Well finally, Here is Chapter 14. I struggled where to go with this, as it is an important point in the story and I am trying to keep Harry true to character. There is only about 2 chapters left after this. While this story is based on the world of JK Rowling, I also used some influence from The Dark Series by Christine Feehan ( A great romance series!!) to give a little background to my vampires though some of it is my own doing. Warning for strong language. Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far. My brother told me he has actually met some people who have read this which I think is cool. Reviews help motivate me to write more, so the more I get the quicker the final chapters will be posted.
Chapter 14: Brother Darkest
Time, the one thing they felt they needed more than anything else, was running out. There were only Eleven Days left. It had taken Harry and Rayne a few hours to get used to the fact that they would always be a shadow in each others minds. Rayne showed Harry how to reach out with his mind and follow the mental path that would allow them to communicate silently. Harry was surprised as to how much research Rayne had actually done on vampires. There were a few different species of Vampires, which ranged from deranged bloodthirsty killers, to those that hunted them in order to save there souls from the darkness. Alana had been very careful in making sure that she had been converted by a hunter. She chose one with ancient blood, a healer to its kind. When she had explained her predicament, the hunter had brought her before the Prince of his people, to ask permission to convert her. He gave his permission due to her dire need. Upon her conversion she had gained all the powers of their species. She could Shape-shift at will, she could heal people with her mind, and she could move invisibly, silently, and swiftly. It had been a day filled with getting to know themselves all over again. There was still one thing that they had not discussed. Feeding.
They both new that they would need blood to survive. The question remained who or what would supply them with it. Harry had remembered reading about vampires in his 6th year Defense against the Dark Arts class. He remembered reading about how Vampires could hold hidden compulsions in there voice. They could also alter memories while their victim was under the hypnosis of there voice. Harry thought these things over in his head.
"We will do what we have to in order to be strong." Rayne cut through his thoughts. There was no hint of remorse in her voice, just an unspoken resolve to survive no matter what the cost.
"We need to get back. We have been gone for four days." Harry told her. "Everyone will be worried."
"Or suspicious. Rayne added. "You are right, let's start back. We will have to feed tonight though."
Harry and Rayne made there way from the alcove back towards the school. It was about 4 in the afternoon. Harry and Rayne walked toward the courtyard of the school. It was a clear spring day, the sky was a deep blue with only a few clouds scattered across the horizon. As they approached the courtyard, they noticed that it was unusually quiet for such a nice day.
"Something is not right." Harry said softly.
Rayne nodded. Harry was right, something was very wrong.
"There is no one out here." She observed scanning the surrounding area. She could hear the slight breeze whistling through the trees in the center of the courtyard.
They walk cautiously toward the entrance of the school. As they stepped inside, Rayne stopped dead.
"Listen." she spoke silently to him.
Harry stood beside her. He closed his eyes and suddenly realized he could hear things normal people wouldn't be able to. He was able to hear Hedwig fluffing her feathers and Trevor, Neville's toad, hopping across the floor of the prefects' bathroom. Neville was always loosing that toad. Harry unknowingly shook his head. He couldn't believe he could hear stuff going on in Gryffindor tower hen he and Rayne were standing at the entrance from the courtyard.
"Pretty amazing isn't it." Rayne smiled thoughtfully. "Listen harder."
Harry did as Rayne requested and that is when he heard what she was listening to. An evil laugh, and sound of crackling electricity, and a cry of pain. He could hear a tear drop hit the floor. All these noises were coming from the direction of the Slytherin Common Room.
"Phoenix." Rayne growled. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, so tight that her knuckles were turning white.
It had begun. Phoenix had taken the opportunity while Rayne had disappeared to take over the students. He was controlling them, and torturing them. She had let him have full control of the school for four days. That was more than enough time to carry out his plans. He was getting ready to make his move.
"Fuck!" Rayne screamed out of frustration and anger. She slammed her fist into the nearest wall out of temper. She left behind an impression of her fist, but Harry noticed that she did not wince in pain. In fact it didn't even look like it hurt her.
Harry knew Rayne had a temper, but she had always been so patient with him. He was the one who was supposed to lose his temper, not her. Harry had become angrier with every passing year, hating his fate and denying his destiny. To see Rayne so upset shook him.
Rayne read his thoughts and didn't even bother to hide what she was feeling. He could feel her anger at herself, at Phoenix. She had given him exactly what he needed. She had broken her protection on Hogwarts with the ritual. She was no longer alive, and Phoenix was. Her psychic control over him was gone. She had made her first mistake ever, and she was pissed.
"We need to feed before we try to break into Slytherin and save those students." Harry said calmly. Normally, he would have rushed in to save them, but he had learned invaluable information from the death of his Godfather. He learned that rushing into things to save people unprepared for the consequences can get people killed. It was one of the hardest lessons he had ever learned.
"I know." Rayne said distractedly. Harry could tell she was still thinking of ways to regain her psychic protection over the school.
Harry grabbed Rayne's arm and lead her toward the Great hall. Inside he noticed Malfoy and a couple other Slytherin's sitting at the end of one of the tables. No one else was around.
"Watch me work my magic." Rayne spoke silently to Harry. "Stay in the shadows, you look to different for the both of us to show up together. I will lure him out the door. Make your self invisible."
"How?" He asked
"Use your mind. Hold a picture there and will your body to become one with your surroundings."
Harry pictured the wall and the pattern laid in the stone and suddenly he could feel his body adjusting to his surroundings.
"Stay in the shadows." She warned him.
With that she walked over to where Malfoy was sitting. Malfoy looked up and didn't recognize her at first.
"Do you like my makeover?" She asked in a velvety smooth voice. Harry could hear the compulsion, but he knew that to Malfoy, it just sounded like a normal question.
Malfoy didn't know why, but he wanted to talk to her. "Actually, it is quite an improvement." He said warily.
"Well, I have been thinking about our conversation the other night, and I believe you are right. I should be on your side. I may need a little more convincing though. I thought you would be just the person to do it." She was reeling him in. He was looking into her eyes. He felt as though he was falling. Suddenly he felt his body getting up from the table, and moving over to Rayne. He took her arm and led her outside the Great Hall. Harry could feel a tinge of jealousy smoldering in his chest. He followed them silently out into the corridor. He tried to read Malfoy's mind using his newly acquired telepathic powers. What he found was not to his liking. He was thinking about how Rayne would be in bed, and how long it would take him to get her there. He let out a small growl, temper flaring. Jealousy that Malfoy was touching Rayne licked at his insides. He was getting so angry his mind was like a thunderstorm. Suddenly a flash of lightning hit outside the window followed by a loud crash of thunder.
"Relax, it is all part of the game." Rayne touched his mind. Still, he was not happy with her methods. The storm outside seemed to subside as he calmed down.
"What type of vampire can control the weather?" Harry asked Rayne, momentarily taking his mind off of his jealous rage.
"The type that originate from a remote part of Transylvania. They are of the Earth. They are the ones that hunt other vampires that endanger Humans. The species evolved from an ancient vampire who sacrificed his life for a human he loved. He never turned her. When she became gravely ill, he put her to sleep so that her death would be painless and buried himself with her in the healing ground of there country and drove s stake through his own heart hoping that somehow in death, he would find peace with her and his soul would be freed. He did not know that the woman was pregnant with his child, a boy, at the time, and without either of his parents to nourish him, he willed nutrients from the soil around them to keep him alive. His body became one with the earth and a new species was born. The child became strong, and was able to break free from his mothers body. The infant, was somehow able to send out a distress cry, and a pack of wolves dug him up out of the earth. From there every child he had was of the earth, but in exchange for their powers, as wonderful as they were, they were still forced to live off of blood, like the evil ones they so avidly hunted. They never kill unless it is justified." Rayne answered.
"Well, do they always play with there food?" Harry asked moodily. He could feel Rayne roll her eyes at him.
Rayne had lured Malfoy into an abandoned classroom, and Harry was just able to slip in before she put a locking charm on the door.
Before Malfoy knew what hit him Rayne was inches away from his face. "Convince me." She whispered. As she rubbed her fingers over his neck in a massaging motion looking for his pulse. As soon as she found it, Harry saw her fangs lengthen and before Malfoy could put up a struggle, Rayne sank her teeth into his neck. She drank just enough to make Malfoy dizzy, then swept her tongue over the two marks made by her teeth and closed the wound, erasing all traces of the bite. She then looked him straight in the eyes.
"You will remember none of this. You will go back to the Great hall and tell everyone you couldn't convince me and that one of the others had better come here right away. Do not take no for an answer."
She picked him up by the collar and sent him out the door, waiting for the next one to come. "See it is that easy." She told Harry.
"Easy for you, maybe. I barely made it without ripping his throat out for touching you and thinking about you that way." Harry admitted.
"I know." She smiled. "You will get over that in time I hope, or else I will never be able to feed."
"I think I should be the one feeding you, that way I never have to watch you that close to another guy again." Harry said honestly.
"No thanks, I prefer not to rely on you that way. It would make me feel like a weak little prissy." She laughed. Harry did not. He was serious. Before he could convince her otherwise, a knock came on the door.
"Come in." Rayne said sweetly.
In walked Blaise Zambini, one of Malfoy's many minions.
"Malfoy said you needed more convincing." He said staring at her chest.
"Actually, I am not the one who need convincing, he is." Rayne said in the same hypnotizing voice she had used on Malfoy.
Blaise turned around and saw Harry standing before him. He looked different, more dangerous, no longer the boy they were so used to picking on.
Harry caught Blaise's eyes and Blaise found himself falling forward as he stared into them.
"I hear that you are on the same side as Malfoy. Convince me to join you." Harry said smoothly his voice filled with compulsion. He watched as Blaise walked toward him unknowingly under his spell. Harry didn't even need to check for his pulse, he just went for his neck. After he had fed he closed the wounds on Blaise's neck in the same manner Rayne had on Malfoy. He then sent Blaise away thinking he had failed as well as Malfoy to convince Rayne. He made sure Blaise had no recollection of his presence.
"See was that so hard." Rayne said.
"Not as bad as I expected, and I don't feel the least bit guilty because I hate them both." Harry said honestly.
"Good, now let's go find out what my dear brother is up to." Rayne said as she turned toward the door.
They had made there way to the door of the Slytherin Common room. Rayne tried to get into Phoenix's mind, but his block was too strong. She had always had a natural connection with him that came from birth, but now she realized just how precious that gift was. Now she was going to have to fight to beak through his barriers, and if she did that he would be alerted to her presence. There was no way he wasn't going to feel her push on his mind. She decided to try to read the minds of those that were in the room. She settled on the poor soul he was torturing into submission.
She saw the room through the scared eyes of the victim, whose eyes were darting around analyzing everyway possible to get out of the situation. This mind was strong. Determined never to give in, or change sides. Rayne could feel the courage in the victim's heart. She knew this was a Gryffindor. Then she heard the cry the victim made. It was a girl. Hermione. Rayne heard Harry shudder beside her. She felt the anger welling up in Harry's body. The storm outside was growing in magnitude.
"How dare they lay a finger on her? She has been the most loyal friend I have had. Not even Ron has stood by me the way she has." He was now shaking with rage.
Rayne knew she had to help Hermione. She gently pushed into Hermione's mind so that Hermione could feel an outside presence. She felt Hermione tense but Hermione was smart, she could feel that the presence in her mind wasn't threatening, so she made sure her body language gave nothing away of the invasion.
"Hermione let me merge with your mind. I will take away your pain. You aren't alone anymore." Rayne spoke softly in her mind.
Hermione didn't know why, but she trusted the voice. Maybe she was going crazy. Nothing had been the same since Harry had disappeared. Neither He nor Rayne had been seen for Days. She could only hope that nothing happened to them.
"Nothing bad happened to us, Hermione, but I can tell you we are not the same as before. We are stronger now, and we will make sure you are OK." Rayne spoke soothinglyknowing Hermione couldn't talk back to her.
Hermione recognized Rayne. Part of her also thought she could feel Harry's presence too.
"I am here Hermione. We won't let them harm you. Just please hold out a little longer." Harry pleaded.
Just then Hermione was hit with another energy bolt from Phoenix. Surprisingly she felt no pain. It was then that she realized she actually had a chance. Her resolve became stronger than ever. She would not cave.
"You are a stupid girl. You could avoid all this suffering if you would just join me. Your mind is strong, but your body is weak. My techniques should have you on your knees by now." Phoenix snarled.
"I will never betray Harry." She said forcefully only to be met with a slap across the face. As soon as Phoenix's palm made contact with her cheek, he leapt back in shock. There was a burn mark across his palm in the shape of a lightning bolt.
"It isn't possible. That Bitch has placed a protection spell around you. Where the fuck is she?" He snarled coming inches from Hermione's face. "Where is she?" He screamed at her again.
"I don't know who you are talking about." Hermione lied.
"You lying Bitch. Where is that whore sister of mine? I know you know where she is; you must in order to have her protection on you. She is the only one who could place a protection spell that strong on you. Not even her Fucking Boyfriend could manage a spell that leaves a mark like this." He was angry now. His eyes had a flicker of fire in them as he spoke to her.
"Sister?!" Hermione couldn't help but say the shocking fact aloud.
"Oh, you didn't know." Phoenix said with mock horror. "Well, well, her dirty little family secret is out. She probably hasn't even told that Bastard boyfriend of hers. Boy is he in for a shock. Wait till he finds out who our father is. Imagine the headlines in the Daily Prophet now. "The Boy that lived cavorting around with the only daughter of He who shall not be named." Phoenix was practically rolling on the floor at the thought of the shock on Harry's face.
A tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. If what he said was true, Harry could be in grave danger.
"I already knew all that Hermione. Rayne has never lied to me. I have known since the beginning. She is not like them, she is on our side. She will take care of you, and she will stand with me and face her father when it comes time. You need to trust my judgment Hermione. You need to trust Rayne." Harry told her gently.
"Please, Hermione. I may be his sister, but that only makes me stronger against him." Rayne reinforced.
Hermione raised her head and looked at Phoenix.
"As long as Rayne is on our side, than what would it matter to us who her family is?" Hermione said defiantly. She was trying to egg him on and get more information out of him.
"What makes you think she is on your side? She ran didn't she? She left you all alone and took Potter with her. The minute she left, I was able to take over. She ran like a coward. She knows that our father will strike in a few weeks. She ran scared." Phoenix maliciously accused.
"Hermione," Harry broke into her mind again, "Rayne and I had to go through a ritual that would make us stronger than anything they have ever seen, but it took us four days to recover from it. We did not run, and we did not abandon you. We are ready for the battle; we are ready for Voldemort and Phoenix. Don't let him screw with your head." Harry told her.
"Hermione, I made the first mistake by leaving for the ritual, but believe me when I say I will not make another. I am right outside the door. I will protect you." Rayne told her reassuringly.
Hermione smiled a suddenly knowing smile. She raised her voice. "You think you are ahead of the game, but I will never lose faith in Harry or Rayne. They will find a way to defeat you. I pledge them my loyalty no matter what you say."
"Those are brave words for someone who is tied up rather helpless." Phoenix sneered.
Now was Hermione's chance to give Rayne and Harry the clue they needed to storm Slytherin Tower.
"I am a Gryffindor, Courage and Bravery and far better that being a Follower of the Darkness" Hermione said putting extra emphasis on the last few words.
Rayne and Harry could hear her. She had given them the password to Slytherin Tower. Rayne looked at Harry.
"I am going in alone, don't let him see you, or he will get what we have done. He is quick like that. We disappear for four days and suddenly reappear looking older, sexier, and deadlier. He will put it together fast." She told him.
"I don't think I can sit back and watch them torture my friend." Harry protested.
"You need to stay here. If things get out of control, I will call you in. Please let me handle him. As much as he talks bad about me, he fears me." Rayne said with finality in her voice.
Harry nodded. He then mumbled the words "Followers of the Darkness". The portrait slid open and Rayne snuck through silently. She was lucky Hermione had distracted Phoenix with more of her "Pledge of Allegiance" to Harry talk.
Just as Phoenix was about to hit Hermione with another spell, Rayne stepped from the shadows.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size asshole?" Rayne said in a silky smooth voice.
"The princess has arrived." Phoenix quickly turned his attention from Hermione to Rayne. Rayne used this moment of distraction to cast a spell that released Hermione's hands and feet.
"Get out of here now." Rayne spoke to her with a strong compulsion. Hermione didn't need any more convincing she willingly walked toward the door. But instead of going out the door and running for her life, in true Gryffindor fashion, she snuck behind a large easy chair next to the entrance, and waited till she was needed. Everyone was focused on Phoenix and Rayne, and she was lucky no one noticed her.
"I have not figured out your plan yet Phoenix, but believe me when I say, you will not succeed." Rayne said evenly.
Phoenix eyed her. She knew he was analyzing her. Phoenix couldn't put his finger on it, but something was out of place. She looked different, more dangerous, and he couldn't feel there mental connection anymore. He decided to test his theory. He took over the mind of the nearest student. He made the student crawl across the floor on his hands and knees. As soon as Rayne saw what he was doing, she intervened and stopped his command, but still in the past, he hadn't even been able to get the command to work in her presence no matter what he tried. The link was gone. Phoenix smiled evilly.
"What on earth would you have done that would break the connection between us?" He asked mockingly. "Why would you ever take away your most precious advantage?"
"It is not what I have lost, but what I have gained." Rayne was taunting him now.
"Don't tell me you sold your soul. How pathetic. For some looks and maybe some extra strength and power? Nothing is worth losing your telepathic abilities; with them you lost your only advantage. You think a little extra strength will help you win the war? What witch or wizard talked you into selling your soul? I would love to meet them." He seemed delighted.
Rayne was feeling like bursting out laughing. Phoenix thought she had sold her soul to a Dark witch or Wizard in exchange for extra fighting strength and abilities, therefore losing most of her telepathic power. He thought that with time, all her telepathic ability would fade as would her strength and she would be left with nothing. She had heard about such witches and wizards. They dabbled in Black Magic and lived to deceive and ruin their victims. That Phoenix thought she could ever become one of those victims was laughable. Rayne managed to restrain herself.
"You will have to find out the hard way I'm afraid, as I will never tell you." Rayne said being deliberately vague.
Rayne could see that Phoenix had lost focus on the task at hand while he was musing over the possibilities of his newfound freedom from there mental link. Rayne was able to scream "Expelliarmus" and catch Phoenix in the stomach while he wasn't paying attention. She then turned and was at the door before he could even get up to react. She grabbed Hermione from behind the chair, and dragged her out the door. She heard Phoenix scream behind her.
"You just wait, Rayne, nothing can stop me now." He gloated.
Rayne just continued down the hall dragging Hermione behind her. She knew Harry was following out of Hermione's sight. Once they reached the Gryffindor common room, they took Hermione up the stairs to there room. Harry followed at a distance. Hermione had never been inside their room since Rayne had moved in.
Once they were inside Hermione took a seat on the trunk at the end of the bed.
"Hermione, what happened to everyone else?" Rayne gently asked Hermione.
"They all conceded out of fear, even Ron. They all gave in to the torture. I was the last one who saw the danger. I couldn't give in. I couldn't betray Harry." Hermione said sadly.
"Thank you, you are a true friend." Harry said softly as he stepped out of the shadows.
Hermione gasped. "Harry, what happened to you? You look different. What did you do?" Her voice was riddled with worry.
"Please don't be upset Hermione; I did what needed to be done to save the world. Rayne did the same. We have sacrificed a lot to get to this point." Harry said trying to avoid telling her the truth.
"We all thought you were dead. We thought Phoenix, or worse Voldemort had killed you." Hermione said.
"They can't kill me Hermione. No one can." Harry said carefully.
"That isn't possible Harry, if that is so than that means you would have to be....." Her voice trailed off. Realization hit her hard. "You didn't."
"We did." Harry responded.
"Why?" Hermione could only utter that one word.
"It was the only way to guarantee we would win. Avada Kedava can't touch us now. We can't let them know. It is our biggest advantage. The war is only Eleven days away. We will lye low until then. You are under our protection. They can't touch you." Rayne answered her.
Hermione nodded in understanding.
She knew she would fight with them to the end.
