Mental Maelstrom
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Author's Notes: Just when you thought we couldn't get anymore trippier we turn around and surprise you. Sorry if it gets confusing we are trying to find out how to make it more discernable.
Oh man... what a headache. And why does my bloody jaw hurt so damn much! Alexis thought through a muffling haze. She winced and tried to draw in a deep breath, but it wasn't possible due to some heavy weight on her chest and stomach. Confused, she finally opened her eyes in consciousness. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape stared down at her.
"Bloody hell..." she murmured, putting a hand over her eyes. Do I always have to wake up to someone? Why can't I have a normal night and wake up in my own bed and alone? She looked under her hand and saw Artimis's gangly form sprawled over her. Do I dare ask...
"Language, Ms. Whyte..." Snape growled a warning. Alexis didn't even bother looking at him, she was just too damn flustered and confused. Slightly under her breath, she scowled," Oh, bugger off..."
She heard Dumbledore chuckle somewhat and Snape gave a derisive snort, mumbling to himself but nothing Alexis could here.
Her jaw throbbed and ached something fierce, and she gingerly rubbed it, squinting up at the two adults. "Why the hell does my jaw hurt!? Can someone please explain this to me?!" Alexis mumbled. There was a sharp intake of breath on her stomach and muffled chuckling.
"What the bloody hell are you laughing at?" Alexis asked, perplexed as Artimis pushed herself forcefully off Alexis -causing her to grunt as the air left her stomach- and landed sitting at Snape's feet. She promptly ignored them and cautiously moved forward, asking," What was the last thing you remembered seeing?" with a slight chuckle.
Alexis slowly sat up and stared at her own hands in thought. "The last thing I remember seeing..." she repeated, then her eyes widened slightly.
"I saw... you glaring at me -saying something. No, yelling something-... then someone's fist aimed at my face..." Alexis looked up quickly -glowering at Artimis. "You!?" Artimis quickly stood and hid behind Professor Snape as Alexis threateningly stood. Snape looked at Artimis oddly. "You punched her?" he inquired, perplexed.
"Um... well... what else did you expect me to do? She made me insult you and I knew she had a glass jaw!" Artimis stated excitedly, rubbing her knuckles while reminiscing. "I think I broke a knuckle though..." Alexis glared daggers at her. "You slugged me!? What the hell for?! I don't recall scheduling a stunt like that..." she stopped, noticing the awed and confused looks of Artimis and Snape. Impatient, she growled," WHAT?"
Artimis quickly rushed over to Alexis and hastily covered her mouth. "Whatever you do, don't ask him what's he looking at." she whispered, dead serious.
"Ladies, would you please follow us to my office." Dumbledore stated after watching the entire scene. Artimis nodded and pulled away from a disgruntled Alexis. All of a sudden, her arms burned and flashed green, and Artimis fell over -yelling profanity.
Alexis looked down in concern at Artimis. (What the hell happened?!) Almost immediately, Artimis's voice resonated in response in Alexis's mind. {How am I supposed to know!} They gawked at each other in shock. Artimis grabbed her arms I'm pain and asked urgently, "Did you hear that? I heard that!"
Alexis paled, then spoke quietly, "I was hoping you didn't... because I heard it as clear as a bell."
Dumbledore and Snape exchanged glances, and looked around at them. {Alexis, they're watching us... Did you hear that? What the fuck happened!?} Artimis's panicked voice ran in Alexis's mind. Artimis drew her arms close and was staring at Alexis in utter shock and confusion.
Alexis started trembling and took a step back, freaked out. Her eyes widened further and squeaked, "Artimis, I heard that too. What's going on?" Slightly whimpering and staring down at Artimis, she backed into Snape -but didn't notice him.
Artimis stood and replied," I don't know. You can hear my thoughts. Can I hear yours?" she asked. {Talk to me, Alexis!} Artimis's voice cooed in Alexis's mind. {This is awesome!}
(Holy shit! You think this is awesome!?) Aloud, Alexis yelled," I have fucking voices in my head! What's so awesome about that!? I thought one was enough... Now I know I'm going insane..." Alexis said frantically. (I don't need anymore! And you say it's bloody awesome!?)
"Alexis, don't you see? Now you can never lose me!" Artimis said. {This is freaky, I admit. But come on! Now we don't have to speak aloud to each other! Hey, I wonder if we can share memories... }Even Artimis's mind had a playful tone.
Professor Snape stepped towards them in cautiousness," What are you going on about, Whyte?"
Artimis quickly turned and replied," I put a microphone in her ear and she didn't have a clue. It's a muggle device..."
" I know what it is, Callabella. Come, we haven't all day." Snape replied sarcastically, satisfied for the present time with this cover up. Dumbledore gave the girls one of those smiles and turned to walk out.
{We need to find a new classroom!}
Alexis merely stared at Artimis in shock, slowly shaking her head. (She's a damn lunatic! This is serious shit, how can she take it so lightly? The last voice I heard told me I was gonna be a bloody deatheater...)
Artimis halted and turned to her grimly, "I heard that."
Alexis paled further, and said quietly," This is going to be difficult..."
{What do you mean? What do you remember about last night? Don't speak aloud, just image it and I'll see if I can see it.} Alexis couldn't remember anything for a minute. She concentrated as hard as she could, trying to find what was relevant about last night.
A brief image appeared -herself flaring up again and Artimis bursting in on her. Alexis gasped and the image disappeared. Now she had to know. They were in the hallway down from Dumbledore's office now, and Alexis squinted and forced her mind to remember as they marched towards the office.
Then, wave after wave of images slammed into her as her memory kicked on full power -Snape in pain, Artimis trying to calm her, Alexis's body being taken over by the being in her head -harnessing her anger and power and fusing them into an ultimate weapon. Suddenly, the booming cold voice that taunted Alexis unmercifully filled her head, the entire discussion it had with her jumbled together in confusion. Alexis gasped aloud and clutched her head, falling to her knees as she remembered all of it.
Including the voice's promise and her own pleas for death.
The group skidded to a halt at Alexis's unexpected actions. Artimis kneeled next to her and enveloped her. {I'm here. Stop thinking about it}. Artimis's mind called.
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here." Artimis said aloud gently. Suddenly, she collapsed as well. "Alexis! Stop it!" she screeched in pain.
Alexis could hear Artimis calling for her to stop, but the thoughts kept relentlessly coming.
{Fine. Here, this will stop you!} Artimis's mental voice growled.
Suddenly Alexis's mind was instead filled with images of Draco's. They were detailed images of Artimis making out with him. {There, that worked!}
"Damn you! I didn't want to see that!" Alexis yelled, shoving Artimis roughly. She continued to kneel on the floor, Alexis glaring at her, but on the verge of tears.
"Well! It worked!" Artimis said smiling.
{...Hey, I wonder...}
(...Don't start now... I'm seriously about to barf...)
{...On Snape's shoes?...}
(... not even funny...)
"Oh yes it is!" Artimis barked with laughter. Snape scowled at them in great confusion, and hoisted both of them up. "I don't want to hear another word from either of you." he growled. Dumbledore merely looked on in great amusement.
{Fine with me!} Artimis chimed.
Alexis growled under her breath, "Oh, do shut up. This is getting most tiresome. I've heard enough voices to last me a lifetime."
{...What was that thought, dearest Alexis? Are we feeling jealous? I'm sure I could coerce Draco to find you a suitable guy...} Artimis chided laughingly.
(No, I think I'm perfectly fine. End of conversation now please... )Alexis thought, a hint of anger lacing it as everyone continued to walk up to the phoenix statue that was the doorway to Headmaster Dumbledore's' study.
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They trudged into Dumbledore's office. Artimis was actually very afraid of her newfound link to Alexis, but had soon thought of its advantage.
They sat in the chairs. Artimis sitting next to Alexis as Snape actually pulled up his own chair in front of them for once. He once again sat very lady-like. Artimis smirked. Snape glanced at her, his eyes focusing on hers. He mumbled something under his breath and she sighed.
{...Hey Starburst, I can insult Snape and he would never know...}
(...Please shut up...)
{... For example. Professor Snape, your posture is so feminine that you outdo my mother...}
(... shut up you twit!...)
{...Why? He can't hear me...}
[...Miss Callabella, don't be too sure of yourself...]
{...OH GOD. He can hear us...} Artimis's mind yelled to Alexis.
Alexis glared tauntingly at her, then turned her gaze to Dumbledore, smirking while Dumbledore rummaged for some left over candies.
[...Miss Callabella, I did not find your comment anywhere near up to par...]
{... could you at least call me Artimis. Having my own head go 'Miss Callabella' is odd...}
[...Fine Arty. don't you underestimate me. I wonder how you-...]
{... NOT ARTY...}
(...Professor, Sir. She has issues with it...)
[...I am aware of that, WHYTE...]
{...How do you turn this off...}
[...Close your mind, Miss Callabella...]
(... Hmmm...that's too easy... Artimis, did it work...)
{...I can still hear you, I guess not...}
"Silence!" she yelled aloud. Dumbledore looked to her oddly and she returned his gaze. She felt a presence leave her.
Alexis continued to snicker, glancing at Snape, then froze- her eyes widening at a thought. Across from them, Snape smirked maliciously as they locked gazes.
Alexis stated indignantly, "I did NOT look like that!"
"Oh, but you very much did... and you didn't seem to upset about it at the time..."
Artimis looked between the two in confusion, missing the passed thought.
Alexis glared at Snape for a moment, then grinned evilly. Snape sat up, affronted and scowled disdainfully as a vision of the Party and Snape being vomited upon and laughed at by Lupin, filled his mind.
"I did not find that amusing, Miss Whyte." he growled
"Well, you started it, Professor."
Dumbledore cut in before the two started verbally sparring. "I believe that is more than enough comments for the moment Severus, Miss Whyte." Artimis stared at him, wondering if he had been listening the entire time. Snape and Alexis had stopped, Snape blinking and breaking the connection as Alexis shook her head and then continued glaring at Snape.
{...Do I even want to know?...}
(...No...)
{...Bye...}
(...Bye...)
"Headmaster, there is something freaky going on between Alexis and I." Artimis stated. Snape let out a low chuckle. "Miss Callabella, please explain." Dumbledore asked kindly.
Alexis butted in, "She's in my head. She made me watch her and Draco kiss..." she was promptly smacked by Artimis.
"Irrelevant Alexis. Dumbledore, Sir. We can hear each other's thoughts, and um... Alexis projected a disturbing thought to me." Artimis replied, eyes downcast. Alexis looked away at this statement, painfully remembering the whole thing and distinctly knowing that she had passed it all onto her best friend. "Miss Whyte, will you indulge us with your memories?" Dumbledore asked as he pulled out a gray bowl.
"A Pensive... WOW..." was heard from Artimis as her eyes grew as large as dinner plates and she looked like she was going to drool all over herself.
(...What the hell is a pensive?...)
{...Shut up and listen to Dumbledore...} was Artimis's curt reply.
Dumbleore went through explaining how to use a pensive and that he was going to let her use his to show all of them her images. Alexis drew her wand, spoke the spell, and drew out all the images from last night. She prodded the images in the bowl and they sprouted foggily up. All of the night's events ran out through the room. The first time the voice spoke, Dumbledore hurriedly asked Artimis to leave. Without hesitation, Artimis ran.
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Alexis pulled out thought after thought from her head, even ones she distinctly remembered forgetting. The silver strains evoked fear and awe in her as she placed them in the pensive. When the memories played she grew stiff. Her own yells and screams clashed with Artimis's as the pensive projected them over their head like a movie projector. She barely heard Dumbledore as he demanded Artimis leave the room, she was so caught in her own memories.
The deatheaters provoked a new fear in her, as did the figure in the center. The cold, dismal voice boomed into the cramped office, but this time for everyone to hear. Alexis froze in shock and replenished fear, hearing again and all too soon the cruel laughter and enduring the deadly gaze of Lord Voldemort. She relived the terrorizing emotions of her fighting her own mind for control -the desolate feelings of being pushed aside- discarded- as she watched her self being used as a puppet with its strings jerked as she sorrowfully attacked those she held dear.
Snape also sat stock still- now speechless at having a first class seat into what had really occurred in that night's incident.
Then Alexis heard her pleas for her death. Her release from life into eternal oblivion and peace... The words unwillingly bubbled to the surface in Alexis's mind. (And I was denied it..).
{Only because I would have killed myself if I killed you. I would have loved to give what ever it was you truly desired, I'm your best friend it's my job. I'm going now.} Artimis's words echoed in her mind, the last part becoming a faint whisper. She distinctly remember and saw- along with Snape's own comments filling the room.
Alexis also saw events she knew she wasn't conscious for. Snape's roller-coaster ride down the stairs, Artimis lashing out at her and rendering her senseless, Artimis taking her away from the curious and frightful stares of her housemates, and so on.
As the last memory played out and faded, Alexis sat trembling and pale - full of despair and loathing for herself.
Dumbledore walked over and placed his hands on her rising shoulders. He began talking in low tones. Alexis could faintly feel that wherever Artimis was she was crying. Snape sat - shell shocked- quietly with a look of deep contemplation on his face.
MINDLINKS ROCK!!!
Here is the key for the thoughts incase you got confused,
( ) is Alexis's thoughts
{} is Artimis's thoughts
[ ] are Snape's thoughts in this part but these will represent anyone entering their mindlink.