A/N: Hello Everyone! I just want to quickly thank: PadfootPrevails, gallandro-83, browneyedgirl2004, titou moony, PaarsKonijn, lilyfan, The Grim, Aerandir, and Pixie89 for kindly reviewing chapter 13!
I'll be honest with you all, I've been sitting on this chapter for some time now...I woke up this morning unsure as to what I should do with this chapter...if I should post it or if I should toss it... I hope I made the right decision...
Chapter 14:
Quietly…I must wait quietly.
He will pass soon…
He mustn't see me…
He mustn't hear me…
He mustn't know I'm here.
A man walks by my caliginous eyrie…poor fool! I swoop down on him, sinking my talons into his supple flesh. He struggles against my grasp-my claws dig deeper into his flesh. The air is now filled with a metallic semblance. My fangs flash dangerously in the slivers of light that pierce my shadowy trap. He screams; he calls for help, as he bleeds-as the floor is stained with burgundy anguish. I sink my teeth into him. His blood pours into my mouth-it is bittersweet and warm. Ecstasy, undiluted and pure, rushes through me. I can hear the beating of his heart slow, as mine races. Swallowed up in the sound of its beating, I wait, I wait for it to stop. His body has gone limp against mine-it is no longer warm against my body, as life slips away from him. I push him away from me-satisfied. His body falls into the moonlight, his umber hair flecked with silver falling in disarray around his livid face. His eyes are open, stark and dead-even the color seems to have been drained from them. As I step over the body, I glance back on my fallen prey…
Remus?
Remus!
No!
What have I done?!
My eyes fill with tears as they flutter open from their slumbered haze. My skin is drenched with sweat. I push off the cover of my coffin-its cavil echoes through my abode. I sit, shuddering at what had just transpired in my mind. The visions of blood and his limp body cloud my mind's eye. I don't know what frightens me more…the fact that I had killed Remus or that I had enjoyed it. I cringe at my own blood lust.
I rise from my coffin to gaze upon the calm murk of the night sky. Stars dot the shadowy body of the night like little white wounds. Even the moon looks malevolent, its edges sharp like that of a scythe.
My eyes drift away from the violent night sky to settle on a gnarled tree near the edge of the forbidden forest. It is covered with gashes from the lashings of time. Something beautifully pale shimmers in the moonlight. A unicorn! It has been so long since I've seen one… Perhaps it is because unicorns only visit the pure and innocent; things I've lost over the years. I feel my age start to weigh down my tired mind. I feel so old…I can't remember ever feeling young, not even when I was a child. No…wait, I do remember moments of feeling young, carefree and happy…they're moments that I have shared with Remus. Remus…
Absentmindedly, I find myself wandering towards my coffin. I dig through my grave of petals to find the battered cover of my journal. Cradling its soft green covers in my arms I settle into a chair at my desk. I place my journal carefully onto the nest of parchments and papers that have accumulated over the years; that now eclipse my lectern.
I flip through my journal and stop at the entry I made the night before. I close my eyes and suspend myself from my senses, in an attempt to relive that wonderful moment when I felt bold enough to brush my lips upon his cheek. It was velvety warm, smooth and flawless. I blush slightly at the thought of him.
The sound of someone gently knocking on a wooden door
I jump slightly with surprise. I quickly seize the disorganized mass of papers and bury my dossier under them, hoping that their pale, pallid bodies can protect my words from prying eyes. I glance back at my desk as I make my way to the base of the stairs, at the top of which lies the door. Upon making certain that its little green cover remains unseen, I gather my voice and ask them to enter.
"Good Evening Kaida." It is Severus. He has yet again, adopted a sickly sweet tone. He bows his head slightly, as his lips curl into a smile. "I hope that I am not disturbing you…"
"No, not at all. I was actually on my way out…" My eyes dart back to the pile of papers. I would feel foolish if he were to ever read from it.
"I see…well, I shan't keep you then, after all, we mustn't keep Lupin waiting now, must we?" His words drip with sarcasm and distain, as his smile melts into a scowl.
"As a matter of fact, I'm not off to see Remus!" I meet his eyes defiantly. "I was planning on going on a walk…outside…" I feel a tingling on the back of my neck, as the hairs stand on end-thoughts of the dementors filling my mind. I lift my cloak from its hook, hoping that my bluff would send Severus on his way.
"Anywhere in particular?" His mouth broke momentarily from his scowl to grin quizzically.
"No, nowhere in particular. I had only been planning to get some fresh air…clear my head a bit…" I try to sound offhand. Like the thought had taken me on a whim.
"Then perhaps, if it isn't too much of a bother, you can show me where you've been gathering these lovely amaranths…" He gestures to one on my desk; its dark purple petals aflame on the white backdrop of paper. He moves towards it, picking it up gracefully before moving towards me-much to my relief. I lightly turn my face from him, casting my eyes to the wall as I place my cloak over my shoulders. I feel his hand tuck the amaranth's stem over the bend of my ear. I look at him, to see him smile timidly.
"For inspiration…" He says hurriedly. I simply shake my head, a forced smile upon my face and make my way to the door. As I move up the stone steps, I feel his hand upon my wrist. "Wait, Kaida…before we go, I have something for you." I watch as he reaches into his cloak. He suddenly flashes me a mischievous grin. "But first you have to close your eyes and put out your hands…"
I oblige, my eyes are tightly shut, my hands facing him, palms out. He greets them with a gasp of surprise. "Kaida, your hands! What happened?"
Keeping my eyes closed and my hands out, I answer nonchalantly, "I got caught in the early morning sun…there's really not much damage done…they're healing quite well actually." I feel him inspect my hands. He handles them carefully, like rolls of ancient parchment that are liable to turn to dust at the slightest touch. Once satisfied that the burns posed no immediate threat to my life, he continues with his little game.
"Will it hurt if I were to place something in your hands?" He asks anxiously.
"No, Severus, it will not hurt. I am not made of glass; I will not shatter at so much as a breeze. I'd like to think that I am made of much stronger stuff then that." I tell him teasingly. Though his concern does touch me, my curiosity has once again, gotten the best of me. I wait eagerly for his surprise. I hear his lips part slightly-possibly to accommodate another smile. His heart beats furiously in the background.
I feel my hands drop slightly; the parcel is heavier than its dimensions would have you believe. "May I open my eyes now?"
"Oh yes, please do."
I open my eyes to find a small box wrapped in absinthe-colored paper, it radiates with a life of its own-like an odd cuboidal creature it sits in my hand.
"I was planning to give this to you later, but I think that it would prove most useful for our walk."
I tear into its green skin, exposing the white bit of flesh below its glossy surface. The wrapping paper lies in shreds on my floor as I open the black heart of the beast. The hinges groan as I lift the box's lid. A glint of silver catches my eye. A silver flower perched on a black satin cushion. The flower appears to be…
"It's Monkshood dipped in silver."
"Monkshood? You mean Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane dipped in silver. The ultimate talisman against werewolves, if I am not mistaken…" My eyes dart upwards from the fragile metallic flower to look at his face. Shock and surprise fill the crevices of his face. His mouth seems to have dropped open slightly.
What are you up to Severus?
"How very observant of you, Kaida." He looks to have recovered from his initial shock. "I saw it in the window of a shop in Knocktur-I mean…an alley near Diagon Alley; I thought it would be an appropriate gift, being that you did discover the Wolfsbane Potion…"
"How sweet of you, Severus! It's lovely." I hear him exhale deeply and his heart slow to its normal pace-silly Severus, always worried about disappointing me.
I brush my index finger against the cold, dead metal of the blossom's petals and feel a shock run through my hand.
The silver glows mysteriously in the moonlight; wanting to inspect it further, I pick up the delicate flower; a mild series of shocks is sent through my arm. I flinch slightly but they soon stop.
"Would you like me to pin it to your robe?" He asks shyly. He moves in closer and picks up the flower daintily.
Not wanting to be rude, I dismiss the mild shocks as static, and I agree. As I wait for him to pierce my robe with the flower's sliver thorn, I notice him swallow hard. He gently pinches the cloth above my chest; above my heart-again, he swallows hard. He secures it to my robe, upon being certain that it was centred, he steps back to admire his work. I tilt my head back slightly to show off the glistening silver upon the base of my neck. He smiles approvingly, as he offers me his arm.
We walk swiftly through the corridors, my cloak billowing behind me like a rogue shadow. I can see the sickle moon chase us, driving its curved blade into my mind-reminding me of my unnatural lust. I try to force the images from my mind, but they are still vivid, still dripping with blood.
Severus stops abruptly, he stands perfectly still as though turned to stone, as he listens to the silence of the night. I look on; the marble floors of the foyer are beautiful in the moonlight, like the surface of a milky lake, smooth, and calm with only the occasional grey ripple. We've arrived at the school's main entrance. The monstrous doors loom forebodingly over us. Its large wooden teeth, clenched-bits of metal wedged between each great incisor.
He takes hold of the formidable door handle, and with a great groan manages to open it. I can feel the fear inside me grow exponentially as the gap between the door and its frame widens. I am not certain as to what I fear exactly-if it is even the dementors that frighten me…or if it is something else. I look on as he checks the threshold for their presence; they seem to have wandered off at the moment. Seizing this opportunity, we slip out into the evening fog.
I welcome the numbing bite of the cool autumn evening, as it draws my mind away from the demons that consume it. The fog is thick across the barren field; it transforms the dense forest into black silhouettes interspersed thinly amongst an ocean of mist.
"Kaida, do you think you could…" I see him offer me his forearm.
"Of course, Severus…" I place my hand on his forearm and gently guide him towards the forest.
The grass is heavy with dew. The air is filled with the earthy scents of fall. The cool crisp air mingling with the scent of pumpkin leaves from Hagrid's garden. We walk past the quaint little hut and I notice that the windows still radiate with candlelight.
"I wonder what Hagrid is doing up at this hour?"
"He's probably still blubbering over that Hippogriff of his! Honestly, you would think that he would have enough sense to know that Hippogriffs are too advanced for third year students." His voice is devoid of all sympathy.
"I take it that the class didn't go well…"
"That is putting it lightly. Thanks to him and his hippogriff, Slytherin is short a Quidditch player; not to mention a good student."
"Poor Hagrid…" I hear Severus scoff quietly, and decide to drop the matter.
Hagrid and I share a common love for what we affectionately call, "interesting creatures". It is over this common ground that our friendship flourished. He is a kindly man; thoughtful and sweet-he is to me, like an older brother. I feel a ball of guilt in the pit of my stomach. If only I hadn't encouraged Hagrid to bring hippogriffs to his first class…I cannot provide solace with regret; I will make amends with Hagrid when I return from the Forbidden Forest.
As we near the edge of the forest, I notice something bolt towards the Whomping Willow. It's big, very big. I watch as its muscular form runs towards the tree, its ebony coat, a flash of dark lightening. Suddenly it stops; it stands, staring at me…a Grim! A wave of fog blows over it and it disappears. Could it be my imagination? Or could there really be a Grim? I pray that Remus is not the one it seeks.
We break through the line of trees, their trunks like a sieve, holding back the haze of fog. I hear the crunch of the fallen leaves under foot. The forest has been blanketed with an eerie silence, nothing seems to be stirring, the only sound is the echo of our steps. The forest is a mysterious place, full of dangerously "interesting creatures". Severus draws out his wand; he seems to be weary of what might lurk in the shadow of the forest. I know that nothing in this forest can harm me, and yet I continue to cling to my childish, mortal fears of the unknown. An aura of dark vivacity seems to have settled around me. It pulsates with an unseen essence. There is something amiss…something is wrong…
I quicken my pace; trying to reach the safety of the amaranth-filled clearing as quickly as possible.
"Kaida, is there something wrong? Why are we running?" He pants as we dodge low hanging branches.
"There is something out there…we must do this quickly…we must get to the clearing…I can't protect you from what ever pursues us with all these trees obstructing my vision…" I wrap my hands around his wrist as we weave through the multitude of trees.
We break the final line of obstructions to find ourselves in an open clearing. The moonlight shatters the leafy canopy of the forest, and bathes the clearing in its fulgurant glow. Waves of amaranths cover the forest floor.
I direct Severus to the amaranths, as I survey the clearing. I see nothing…nothing seems to be out there…but I can feel its presence. Its semblance is heavy; I feel myself being crushed under its magnitude…my chest fills with a frigid foreboding. I fight to keep my balance, but my limbs seem to have failed me…I hear someone call out my name, as I fall.
"Severus…" I hear my own voice calling to him, but it sounds like nothing more then a whisper. I feel his arms around me as I collapse to the ground. A veil casts itself around my thoughts as I begin to drift in out of consciousness.
I see his face briefly before I fade out of consciousness, yet again…
Suddenly I feel my body jerked upwards, the sound of tearing cloth filling the void of the night….
I hear someone breathing heavily…my body is flushed with heat…I feel a great pressure upon my chest…My eyes flutter open to find Severus upon me, a laboured breath against his lips, sweat beading on his brow.
I rally my strength and push him from me. I see him fall backwards from my attack. I will my weakened limbs to run. I look down to find the front of my robe torn open, my skin exposed to the night.
Clutching the front of my robes I flee, until my body finally collapses from exhaustion. I lie in a heap of black cloth and panic. I hear his approach…he cannot be much farther then a few metres from where I lie. I feel my once indifferent heart become engulfed in mortal fears. For the first time in decades I feel terror, as his form looms over me.