Amissa Moon had awakened to spicy smell of her fiancée's cologne. She had opened her eyes to the vision of Sydney Van Ness leaning a few inches above her face, smiling, and kissing her softly awake. She reached up and rubbed his arms.
"I had a dream about you." She whispered. "You were old and gray and I was teasing you."
"I am old and gray and you do tease me."
"Well, my dreams have an odd way of coming true, don't they?"
"I suppose so." Sydney nodded, brushing back her hair. "I love you." He said, as something dark danced across his face. "Don't ever forget I love you."
"Like I ever could, you talk about it all the time." She sat up and pulled him into her lap. She drew her hands down his chest and looked around. "What time is it?"
"Six in the morning." He answered, checking the pocket watch on the nightstand. It was a gift from his mentor, Kaiser Snape, and the only tangible reminder he had from his first squad. Sydney drew his fingers over the fine craftsmanship, then, without looking up, added. "You've given me great happiness. I want you to know that."
Amissa sat up, frowning because of his tone. "Are you alright, Syd? You seem…distracted."
"I'm fine. Go back to sleep love, I won't be long."
"Oh no, you aren't going into work." She smiled at him, seductively and curled back into the bed. "We've got our own work to do. We have babies to make."
Again, something dark crossed his face. "I should be at Hecate, they'll need me."
"Fine, but you're going to make it up to me…leaving your watch?" She asked. "You never do that."
"Keep it for me." He pulled on his navy coat and smoothed it out. He stared at himself in the mirror, slicking back his hair and stood at attention. Amissa watched him, realizing for the first time how old he looked as she studied the care that was written on his face. He had lost many and the years seemed to collect in his eyes, dulling them but he could take pride in the fact he had preformed his duties proudly.
When he looked back at Amissa, there was something behind those eyes she feared. She felt something, somewhere deep in her bones, and noticed the way he walked was weighted.
"That none shall perish." He whispered, in a tone that could be described as sad. He smiled at Amissa again and kissed her one last time. "I'll see you up top."
Amissa watched him go, and drew her fingers over her lips. His kiss had been salty.
That had been one week ago.
That had been the last time she saw Sydney alive.
Now, he and hundreds of others just like him, were lost, missing somewhere in the rubble that was Hecate Compound.
"Merciful God, who dwells on high and in our hearts, grant prefect peace to the souls of our martyrs who gave their lives…"
The words of Malachi Smith broke Amissa's daydreaming and brought her back to the present, back to the truth and the pain. In the still November night, his voice was strong, and somber in it's tone, and danced with emotion that threatened to break forth but dared not because of the Auror's discipline.
"…for the preservation of our people and for the redemption and protection of the Holy Land. May their heroism and sacrificial devotion be reflected in our thoughts and deeds. May their memory inspire us to live justly and kindly. May their souls be at peace; and may they be bound up in the bond of eternal life."
"Let us say: Amen." Amissa whispered softly.
Malachi closed his eyes. "Amen."
Amissa leaned over and took him into her arms. She pressed closer to his back, desperate for some form of comfort but finding none in the old soldier.
Malachi was a walking shell, and had been since that damnable day. "I remember my father coming home from the first war without an arm…he use to say that his blood had ensured there would never be another. Then, as a youth, I remember hearing the German's angry voice, screaming for another war. I saw them come. I saw my family taken but there was no blood to seal peace, there was only the smoke. They said that should have been enough blood. That should have been enough lost."
"Don't talk about it, grandpa." Amissa whispered, closing her eyes to the tears.
Malachi kept speaking in his fevered, soft, but proud voice. He was rubbing a finger over his left forearm, where a faded tattooed number line was etched into his skin. "I have seen the horrors of men, and the evil of gods. I've seen the heavens burn. When the Aurors found me, I was a child and couldn't save my family from it…but this time, I was a man, and I was a soldier. I don't understand. Why couldn't I stop it this time?"
"I don't know."
He inhaled, bringing himself up and finally looking at her. "What happened?"
"David passed away this morning."
The old soldier's face darkened. "What does that make it?"
"He was the last of Santee's squad. That just leaves Stallens and Rico's squads."
"One must admire the Death Eater's severity, they wanted the Unspeakables dead and they've succeeded. We're no more."
"You are rebuilding."
"You are, I don't anymore blood to give to wars, no more sons to sacrifice."
"The Aurors need you now more then ever."
"I can't." Malachi bowed his head, shaking terribly. "I'm sorry but I cannot."
Amissa didn't press the issue. She simply took his arm and guided him towards the makeshift medical ward. In truth, she couldn't blame Malachi for his choice because she would have done the same thing. Out of all the Master of Arms, Malachi's command had been the hardest hit. He had overseen the interrogations in Hecate Compound and of his Aurors; only a quarter of them had survived.
If one could call it survival.
"Come on, trust me." Jean Andre's voice was calm, and comfortable. He was dressed in the light blue tunic of a medic. He was back to his true self, light brown hair littered with gray despite his young age, and hazel eyes that glistened with the same grim determination that marked all those who sought to rebuild Hecate Compound. "Sky, trust me."
Sky Falls was holding tight to the back of a chair. She had yet to don her navy uniform again, and was dressed instead in the simple white of patients. Her blond hair was pulled into a bun, away from the white bandages that covered her eyes.
She had been found with Jude Remington, or what was left of him, in the interrogation cell. The Master at Arms Victoria Hawke had been the first to recover and had allied those available Aurors to counter the Death Eaters. Sky had been with her. Both women had fought the man who had killed Jude.
The man barely survived with his life, but he took Victoria's hand with him.
And Sky would never see another thing in her life.
"You can trust me, Sky." Sky sighed heavily, and released the chair. She stumbled slightly then walked slowly towards Jean's voice. He smiled brightly. "That's right, sweet one…just come to me."
"You're on your feet again." Amissa remarked, as they came nearer to Jean and Sky. "I'm glad to hear it."
"Amissa? Is that you?"
"That's right, honey."
"Where's Malachi?"
"I was praying." Malachi finally spoke. He reached over, letting Sky find his arms and curl into them. "There's a lot of that going around, isn't there?" Jean said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Amissa kept flinching when she looked at Andre's face. Beautifully made as always, it now lacked the similarity to her friend, Alexander. He seemed to realize her awkwardness and smiled, "I can leave if you want me too, Mistress."
"No, Alex…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to stare."
"Don't worry about it." He laughed, softly before turning his attention back towards the main entrance. His smile widened even more. "Erised!"
Malachi's face brightened when he saw the Kaga enter. He smiled at Amissa, speaking in a hushed tone. "Oh, Amissa…you better find Billy. Ari's going to kill him if he's late for another staff meeting."
Amissa stared at him, carefully. She stole glances at Jean and Sky before nodding. "I'm sure she already knows where's he's at, Grandpa."
He looked at her with a sort of confused, pitiful look. "Right. Of course…" He smiled. "My Angel is prepared for everything."
Erised was wearing a Kaga uniform and her hair pulled back into tight bun as if she tried to appear as professional as possible, despite her battered appearance. The right side of her face was swollen from the thick bruises from the savage fight. There was a large white bandaged that covered most of her neck, most of them discolored from the wounds that she had aggravated.
Jean Andre, himself beaten and near death, had ripped apart Hecate looking for her. He found her naked, and bleeding out from a large wound on her neck. He had barely gotten her to the medics in time, saving both her life and her ability to speak.
Although right now the extent of her speech was short ragged sentences with a thick raspy undertone that seemed to cause her great pain. "The High Council has just adjourned."
"What's going on?"
"Hecate Compound is shut down until reconstruction. Everything is being moved to Arsan Duolai."
"What about our wing?" Sky asked. "When can we go back to work?"
"The Council has condemned the Interrogation wing. You're going to be moved with Troop Placement." Erised forced out. "They've put Alastor Moody in charge until a suitable replacement is found."
Amissa felt something well up in her throat and she had to turn away to keep from crying. "That was supposed to be Sydney's job."
"Jude was going to be right behind him." Sky said, dully. "But…"
"He's at peace now, Alexander as well." Jean whispered. He looked up, smiling with tender assurance. "They've all gone to see Billy, so it's alright now. The old squad's back together again."
"Snape's still alive." Ari said, coldly. In truth, she was thinking the same thing that was nestled quietly in the back of everyone else's mind. She looked up. "How lucky for him."
"Ari, he probably doesn't know what's happened…" Jean defended.
She turned and met his eyes fiercely. "How could he not know? Haven't you been paying attention? Hecate is DEAD, Jean. Every magical newspaper in the world is proclaiming it so how could the great Morning Star not know it?"
Sky buried her head in Amissa's shoulder. "Erised, don't say such things."
"Why not? It's the truth. Jude was right about him. He's not coming back because he doesn't give a damn about what's happened…" The ragged voice broke. "Because he's brought this upon us!"
"Enough!" Amissa shouted, her voice turning cold. "Watch your words, Ari. It's Alex you're talking about."
"Yeah," She countered. "The one man from Malachi's squad that's come out of this unscathed."
"Ari, that's not fair…he wasn't even here." Sky whispered.
Erised stared at her. "My point is made."
Malachi's stern voice broke the tension. "Creature!" He hissed, calling Erised by a derogatory term. "Remember your place."
"With permission then, sir, I'll remove myself."
"Ari, don't go…" Jean pleaded, reaching out to her.
"I'm not wanted here, Andre." She whispered as she walked out.
Amissa watched the retreating woman with growing hatred. Her face burned with anger towards Erised, an anger that would not be appeased by allowing her to walk away like that. She cursed in Runic under her breath, and eased Sky away from her to follow. Ignoring Jean's pleas for her to stay. She stopped in the center of the hall and called out to Ari. "I thought you loved him."
"You forget yourself, Madam." Erised stopped but didn't turn around. "I don't love anything."
"Kagas don't give a damn about anything or anyone, right? I must say you keep your training when it suits you…any other time, it's forgotten. When Severus was in your arms and Dora alive you seemed happy enough."
"Don't even begin to speak about things you don't understand!" Erised tried to shout as she turned but with the wound, it came out weak. "Don't even dare!"
"I don't know what it's like to lose someone I love?" Amissa demanded.
"You don't know what it's like to lose those you were suppose to protect! You couldn't! You're just human filth, feeling childish pains because your lover is gone…you couldn't possibly know about what I'm feeling!"
"You don't feel, Ari." Amissa said, closing the distance between them. "You just go through the movements like if they're some routine you should perform with a sword or wand. It's all just one ornate magic trick for you."
Erised was clenching her fists but Amissa didn't care. She was getting tired of this hard as nails routine so many of the Aurors were putting up. She was getting so very tired of the fact no one had stop and demanded to know why this evil had to have happened. She wanted to scream at the world, curse it and demanded it bring Sydney back to her. She wanted this to be a bad dream she could awaken from.
But it wasn't, and the fact that Erised didn't feel the same way she did, infuriated Amissa.
"You think you are so strong, so powerful, Hecate, but let me tell you something. You're nothing but a small, pathetic creature who thinks that if she plays tough no one will notice she's nothing but a flashy display of absolutely nothing."
"I'm doing my job." Ari said, slowly. "That's all I owe you…"
"No!" Amissa said, feeling her hatred renewed. "You owe Sydney, Jude, Billy, Dahlia, and Dora more then that!"
"I don't know who you're talking about." Ari said, simply.
Amissa knew what she had done a moment after Erised had fallen to the floor. One moment, Erised had uttered that damnable phase that was so common to Aurors, and in the next Amissa's knuckles were hurting from meeting Ari's jaw. The Kaga fell, more stunned then injured. Ari stared at the blood that stained her fingers, just in time to block Amissa's next half-blinded swing. The woman took Amissa's arm, pinning it against her stomach.
Placing an arm over Amissa's neck, Erised whispered in a soft, dangerous voice. "Only the first one is free, milady."
Amissa stared at Ari, not flinching. "When Billy died, he took the best part of you with him, didn't he? You know…I use to admire you, so brave no matter what. Severus would be gone for days on end without any news but you never faltered." Amissa allowed herself a small, contained laugh. "Now look at you…you're already dead, you just don't know it. Severus might have left us, but you've betrayed us in everyway possible."
"How am I the villain here?"
"Because you won't even admit that you cared about them…" Amissa pushed Erised away from her. "And apathy is worst then abandonment, Angel."
Ari watched Amissa leave, wanting with all her might to call after her, to rectify something but her pride made her mute. If she had nothing else, she had her pride. Ari felt a scream rush towards her throat but the pain her neck was too much and any cry she released sounded more like a gasp for air. Wrapping her arms around her fame, Ari began to choke on long, ragged sobs that were warped and still. She felt like screaming in desperation but knew she couldn't.
Someone would hear.
She couldn't let that happen.
No one could see her weak.
But oh was she weak! She was scared, and torn, and pressed to the edge. Her loses over the past year had been too much to bear, even if she could only admit that to herself.
Billy and her had grown up together, closer to her then her own brother had been at times. She had been the one to push for his assignment to Malachi's squad. Dora had been her goddaughter. Sydney and Jude had watched over her like some little sister, forgetting it was her duty to protect them.
And Alexander, she had loved, if it could be called that.
"No." She said to herself, reciting to herself the old dogma that had kept her safe through every heartache. "Don't think about that."
But even her training failed her, and the pain and fear continued. The Death Eaters had taken everything from her. They had killed many, including Billy, and would continue to do so, only now somewhere among their ranks, Alexander fought.
And they had took her.
This new villain, the one they were calling the ruler, had taken from her what she had given Alex out of love. But nobody knew that nor could they ever.
It would prove that she was weak, vulnerable.
Ari buried her head into hands, trying again without much success to quell the anguish welling up inside of her.
"Companion?"
The voice was soft, torn, and scared and Erised knew it instantly. It belonged to her new charge, the Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. She lifted her head, wiping the tears from her eyes to hide them.
Dumbledore was standing slumped over, his hand on the wall to keep his stance. His eyes were dimmed and tear-streaked. He looked even older then he was and when he spoke, it proclaimed a powerlessness she was certain he had never shown to another person.
"So much death…" He whispered. "So much despair, who could make such evil?"
He sounded like a child to Ari and with all her might, Erised wished she could answer him. Instead, she reached out and took his arm. He leaned into her, shaking his head. "I almost lost Victoria to this…"
"Lady Hawke is alright, though." She whispered. "She is alive…so is her son."
He nodded, smiling softly from that little reassurance. "But so many are not…"
"But they have died honest." Ari continued, assuming the role of comforter. She pushed her own despair aside because that's not what her charge needed. He needed his Kaga Companion, someone who would remain steadfast despite the heavens falling around her. He needed his guardian and so, she was that to him. "And they would not have died in vain."
"No," He said, agreeing with resolve and straightening himself. "I will do everything I can to make sure they haven't. With everything that is in me, I'll do what I can against Lord Voldemort and his newest weapon."
Ari was looking at the remains of the gardens. The willow trees were still swaying to an invisible breeze. "They call him the Dark Prince."
"See, I have now become Death, the destroyer of worlds…" Silas Malfoy mused to himself, staring at his maimed hand. The bitch had taken his fingers with her to hell but that was a small price to pay. Now he was Voldemort's heir apparent and it was all worth it.
He realized Melanie was watching him from her place by Voldemort's feet. There was a quiet look of triumph on her face and Silas felt his confidence shift ever so slightly. She smiled at him, raising a brow and turning back to whispering whatever poison she was spouting into Voldemort's ear.
In the far corner, on each side of the door, stood Eoin and Imre respectively. Imre kept casting glances at a tall, blond man who was standing in the shadows, arms crossed over his massive chest. A fallen Auror, Silas thought as he took in the mute figure, and no doubt Imre's newest pupil. He smiled at the Necromancer who bowed cordially.
"You bastard!" A shrill, tortured voice broke through the air as Severus Snape appeared in Voldemort's throne room. He pushed past the doors, towards the throne. Eoin and another Death Eater took a step towards him but Voldemort shook his head.
"You tricked me!" Snape shouted as approached. The young man was breathing hard, and deathly pale, still stiff from his recovery. As he was leaving, two Auror women had attacked him and only now did he have the strength to confront his new master. "You tricked me!"
"How have I tricked you, Morning Star?" Voldemort demanded, his voice low but thick with menace.
"You told me this was only about Jude!" Snape shouted. "You told me no one else would get hurt!"
"I never said anything of the sort but I kept my word, Severus. This was about Jude, while he was an able spy, his conscience was getting the best of him and I couldn't allow that."
Terror and fear flooded Snape's face. "You mean…"
"Yes, in time, Jude would have returned to the fold so to speak. Although, I doubt he would have survived his new conscience, I couldn't allow him leading the Aurors back to me, not until I had my new heir in power. Thank you, Severus, your blind hatred proved most useful on that account."
Snape was shaking his head. "No, you're lying!"
"Don't lie to yourself, Severus, it's unbecoming." Voldemort chided. "And don't act so surprised, after all, you knew this would happen ."
"I didn't…I didn't know."
"Auror lies," Imre whispered as he walked forward. "You knew and wanted it."
"You've done this to me!" Snape turned to Imre. "You've done this! You've damned me to this!"
"I did nothing of the sort!" Imre countered the fierceness of Snape's voice with his own. "Everything you did, every step you took was your own! Nobody forced your hand! You made the choice to follow Jacqueline to the Death Eaters, to follow me and to go into this battle! You knew who and what you were dealing with and still you went along. Somewhere deep down in your heart, you wanted it!"
"I didn't want this life!" Snape defended, more frantic then assured. He looked around him, into the cold eyes that surrounded him. Melanie looked away, Silas only smiled, while Jackie stepped forward, touching Imre's hand and pushing him back.
"This life is who you are." Jacqueline whispered. "Your soul craves this darkness…how much longer will you live a lie? People like us don't belong out there!" She was saying, pointing to the world beyond Voldemort's haven.
"I'm not like this…" He countered, but it sounded feeble even to his own ears. Part of him agreed with her but couldn't understand why. "I'm an Auror, Jackie!" It sounded like a stupid excuse and one made by a man who already lost the battle he was waging against himself.
"You are a Prince." She said, indicating Voldemort. "His Prince, and you belong by his side."
Silas couldn't believe his ears, angrily he looked to Voldemort for explanation but found none. Instead, all he saw was Melanie's smug grin and he understood.
Melanie, and Jacqueline had betrayed him. They placed Severus on Silas' rightful throne. Such treachery would not be allowed, he swore that. Standing, he slipped out the room, ignoring the rest of the scene.
"I can go back…I can go back…they don't need to know…"
"Be reasonable, Severus." Voldemort laughed. "You can't go back, and there's no where you could hide on your own without them finding you. You sealed your fate when you killed Jude, you became the traitor you hated. Tell me, who would believe you if you returned? Your squad is dead."
"My Angel would."
It was Eoin's turn to speak. "She's dead."
Snape swung about, staring into his face too stun to speak. Long seconds passed into eternity before he could find the strength to speak again. "You're lying."
"Why would I?" Malone said, his voice becoming colder as he spoke, hand slipping behind his back. "What would I gain?"
"You're Voldemort's servant."
"I was Erised's brother, her twin." Snape took a step back and Eoin laughed, hoarsely. "Oh? You don't believe it? Ask anyone here…I gave up my sister for the kingdom you see before you…looks like you've done the same."
Snape turned back towards Voldemort, and when he spoke, the voice was low and defeated. "Tell me he's lying…please, my lord…"
"Imre, Jackie, come with me." Voldemort said, standing. "I have no desire to see my new Prince mourn for his past."
He watched in disbelief as they left, leaving him to Eoin. He turned to the Kaga and spoke barely above a whisper. "I never meant to do this…I never meant for this to happen."
"No," Eoin agreed. "But still my sister is dead."
"I'll kill him…" Snape said, speaking of Voldemort. "I'll make him pay for what's he's done!" He darted towards the door. "I'll kill him!"
"Have you no honor?" Eoin shouted, pushing Snape back. The Auror tried to move past him, but the Kaga was quicker and driven by his own private rage, and regrets. "Do you still hold fast to your dreams? It's over, Snape! Hecate is dead to you! You aren't Auror anymore!"
"NO!" Snape cried, bringing Eoin to his knees with him. "This can't be it!"
Eoin shrugged him off, stepping back in disgust. "Where is your integrity, Son of the Morning? You are a Prince now, act as one!"
"Erised," Severus was moaning. "Forgive me…"
"DON'T EVEN SPEAK HER NAME!" Eoin threw Snape back again, pulling the knife he had behind his back. "Do you see this, my Prince? This is the dagger that rent my sister, and your squad's commander's necks in half! This is the knife Jack the Ripper used to destroy your life! You wore a mark on your mask during Day of the Dead, because you were proud and assured…now wear that mark always as a symbol of your shame!"
Snape screamed as Eoin cut into his left eye, craving three marks and blinding him with pain and blood. He tried to claw away but it was no use, Eoin was driven by hatred and righteous anger and nothing would have stopped from his task. When he was done, Eoin rose, breathing heavily and threw the knife to Snape.
It clattered loudly in the empty room and Snape rolled over to one side, cradling his eyes and crying softly. Eoin watched him, and shook his head.
"Long live the Prince." He sneered, before leaving.
Snape ignored him, and tried to focus on anything but the pain. He looked at the dagger Eoin had left and half-wondered if he the strength to end this. He reached over gingerly, but couldn't even pick it up. He was too afraid of what waited beyond that dagger's blade.
"Alexander…"
He flinched, slightly. "Don't call me that." He whispered. "Don't ever call me that again."
"Severus, then." Melanie cooed, walking towards him and kneeling down beside him. "Severus, look at me."
Gingerly, he rose to his knees and as he did so, he caught full sight of her. In the fading light, she looked even more beautiful then he remembered. Her wild brown eyes still darted nervously around his, searching for what connected them. She offered her hands to him, which he placed to his cheeks, savoring their icy touch.
"Severus," She whispered. "Everyone is looking."
He looked around the empty room, confused at first but when he brought back his gaze to her, he found she was holding a Death Eater's mask.
Then, he understood.
Taking the mask into his hands, he felt his spirit quiet and still. There was a peace that came with the promise of disguise the mask offered. Behind it, no one knew he was a fallen Auror, or a Judas, or anything else except the man who had earned fear and respect in a few short hours. Inside his mask, he was the perfect Death Eater. A Prince without equal.
And he had Melanie.
He smiled at her gratefully, and slid the mask over his features, feeling the delicate material curve to him and welcome him. He stood slowly, with Melanie's help and she kissed him. Then, for the first time in a long time it seemed, felt the mind clearing devotion of his love for her. Melanie was his again, even as the world was in shambles, it didn't seem to matter. Melanie was back in his arms. And at that moment it seemed more important to him then life, legacy or even honor.
He had Melanie…