Authors Note: I don't own Moros, but I do own Moros' soul. So that solves that. I also don't own Bellatrix Lestrange, even though she's damn awesome.
And for those of you who don't like the excessive bad language and sexual connotations...go away, please. Theres only more of it on the way. XD I mean, this IS a PG-13 story.
From Dawn to Dusk
Chapter 3 : Romanian Sunrise
Morning came quickly for Malanda, who had quickly resided to her own room in Antony's mansion the night before. She had fallen asleep quickly in the large bed, and was more than thankful for the pajamas the house elves had laid out for her before she returned. Unfortunately, though, she wasn't to wake up as peacefully as she had fallen asleep.
Just as the bright sunrise was starting to peek between the shutters on the window, a dark figure lowered itself from the rafters of Malanda's room so that it was suspended upside down immediately above the bed. It was hanging by its feet, and slowly reached out it's hands towards Malanda's shoulders, but froze mid-air when a pocket watch slipped from it's pocket onto Malanda's stomach.
She sat up abruptly, pulling a dagger from seemingly nowhere and holding it out in front of her. "I swear, Anton-" Her eyes widened as she recognized the pale, vampiric face in front of her. "Moros?!"
"Heh…er…Good morning, Mal…" Moros grinned, almost sheepishly, and did a sort of somersault as he dropped his feet down, landing with his feet on either side of Malanda. "Sleep well?"
She glared at him a moment before rolling her eyes. "Have you ever heard of a door ?"
"Yup. But it was locked." He arched an eyebrow curiously at her. "Afraid of someone coming to get you while you were asleep?"
Malanda grumbled, carefully pulling her legs out from under Moros and sliding out of bed. "You'd do the same if you were living with Antony."
"Oh, he didn't tell you?" Moros sat down fully on the bed, hanging his legs over the side. "I'm in the room just down the hall." Malanda arched an eyebrow at him as she picked up a hairbrush from the vanity, tugging it through her somewhat curly hair.
"And you just couldn't wait for me to wake up?"
"Of course not. You would've slept all day if I let you."
"Yeah, yeah." She chucked the hairbrush at him before crossing to her dresser to ruffle through her clothes. Moros, having dodged the hairbrush carefully, followed her with his eyes.
"Anyway, heard you took out those eight ministry workers last night. Congratulations."
"Congratulations?" She arched an eyebrow back at him as she pulled a few articles of clothing out of the dresser. "What for?"
Moros shrugged. "On doing it by yourself, I guess. Getting it done… y'know… just… congratulations."
"Moros, I murdered six men and two women last night of my own accord. That's nothing to be congratulated on."
"Uh-huh. You know you enjoyed it."
Malanda turned back to face him, a mischievous grin playing her lips. "Now I never said I didn't enjoy it, I just said it was nothing to be congratulated on." She picked up her clothes and disappeared behind a dressing screen whilst she talked. "Anyway, I wasn't going to come all the way out here and not kill some one. Plus, you know me, getting Reenie a few weeks ago really got me craving some more…"
Moros chuckled. "It's hard to believe you're not a vampire some days, Mal."
"Should I take that as a compliment?" She emerged from behind the screen in an outfit much like the one she had worn the night before, though she was still busy tightening the strings on the corset as she walked.
"If you want, I suppose." Moros shrugged. "Either way, I did come here with a purpose, you know."
"Then get to it."
"Your lover wanted me to tell you that we're all going back to the forest tonight. Apparently someone planned a meeting on account of the ministry… word is the secret's out."
"What?!" Malanda glanced up, startled. "That's impossible. There's no way they could know about us…" Moros' eyes lit up.
"Of course there is! With Rebekka, Ilse and the others in the ministry? They're bound to notice when a few of their aurors go missing."
She shook her head. "Anyway, I'll be there. And for the record, he's not my lover."
"You act like it."
"Well, he's not. We just share… similar interests, is all."
"Uh-huh."
"Is that all you came down here to tell me?"
"Pretty much."
Malanda just nodded. She was slightly unnerved by the fact that the ministry knew about the Snake Charmers; one of many things could happen, now, because of this. What if she was caught? She knew in her mind she was safe, but the murders from the previous night had gotten to her. If the ministry was on to them, that meant going into hiding – something most of them hated – and a lot more death than was really necessary. Malanda went through all the trouble to cover up seventeen years of dark arts just to be able to apply for a job as an auror, she wasn't about to give that up now, especially on account of someone like Rebekka.
Carefully selecting a sword from a wide selection on the west wall, she tied the sheath around her waist, studying Moros carefully before speaking.
"So what're today's plans?"
"You know we never do anything in the daytime. Too dangerous." He arched an eyebrow at her oddly, as if sensing that Malanda was up to something. The girl shrugged, however, as she pulled on her cloak overtop her clothes.
"Just checking. When'd you get here, anyway? You weren't here when I dropped by last night."
"I was!" He grinned wryly. "I was just in my room. I had a lot of unpacking to do."
Malanda snickered. "Uh-huh…"
"What, you don't believe me?"
"Nope…" She started for the door, and Moros immediately hopped off the bed, following behind.
"Anyway, what is it you've got planned?"
"I need to have a word with Rebekka."
"A word or a duel?" In one quick motion, he was standing in front of her, nodding towards her sword. Malanda just grinned, however.
"We'll see."
"Oh no you won't." A familiar voice coming from behind Malanda caused her and Moros both to turn and look down the hallway, to spot Rebekka with her own sword belted around her waist. "I am not to blame for this. You know I'd never turn anyone in."
Malanda's eyes narrowed. "You threatened to last night!"
"Oh come off it…" Rebekka rolled her eyes. "Anyway, if you must know, the reason everyone thinks we're up to something is because of the folks that went missing last night. That's why Josef and Hannah were at the Halo… to warn us." Her eyes narrowed to meet Malanda's. "But I'm sure you were too busy hanging all over Antony to notice any proper conversation going on around you."
Moros grinned at this remark, leaning forward so his head was directly next to Malanda's. "What's this? Twenty four hours and you and Antony've already hooked up?"
"Moros, shut the fuck up." He went silent. Malanda took a few steps towards Rebekka. "No, I didn't catch anything. But that's because they didn't say anything until after I left. I would have heard if they did. And anyway, why're we meeting in the woods if they're after us? Wouldn't they think to look there?"
Rebekka shrugged. "I don't know. I guess we'll just have to wait and find out."
"Right…" Malanda sighed. "Anyway. Thanks for…cluing me in or whatever." She said this almost bitterly, as if she wasn't sorry at all. "So you can go on and try your luck hitting on Antony or whatever…" Rebekka glared.
"For your information, I'm having lunch with Bella this afternoon."
Moros chuckled. "An auror and Bellaxtrix Lestrange enjoying tea together…never thought I'd see the day."
"Well, she really is a wonderful person…"
Malanda smirked slightly. "Wonderful if you like sewer rats, I suppose."
"What was that?" Rebekka glared.
"Nothing, nothing at all. You go tell Bella that I said hi, alright?" Malanda smiled in mock innocence.
"Hmph…maybe I will!" Rebekka cast one last glare at Malanda and Moros before turning and stomping back down the hall.
"What's her problem, anyway?" Moros questioned Malanda as they continued down the hall. Malanda scowled.
"I don't know. She hates me for some reason or another. She has since we first met… y'know, before I joined the Charmers? Never did figure out why."
"Hmmm. Odd." Moros thought on it a moment before shrugging it off. "Anyway, I'm off for a bit, I gotta meet up with James. See you tonight?"
She smiled slightly. "Yeah… I'll see you."
"Take care, kiddo." Moros grinned at her a moment before heading off down the hall as well, leaving Malanda to her own thoughts as she headed for the library.
