the tons of chapters that I failed to grant upon all you awesome
peoples over the past couple months.
CastusAlbusCor - Well, I seem to be in an update-every-day kick right
now... let's hoep I don't burn out, so I can keep things complicated
^__^
Lady Darkmon - Twitching, you say? That's a new one; welcome to the
ranks of those who worship me, for no other reason than writing. I
still don't understand why people worship me, but hey! Do what you
want. *grins* At least you worked your way through it the sane way;
I've had some nameless people read it all in one night, forgoing sleep
^.^;;
Black Rose - Scimitar may or may not show up in the future... although
with the way she can pop up and go anywhere, she (and the ever-blind
Vilya), could quite possibly make it into AAW, if you need ideas. And
Sev is this close (holds forefinger and thumb a centimeter apart* to
being in America.
A-Potter-Person - Isn't it just wonderful? ^__^
Bryt - *hugs back* Now it's five chapters! Vilya isn't a Weapon-- she
was born just before Scimitar became a Weapon (Scimitar is a First
Generation Weapon, not second like the guys from Hogwarts), but since
her mother was pregnant with her when she began to train int he ways
of the Weapon, Vilya has a small attachment to the Power. All it gives
her is a 'sixth and seventh sense' so that she can sense where people
and object are, as well as when she's in danger. She was born blind.
Scamber Dragon - I didn't watch Buffy all that much following the
second season; but I'd rather know what the hell Leigh is babbling
about than to be staring blankly at her-- she's an obsessive Buffy
Fan.
KoChanneo - Would you like a straight-jacket? Anyway, here's more ^__^
Arizosa - *blown back by the shout* I must be _really_ awesome to get
that loud of a shout! *grins stupidly*
I don't own Harry Potter. I don't even own a copy of any of the
books-- although Leigh's brother does own a copy, he doesn't own Harry
Potter, either. That must mean Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling.
---
Blackened Sunrise
Chapter Fifty-Eight - Cath
The Itch
---
"Well?"
Severus Snape ignored the irrate voice of his once-student with the
ease that came with being a teacher for many years. Virginia
Weasley's eyebrow twitched with annoyance, as she watched the dark
haired, dark eyed man gaze into the crystal clear liquid. The way he
was hunched over it, she couldn't see anything.
Finally, the man leaned back, allowing her to view the scene playing
by in the liquid. Draco, in his human form, stood alongside an
unknown, graceful female. Before the pair was another female, this
one with a ring of tattooed black roses decorating her forehead. This
seated female was busily working upon a computer, not unlike the
Ravenclaw that Ginny had set the task of hacking and cracking upon.
It only took a moment, but Draco's cool eyes shifted slightly,
glancing in the direction of the scriers, apparently having been
notified their view through either Hak or the Power. Then his eyes
shifted back to the monitor in front of the girl that was split into
twelve equal screens. It took another few minutes before the teenager
standing alongside him to turn her own gaze towards them, confused.
The scrying potion did nothing to translate sound across the
distances, so neither professed nor Living Weapon heard what Draco
had said to the girl to get her to stop staring in the spell's
direction. All they knew was that his lips had moved, and then she
had returned her attention to the computers and the other girl.
Snape dropped a shard of quartz into the potion, negating it's
effects, and canceling the magic flowing in it. Narrowed black eyes
turned to face the redhead beside him, "If you'll excuse me," and he
stood, brushing off his robes. He was almost out the door when Gunn's
voice caught him.
"Snape. Go bring It home."
The redhead pushed past him on her way to a session with Katar.
---
Whispers rose in the crowds before them, following Helkaer's
statements. A Living Weapon? A _male_ Living Weapon? Let alone an
_edan_! What was the world coming to? This was just... just simply
impossible! But... believable with the way that he had fought.
Believable considering that the Drow Weapon, Scimitar had fought
alongside him and his chosen.
Those who stood with Cath and her reign were outraged; how dare this
Weapon fight against their queen! It just didn't make any sense!
Sulnore's eye slitted as she overheard a number of the whispers
reaching her long ears. She cared not for the words about Harry, nor
for those of Helkaer and Cath. It was those who _dared_ to demean all
that she had been through these long years that infuriated her. Ire
rose in her breast, her magic went with it. Control was learned, and
she'd only found out about her own mana stores less than an hour
before.
Harry's hand clamped down on her shoulders, "Let's go, Sulnore," her
eye turned to meet his glowing orbs, a devious smile on the insane
one's lips, "I promised you a throne before the day ended, remember?"
Her lips curved into a smile, "Yes. That you did..."
"Helkaer," he glanced at the golden-handed Drow, "Stay here, guard
the doors with those loyal to Sulnore. C'mon, Princess, we've got a
kingdom to liberate."
She chuckled softly, stepping past him to throw open the disgustingly
opulent doors. Yes, the Reigning House should be surrounded by beauty
and wealth... but to the exclusion of their peoples' welfare? Again
anger flooded her chest, and this time Potter did not halt the build
up. Just before her gauntleted hands touched the jewel encrusted
oaken doors, they were blown from their hinges by the magic that
flowed through the Drow Princess' body. For a moment she gasped in
rapture as she felt the power to do what she wanted ripple through
her, but the moment was quickly thrown off. She had much to do.
Proud steps, timed with the soft thuds of her bo-staff hitting the
marble floors, marked her passage. Although the Living Weapon
followed her in, he made no sound, and thus was easily ignorable. She
was going to do this on her own. While the back-up was appreciated,
it was unneeded. After all, she didn't need the edan to hold her hand
for all those years of her life before and after her maiming, and she
most assuredly did not need him to coddle her now that she was to
face her destiny.
She _would_ have her throne returned to her.
The halls, though opulent, and decorated with paints and golden
statues of all shapes and sizes, were bare of life. They were cold,
dark and empty, giving The Heir the feeling of moving through a
graveyard. The silence did not help the imagery any.
So it was expected that the throne room have that same detached
feeling of wealth to it as the proclaimed Kaiserin slammed the doors
off their hinges with another burst of her wild magic. Across the
expanse of the white marble and black onyx floor stood the golden
throne of the reigning Kaiserin, with an all to familiar figure
draped over it, an edan slave cowering in the shadows.
Her silver-white hair was meticulously groomed, woven into thousands
of tiny braids and tied off with golden bands. Amongst the braids
were ribbons of silk, a rainbow hue dancing among the gold that was
the shade of the majority of the ribbons. Her blue-black flesh was
highlighted by the pale, milky tones of her make-up, almost-pink eyes
half-lidded as they watched Sulnore stride confidently down the
length of the hall.
Slowly the other woman stood, her white and gold garments sliding
smoothly down dark flesh to accent her curves. She wore only a white
sarong around her hips, soft-silken sandals of gold tied with golden
ribbons as high up as possible-- right up to the bend of hip and leg.
Her breasts were bound by a thin strip of white fabric, and what
appeared to be a solid gold corset. Her wrists and neck were
decorated in golden jewelry, rings on every finger, and armlets
hugging the flesh of her upper arms.
White painted lips quirked into a sinister smile as Sulnore came to a
halt before her.
"Cath," her sister's voice was harsh and rough, holding none of the
culture that Cath could remember so well in her eldest sister's voice.
"My dearest older sister," purred the Younger Princess, "To what do I
owe this pleasure?"
Sulnore's single eye darkened with fury, red edging upon brown, "You
know damn well, Throne-Stealer."
"I stole nothing," the beautiful Drow laughed cynically, "A Queen
must have both eyes to view her enemies and allies alike."
Sulnore bowed her head, shoulders shaking minutely. Deeper in the
castle, windows began to shatter, one by one, slowly coming closer to
the infuriated female standing just before the dias of the throne.
Cath did not notice that her sibling's actions were not one of a
defeated foe, but of a dangerous rival on the edge of madness.
"You lost before you even started this foolishness, my sister. Mother
passed this morn. And in three hours time, I _will_ be Kaiserin, and
there is no way _you_, my pathetic sibling, will ever be able to over
throw me in that time!"
Cath had assumed one thing when she began her tirade. She had assumed
that Sulnore had not changed over her years as a border-guard. She
had assumed she was still dealing with the same, weak-willed female
who hadn't even fought for her throne when she had been maimed. She
had assumed that the woman before her could never change so much as
to kill a sibling. Sulnore had never been that ruthless.
Keyword being _had_.
Sulnore threw her head back and laughed, loud and hard. Cath's
startled features only brought about more laughter, "You are a fool,
Cath. A dead, dead fool."
"Wha..."
Sulnore could never kill a sibling, let alone one that she had
practically raised, such as Cath.
"Kill her."
That did not mean she was adverse to ordering her sister's death.
Harry's short bark of laughter rang out in the throne room, before
dying a painful death as Weapon came into control of their shared
body. The Living Weapon beat his bloody wings, mouth full of bared,
gleaming fangs. Cath stood staring in shock, unprepared for a
transformation she had only seen once before, and only as a young
child. Even then, Scimitar had a much more human appearance than this
beast.
Claws cracked the stone flooring as they gripped it only long enough
to send him lunging for the dark skinned female. His silver eyes
stared coolly into her frozen red, finger claws curved to tear out
her throat as he flashed past her. Blood splattered from her torn
neck, and he watched impassively as she hit the ground gurgling. His
tail lashed back and forth, boney protrusions cracking the damaged
floor only making it worse.
He lifted one foot, resting it easily upon her chest-- "Goodbye,
sweet Princess." -- and promptly skewered her through the heart on
his claws.
---
End Chapter
Ah, I do so enjoy cutting it off in such fun places.