Greetings, goodness it's been a while hasn't it? Well I terribly wish to be one of those authors that can upload a new chapter every week. Because of course, being one of those authors would mean that I had spare time. I toke a little break from writing because of the extreme effort I put into the first chapter and I needed to get my over-worked imagination to relax but I realized that when winter started it was time to get back to work. This chapter particularly was hard to write. Like J.K. Rowling said once that writing the second book was difficult because she wanted the sequel to be as good the first. I have now learned the meaning of that because before I was very worried that I would not be able to get past the first chapter. But enough of that.
I wish to say thanks to my reviewers, Jelli-baby, baby chaos, and Ithildiel. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and responding with more then "Omg update soon!" Really, I appreciate it so much especially since it was the first chapter.
To Jelli-baby: I loved your review, and any author would to get it as their first review. Chapter one did take me forever, I had begun writing it in like May. Though the first drafts look nothing like it does today! I was really most excited when I read your reply about Lachesis, Atropos and Clotho. I had worked particularly hard on their characterizations but from your response I see it was well worth it.
To baby chaos: I know, my grammar is rudimentary but I'm trying my best to improve it. And in this chapter I know for sure that I missed a few while editing but I'll keep working on it. I haven't read the stories about Lachesis, Clotho or Atropos, just the myths and whatever the Greek mythology reference books could tell me. I would like to know what stories you mentioned in the review, I wish to read them.
To Ithildiel: Thank you, thank you, thanks you so much for the criticism. I really can't thank you enough. You had taken time to read my story and tell me what you thought, when you could have been doing something else. I feel honored. And also, I did change the chapter accordingly.
Cathedral Sanctuary: War with Fate
Chapter Two: The Major Arcana XVIII the Moon
Finally, after long hours of rain the stormy weather finally calmed, signaling a moment of peace and lack of danger. The gray clouds still hung low and tight together seemingly as though the tempest was taking a rest or gathering energy to develop again, but still the thunder rumbled, the lightning sparked and the pouring rain reduced to light drizzles. Even for the moment, a calm sky was relieving to the sleeping citizens as well as the trio pondering below.
Barely reaching the dead end of the alley, Lachesis collapsed to her knees. Her lungs burned with weariness and her legs felt as though they molded into heavy weights. Running had taken the last of her strength and her body felt torn and weak. She shivered so bitterly inside her soaked cloak that her teeth began to chatter. Her arm still throbbed in numbing pain, so deeply that it felt as if someone were repeatedly stabbing her arm with a sharp blade.
Lachesis finally let herself go, the side of her body smacked the ground painfully but she did not bother to care. She would not be able to go on even if she wanted to.
Now all she could do was wait for someone or something to come by. Preferably the chariot.
"Restriction and imperfection…." Lachesis whispered to herself as she pushed her right cheek to the icy cement. Her red blood shot eyes stared unblinkingly for a few seconds but finally they closed heavily. Well deserved, she dosed off into slumber, forgetting about Atropos, Clotho, Fate, the creature, Harry Potter, Voldemort, and everything else. A well deserved moment of mental bliss.
Several minutes had gone by when Lachesis heard a scream. Not a threatened scream but a loud scream. She bolted up and gazed into the sky. The chariot circled her, spinning wildly at Atropos's command, the stallions kicking and pounding the air around them. Clotho stood on the edge of the chariot; it had been her who had screamed. "Lachesis!"
Lachesis stood to her feet and unconsciously glared at Atropos and Clotho. She had a right to be upset. What could have possible taken them this long to find her!
"Lachesis!" Clotho called again, a half worried half fuming expression on her face. She stared down at Lachesis directly in the eye, reading her. Lachesis put her finger to her lips, shushing Clotho—she really didn't want the citizens of the area to start growing suspicious about all the commotion.
The chariot landed at Lachesis's feet noiselessly. The stallions breathed deeply and settled steadily. Lachesis felt a wave of pity and gently stroked the mane of the stallions, trying to show her appreciation. Once more to Old New Amsterdam, then to Ontario and Quebec then to Scotland and then they will get their vacation.
Clotho quickly jumped off and went up the Lachesis, she had a million questions on her mind that needed to be answered but she seemed undecided on how to ask them. She looked at Lachesis, she opened her mouth but no words came out. What or how could she ask what she wanted to know? Maybe Atropos could break the ice.
Atropos put away the reins and strolled off the chariot. She casually brushed away her slightly wet hair from her face and stood next to Clotho, making a position to make Lachesis feel crowded and assembled against.
The trio looked at each other for a moment. All three girls, waiting for one of them to start or say anything— two were anxious and the last one feeling dreadful.
"Well Lachesis…where is the creature?" Atropos began passionless. She spoke as though she cared but her 'excitement' showed that she would rather be doing something else. Well in actual fact, deep down all three would rather be in their warm beds.
Lachesis gave out a sigh, her lungs still burned with exhaustion. She coughed sickly.
"Atropos told me that you have found the creature and that it fell back into comatose." Clotho said. "Where does it lay?"
Lachesis looked down at the ground. "How may I start?" She whispered but loud enough for Atropos and Clotho to hear. "Atropos tells no lie. I did find the creature and it did collapse again," Lachesis paused.
Atropos looked at her impatiently. "Continue."
Lachesis scowled Atropos but reminded herself not to argue with her, at least not at this crucial moment. "After I contacted Atropos the creature woke up again, while I was examining it I had left my wand at its side. I had no other defense. I had no other choice but to wait until the chariot came or if I got a chance to retrieve my wand. But against my efforts the creature fled away, opened the portal and went through it." Lachesis explained quickly; she had not made any effort to follow the creature after she had been bitten. She looked down at her forearm. She purposely had forgotten to mention her injury. She really did not need Clotho losing her mind and Atropos smiling maliciously about it.
Clotho winced in surprise and panic. She looked at Lachesis carefully and shot a look at Atropos, waiting for a reaction from her. Atropos just shook her head mockingly at Lachesis.
Clotho turned away shameful and spoke in a sharp voice, "You…let it escape Lachesis? Is that what you are telling me?"
Lachesis looked up in shock of Clotho's words. "Clotho! It isn't as though I had done it on purpose!" She never ever had to defend herself against Clotho like this. Never had she felt so insulted. Never—even by Atropos. "I understand my fault in this, but if we keep a close watch on the portal openings I assure the both of you—
"Lachesis, it was on that street that you confronted the creature, am I mistaken?" Clotho interrupted and gestured with her hand to the other road. Lachesis knew it was not worth defending herself anymore, she sounded pathetic as is. Clotho had heard enough, Lachesis nodded her head weakly. She stood but was extremely shaky. She was in deep need and desire for rest; she also wanted to treat her wound. If only she could get the chariot to herself for…twenty minutes at least she could fix a potion to help her arm heal.
Clotho noticed Lachesis's instability and extreme fatigue—she then quickly decided on a course of action for the rest of the night. "Atropos, come with me. We must analyze the area and see if any evidence or leftover information exists. Oh, Lachesis should we be looking for your wand?"
"No I have it," Lachesis answered.
"Well then, Lachesis go ahead and rest until Atropos and I return. I doubt we will run into trouble before then. At least the horses will have some time to catch their breath before we head off to Old New Amsterdam—
"New York," Atropos corrected. "And may I ask why any of you have any sort of reason or interest venturing there?"
"There has been detected that a portal was opened over there. The dark lord is most likely trying to gather followers from other countries, hoping to gain power from places other then the United Kingdom. My guess is that Riddle is targeting World cities, or just largely populated areas, to have fear and his existence spread all over like plague. The Ministry of Magic in the United Kingdom did a fair job of containing Riddle and his death eaters within its borders but now its seems after his reawakening and the chamber that no country or ministry is safe. See what a rumble that will send to the American Democracy of magic and foreign ministries."
"So, after New York what next? Tokyo, Ottawa, Sydney, Berlin, Los Angeles even?" Atropos listed and with each city she named the more worried she got. Worried about the multiple chaotic trips she would have to be dragged too. "I seriously doubt that the Dark Lord's German is any good."
"It all depends..." Clotho continued, possibly putting what Atropos said into consideration. No matter how lazy or careless, thought Lachesis
"I should check the progress on that. But for now, Atropos, bring the portal keys, maybe they will work. The portal opening could still be fresh."
"Perhaps." Lachesis said. "Terribly unlikely though."
"But wait, why does she get to stay with the chariot?" Atropos said in a shrill matter.
"Let her rest Atropos. You really did not make much of a rush to tell me that she found the creature." Clotho responded. Atropos snorted, she really never had much of a response or reason to argue with Clotho. Perhaps that's why Atropos never did fight with Clotho.
Lachesis cocked an eyebrow at Atropos, almost daring her to make a repulsive comment. Atropos stood silent with obvious attempt.
Clotho sighed at the two and roughly rolled her eyes. "Oh by the way Atropos, at least be on guard in case something shows up." She heard Atropos huff harshly then motioned to her and walked in-between the houses leading to the other residential street. Atropos waited behind for a solid moment.
"You two are horrible." Atropos said then started to follow Clotho's path.
"What I say to you is no more horrible than what you say to me." Lachesis uttered rudely.
"You're too proud. It's the French prick in you." Atropos claimed all knowingly with hinted sarcasm.
Lachesis snorted and laughed. "You should talk! You're the one holding a grudge against me because I have French in my blood. It's the English in you."
"Hmmm, so we do have something in common. Clotho's heart would jump if she heard." Atropos spoke slowly then turned her heel and followed Clotho's direction, never looking back.
Lachesis suddenly wondered if their duel hadn't been interrupted. Surely one of them would be issued in St. Mungo's for injuries. It would have been a good match. They were both pretty equal though she had better shields while Atropos was superior in using her mind for her curses.
Lachesis waited for a second or at least until she was sure it was clear then sighed. Now onto more important matters…
Lachesis climbed inside the large chariot and pulled out a miniature Fire-crab shell cauldron, a case filled of potion contents, and a potions book. She knew there probably wouldn't be a specific potion for her injury, but she was going to use the book for Health-Aid ingredients—so maybe she could create one herself. Atropos was good with potions and Lachesis had seen her craft these unimaginable concoctions for functions that would make anyone's head spin. But obviously, Lachesis was not going to ask help from Atropos for two reasons: she would have to first tell them about the creature attacking her and beside that Atropos would not help Lachesis unless Clotho said to. And Clotho was not actually going do any favors for her at the moment; she had already done her part by allowing her to stay behind.
After a long while of searching through the book's index and content definitions and uses, Lachesis came up with a list of items that could produce a formula for her wound.
Dragon's blood for blood and flesh based wound and for speed
Raw garlic for fighting infections
Echinacea for immunity boost and fights infections with direct contact
Calendula for healing of the wound
Lachesis conjured a flame she would need the heat for the Dragon's blood to have the full effect. She would let the cauldron cool down for the garlic and Calendula, she began writing out the formula. Once the fire settled, she placed the cauldron on top; she quickly diced the Echinacea root into small portions but was careful not to slice open the seeds or cut the root too small. She dropped the pieces and seeds inside the cauldron and watched a purple smoke hover up. Lachesis coughed heavily, waved away the fumes and quickly covered her mouth—she cursed and wished under her breath that formula would not combust.
The purple smoke faded away and Lachesis started to stir the Enchinacea. Clockwise five turns then counter clockwise for ten. Next she pulled out the vial of Dragon's blood and took out an eyedropper. She let exactly fifteen droplets into the cauldron full of Enchinacea.
If Lachesis was formulating correctly the Enchinacea should give her immune system a helping hand so that the infection wouldn't spread or worsen. The Dragon's Blood was suited blood and flesh based infections or injuries, it should work as a stimulant for the rest of the ingredients.
Lachesis reached into the Potion's case, took out one head of garlic and chopped it into several chunks. She extinguished the flame and set a cooling charm over the cauldron, usually she would have allowed the cauldron to cool itself but she didn't have that kind of time. She dropped the garlic chunks into the contents one by one.
The garlic, with stirring, dissolved so it meant that the potion was ready for Calendula and it all was right then the herb would heal her wound.
Lachesis pulled up her sleeve and examined her bite. Her fingers were still numb and white but the skin around the gash had turned purplish-black. As she glanced at her arm her eyes started to blur, she started to feel drained and a rush of dizziness came over senses. Was it just because she was tired or was an after effect of the bite? Then another thought suddenly hit her—exactly how much time did she have before Atropos and Clotho returned? Surely it had been a good while since they had left.
Lachesis stirred the potion faster.
She reached into her supplies and pulled out hand full of yellow Calendula petals. She crumbled them up in her hand and sprinkled them slowly into the calm cauldron. Instantly a gold haze began float out of the cauldron, which meant that the potion was cool and finished.
Garlic work significantly easier when raw and Calendula petals simply worked better in cooler temperatures then that of Dragon's blood, which was why it was so risky to combine them into a single potion.
Lachesis added the Calendula procedure and results to the rest of the formula and poured the formula into a vial.
She stared at the concoction in her hand. She gulped. Even after all that work, what if the potion had absolutely no effect? Or what if it made her condition worse? To add another load to Lachesis's worries, she realized that she would not have enough time to fix up another potion before Atropos and Clotho returned. After then she would have no other choice but to tell them. Without another cautious thought, Lachesis sipped the potion. She swallowed.
It took a good five second to the potion to hit. Her eyes suddenly became watery and her already blurred vision distorted even more. Her feet stumbled and she shook until she felt painfully on her shins. Stay conscious, she reminded herself. Stay conscious. Her taste buds burned with such a nasty taste that her nose also felt as though it were on fire. It lasted only for a moment or so. Finally the dizzy effects wore off and Lachesis hastily checked her wound. The pigment of her skin turned back into a healthy color and the once swelled veins blended away from appearance. The bite itself closed up and even started to heal.
Relief came over Lachesis. She corked the vial and placed it inside her cloak's pocket. She quickly took the reminder of the potion and filled up another two vials. She then added to the formula on the scratch sheet and hid it inside the chariot, after she washed away the left over contents inside the cauldron and cleaned up as though nothing were touched. She heard some soft whispers from the other road and concluded that Atropos and Clotho were finishing up and would be returning soon.
Lachesis, after double checking that everything had been put away, heavily sighed and rested inside the safe chariot.
"I want to sleep," Lachesis mumbled, half awake . Atropos, Clotho and herself had been traveling every night for the past week and she had gotten very shut eye. At first her exhaustion could be ignored but now it was pest that longed for attention.
The storm above reawakened with short rumbles of thunder and lightning and rain fell again. Lachesis watched the stubborn but beautiful storm when something caught her eye.
She turned and noticed that someone had turned a light inside one of the houses on Privet drive. It took another moment for Lachesis to recognize the house. The brass number four, Lachesis noticed, already wondering whom inside was awake. Half of her insisted that it was Harry, but how exactly could she be sure?
She stared at the faint light becoming mesmerized by it. It brought back memories from childhood, it greatly reminded Lachesis of how her parent's neighborhood resembled. Classic styled houses, clean-cut lawns, and golden lamplights from the windows that lit up the road like little fireflies at night. Lachesis smiled but felt a missing pain in her heart.
She continued to watch until her eyes closed. She fell into deep slumber thinking of the sweeter times in her life, much sweeter than the present. To a time before she had met Atropos and Clotho, when she was still growing up in Quebec with her family. She would dream of those childhood years tonight, sweet dreams. At least she had sweet dreams...
June 1st: Yay for edits! I feel like a terrible author for not updating in almost a year. In my defense, I got hit with a horrific case of Writer's Block and had hardly any time to write. Summer is here and I finally have the time and the discipline (hopefully) to start where I left off. Thank you for your patience, it is very appreciated.
Signed. Off. Rynn.