sloping roof and staring out into the ocean of stars above him. He was small compared to the vastness around him and perhaps somewhere deep down inside of him, he thought that maybe he could become lost in the heavens if he waited patiently enough. "She would have been three this year, this upcoming May. We were going to take her to England, to meet her grandmother." He closed his eyes, "And I was happy."
"What?" Silas asked.
Severus shook his head, and sat up, folding knees under chin and speaking so soft that Silas had to strain to hear. "I was happy, at least…most of the times I was…there were times I even felt whole."
"Don't trust happiness Severus. It's a fool's paradise."
"Fine, content, is that a better suited word?" He asked, "I had a caused I believed in and people I loved around me. I was under one of the most important men in Hecate. And occasionally, I had someone to lie beside at night. Most days that was enough too. It wasn't hard for me to believe in the flawed caused because I wanted it to be true. Do you know what that's like, Silas? To believe in something with all your heart because you know that maybe it's imperfect but it's worthwhile? Do you know what it's like to have people worth dying for around you and knowing they'll do the same? That's loyal, Silas, that's loyalty unlike anything you've ever seen. Here, things are too…common, and the games are old." Snape shook his head. "The Illuminatti has played too long and have forgotten the real stakes of the game. I played everyday, I have the scars of those stakes. Three years Silas. I was with the Aurors for three years and I was really happy."
Somewhere during his speech, Silas had crept over and put his arm around Severus. Snape leaned into the embrace, desperate for some tangible touch of sympathy or love. It didn't occur to him that he was looking to a viper for safety. Silas was watching him with keen eyes and, having detected weaknesses, sought to exploit it.
"Three years of fighting…and you're tired." Silas whispered. "But not beaten, you're not defeated yet. You're here because you want revenge…because the Auror demands justice. That's good. Let it be but be patient, it'll come."
Severus looked up and smiled at Silas. It was real and sincere trust, and something Severus had become accustomed to sharing in three years. He was taking for granted that he was no longer among those few, scarred, and proud that hid sins and humanity behind Navy robes. Snape himself had done it.
One could only wonder what new object would hide himself now.
"Come in." Silas said. "I want to show you something."
Snape frowned playfully but followed him into the Looking Glass. There was music playing from the make-shift band in the corner and various women met with various men and enjoyed the never-ending party. Valentine was at the bar, spinning, mixing and pouring drinks to keep spirits high and morality low. The bartender smiled at them, and tossed one tumbler around his hand, pouring Silas' trademark drink. Silas gave Snape a brandy and pulled him to a corner of the room, pointing to a woman that was standing with Eoin Malone, apparently enjoying the man's company.
He had seen the woman before, admired her beauty but hadn't really thought about her since. Her name was Kaleigh but he forgot exactly how she knew Eoin or was involved with the Death Eaters. Silas stepped to his side and spoke softly into his drink. "Do you want her?"
Snape glanced at him. "Wouldn't you?"
"Take her then."
"And if she wouldn't have me?"
"I didn't say ask her, I said take her."
There was a moment between them as the thought sunk in. Silas laughed first. "Oh come on, Severus. It's not like there's any wrong being done. She's one of the consorts…it's a hazard of the job for her." Silas sipped his drink. "Besides, there's nothing quite as pleasant as stolen goods."
Severus stared at Silas and considered this for a long time. He licked his lip and downed his drink. "Excuse me."
Silas watched him and Kaleigh for a while until Severus motioned to somewhere quieter where they could 'talk.' He caught Jacqueline's eyes and lifted his glass to her. Jackie smiled but said nothing, turning back to McKenna. Silas leaned back against the bar and twirled the glass around in his hand.
Severus would be harder then he thought. Men who believed in something were always harder to destroy, because they had something that could change the tide of a battle or bring strength where none existed...
Severus had hope.
And that could prove deadly.
Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in so long but my Beta has gone AWOL. Anyways, kudos go to my friend Arok, who owns Amissa Moon and Galaxy Quest who gave the chapter it's name (no one ever noticed that Sev's middle name was the same as Rickman's char in the movie? =) ). Sorry for the lack of Severus in his chapter but it's showing you all that was left behind. As for the Ari, she was formed during Role Playing and because I became attached to her, I decided to include. As for her name, call her Bob for all I care, just keep an open mind for her. Hope you enjoyed it, leave a review