The woman had sleek dark hair and shiny black shoes. She wore a fur coat and her earrings made little clinks when she walked. When she entered a room all eyes would turn to her. They saw her and were in awe of her majestic presence. She was one of the elite, both socially and intellectually.
Her name was known throughout the modern wizarding world, for Camarese Mortira surrounded herself with those at the top of the social pyramid, and intimidated the rest.
Most of the witches and wizards with whom she associated suspected that her loyalties lay on the dark side. But only a few of her friends and admirers knew how powerful she truly was. Even fewer knew the extent of her perversions and greed.
In truth, only one other person knew how terrible Camarese Mortira was. Only one person lay awake at night listening to the sounds coming from the basement. Only one person knew just how deep the rabbit hole went.
That person was Camarese's one and only daughter Avalon, the remnant of a one night affair which was better left forgotten. Her daughter's origins did not matter to Camarese, she lived by the theory that only results mattered. And she had a destiny mapped out for her daughter before she was born.
Camarese had taught her daughter from a very young age that looks were very important. Never could Avalon leave the house without her hair and clothing perfect. Luckily, Avalon was a naturally pretty girl, for her mother pushed her beyond perfection.
Childhood for Avalon, was not a happy time. During the day she was forced into the image of the perfect little girl. No matter how hard she tried, she was never pretty enough, or clean enough, or witty enough. Camarese refused to accept anything from her daughter besides perfection and she never complimented or encouraged her daughter. Camarese only told her the hard truths about what she was lacking and punished her for her weaknesses.
In public Avalon was always a hit. All the other witches and wizards were in awe of this wonderful and well behaved little girl. In public Camarese was proud of her daughter and acted towards her with the kindness of the good-natured parent who they wanted her to see.
When the people were gone it was a different story. Camarese physically and emotionally abused her daughter. Between mother and daughter there existed no love, only a sense of duty. It was Camarese's life ambition to make her daughter great. And to Avalon, her mother's way was the only way. Camarese never left such things to chance. She made sure that her daughter would follow in her footsteps.
But nights at the Mortira Manor were the times that defined Avalon's childhood. When she was very young, she would wake up to the sounds of screams coming from the basement, sometimes she would hear the metallic screeching as well, but always there was laughter, cruel cold laughter which she knew belonged to her mother.
The basement was the place where guests were never allowed to go. The basement was a place of mystery. Avalon had never ventured into the basement, until one fateful night.
The five year old little girl had been lying awake in bed trying to make the fear go away. Her curiosity had been growing over the past few days and eventually it overtook her fear.
That was the night that Avalon crept down to the forbidden staircase and ventured into the basement. The sight that met her there was one that would stain her memory forever.
Camarese was standing in the dim light with her back turned to her daughter, whispering softly to some unseen person.
Avalon huddled behind a corner and tried to make sense of the scene. Her mother was whispering to someone and Avalon could hear the sound of ragged breathing, coming in quick panicked breaths.
A soft and frightened feminine voice cried out in something of a moan. Avalon knew that no such sound could come from her mother.
"Now Amanda, you knew when you first asked me that you were not to tell. I trusted you, but you betrayed me. Now do you know what happens to traitors?"
Avalon moved closer. She could now see a thin, young woman chained to a chair next to her mother. Beads of sweat were forming on the woman's brow.
Camarese dragged one long fake nail across the woman's neck. "This is what happens to traitors!" She shouted with sudden vehemence. Camarese aimed her wand threateningly and shouted "Incisio!"
Avalon gasped as deep incisions began to appear rapidly over the Amanda's body as Camarese moved her wand, controlling the spell. The woman cried out, and Avalon was suddenly sure that she was not more than a child herself. Amanda looked about sixteen, her body contorted with pain.
Involuntarily, the five year old let out a cry of horror at this terrible sight. Camarese looked over at her daughter, a look of utter ecstasy upon her pale face. Avalon turned and began to run up the stairs, tears streaming down her face. Camarese turned away from her victim to grab her daughter by her collar.
Avalon flinched at her mother's touch, her eyes opened wide watching the woman writhe in agony. Camarese laughed, "I thought you might be joining us sometime soon. It was only a matter of time after all before you came down. Remember this now Avalon dear, there is nothing in the world more precious than power. Someday you will be given great power and you must be ready for it. For now, you can will just watch."
Camarese forced the small girl to stand in front of the suffering woman. When she let go, Avalon jerked away and attempted to sprint towards the stairs.
"Not so fast! You came down here and now you have to stay!" Camarese lifted her wand and froze her daughter, positioning her in a spectator's position. "Avalon, I want you to meet little Amanda Black. Amanda, say hello to my daughter and the heir to my dark legacy!"
Amanda murmured something uncomprehendable and Camarese hit her with a crucio spell. This one had no visible effects other than the fact that the woman looked like she was in excruciating pain. After a few long moments, Camarese stopped the spell and took the woman's chin in her hand. "Say hello to Avalon," she purred happily as the woman convulsed in fear and pain.
"Hello Aff. . . lon" the woman cried out as forcefully as she could manage."
Avalon watched all this with a kind of disgusted panic. She had never loved her mother, but never had she thought her capable of such cruelty. The fact that she was unable to move her body only added to her confusion. Her mother had used this spell on her before, to keep her whole body still, but she hated it every time. She was fully conscious of everything that went on while in this state, but unable to react in any way.
She would remember this moment for the rest of her life. Never would she forget the night when she had ventured down to the basement, the night when her mother had tortured and killed Amanda Black. And another little boy, who slept miles away, not knowing that he would never see his mother again would never forget the morrow.
After that, Camarese would often come in the middle of the night and pull her daughter from her bed to watch her various entertainments. Most of the time she would torture muggles, she hated nonmagic people, but sometimes she would bring in a witch or wizard who had betrayed her trust or offended her tastes.
Camarese stopped using the freezing curse on Avalon after the third or fourth time, instead she began to use threats and more painful curses to keep her daughter from running away. "Someday Avalon, you will thank me for all I have done. This is for you Avalon. I am making you strong. The day will come when you will be as strong as liquid steel, you will know because it will be in your very skin. On that day you will have the chance to wield your power," she explained in the tone of a mother who knows what is best for her child.
Eventually Avalon learned to control her tears and numb her face to the pain. But she always felt it in her heart, tearing away at all that she was. Avalon hated her mother at these times, and it became her life's ambition to never become a bit like her mother.
Avalon's days were filled with aristocratic luxuries to no end, and also constant never-ending pressure to attain the unachievable. Nothing existed in Camarese's day life that was less that perfect, and her daughter could never be less than that.
So Avalon learned to speak the psuedo-intellectual jargon that the elite socialites conversed in everyday. She learned to walk and dance elegantly and to hold her head up in pride. She learned to hide her emotions and to present and cold and beautiful face to the world. And at night, she learned to tolerate pain beyond reason.
Her mother tortured her both physically and emotionally. Sometimes Camarese would inflict painful curses on her daughter to teach her how to endure agony or to punish her for any imperfection. Always, she would subject her to the emotional horror of knowing that she would someday be expected to torture and kill.
Near the end of Avalon's seventh summer, a letter arrived from the Pre-Nocti Academy for Young Witches and Wizards. Her mother was proud. Nocti was one of the leading Dark Arts Academy and those who were excepted to Pre-Nocti were guaranteed acceptance to Nocti when they reached the acceptance age. Unlike most English schools for witchcraft, Nocti required a three year prerequisite before joining the school.
Avalon accepted the notice without emotion, for her life was miserable no matter what changes occurred. She boarded the train on September first with her head held high and her face as cold and strong as her mother's.
Her name was known throughout the modern wizarding world, for Camarese Mortira surrounded herself with those at the top of the social pyramid, and intimidated the rest.
Most of the witches and wizards with whom she associated suspected that her loyalties lay on the dark side. But only a few of her friends and admirers knew how powerful she truly was. Even fewer knew the extent of her perversions and greed.
In truth, only one other person knew how terrible Camarese Mortira was. Only one person lay awake at night listening to the sounds coming from the basement. Only one person knew just how deep the rabbit hole went.
That person was Camarese's one and only daughter Avalon, the remnant of a one night affair which was better left forgotten. Her daughter's origins did not matter to Camarese, she lived by the theory that only results mattered. And she had a destiny mapped out for her daughter before she was born.
Camarese had taught her daughter from a very young age that looks were very important. Never could Avalon leave the house without her hair and clothing perfect. Luckily, Avalon was a naturally pretty girl, for her mother pushed her beyond perfection.
Childhood for Avalon, was not a happy time. During the day she was forced into the image of the perfect little girl. No matter how hard she tried, she was never pretty enough, or clean enough, or witty enough. Camarese refused to accept anything from her daughter besides perfection and she never complimented or encouraged her daughter. Camarese only told her the hard truths about what she was lacking and punished her for her weaknesses.
In public Avalon was always a hit. All the other witches and wizards were in awe of this wonderful and well behaved little girl. In public Camarese was proud of her daughter and acted towards her with the kindness of the good-natured parent who they wanted her to see.
When the people were gone it was a different story. Camarese physically and emotionally abused her daughter. Between mother and daughter there existed no love, only a sense of duty. It was Camarese's life ambition to make her daughter great. And to Avalon, her mother's way was the only way. Camarese never left such things to chance. She made sure that her daughter would follow in her footsteps.
But nights at the Mortira Manor were the times that defined Avalon's childhood. When she was very young, she would wake up to the sounds of screams coming from the basement, sometimes she would hear the metallic screeching as well, but always there was laughter, cruel cold laughter which she knew belonged to her mother.
The basement was the place where guests were never allowed to go. The basement was a place of mystery. Avalon had never ventured into the basement, until one fateful night.
The five year old little girl had been lying awake in bed trying to make the fear go away. Her curiosity had been growing over the past few days and eventually it overtook her fear.
That was the night that Avalon crept down to the forbidden staircase and ventured into the basement. The sight that met her there was one that would stain her memory forever.
Camarese was standing in the dim light with her back turned to her daughter, whispering softly to some unseen person.
Avalon huddled behind a corner and tried to make sense of the scene. Her mother was whispering to someone and Avalon could hear the sound of ragged breathing, coming in quick panicked breaths.
A soft and frightened feminine voice cried out in something of a moan. Avalon knew that no such sound could come from her mother.
"Now Amanda, you knew when you first asked me that you were not to tell. I trusted you, but you betrayed me. Now do you know what happens to traitors?"
Avalon moved closer. She could now see a thin, young woman chained to a chair next to her mother. Beads of sweat were forming on the woman's brow.
Camarese dragged one long fake nail across the woman's neck. "This is what happens to traitors!" She shouted with sudden vehemence. Camarese aimed her wand threateningly and shouted "Incisio!"
Avalon gasped as deep incisions began to appear rapidly over the Amanda's body as Camarese moved her wand, controlling the spell. The woman cried out, and Avalon was suddenly sure that she was not more than a child herself. Amanda looked about sixteen, her body contorted with pain.
Involuntarily, the five year old let out a cry of horror at this terrible sight. Camarese looked over at her daughter, a look of utter ecstasy upon her pale face. Avalon turned and began to run up the stairs, tears streaming down her face. Camarese turned away from her victim to grab her daughter by her collar.
Avalon flinched at her mother's touch, her eyes opened wide watching the woman writhe in agony. Camarese laughed, "I thought you might be joining us sometime soon. It was only a matter of time after all before you came down. Remember this now Avalon dear, there is nothing in the world more precious than power. Someday you will be given great power and you must be ready for it. For now, you can will just watch."
Camarese forced the small girl to stand in front of the suffering woman. When she let go, Avalon jerked away and attempted to sprint towards the stairs.
"Not so fast! You came down here and now you have to stay!" Camarese lifted her wand and froze her daughter, positioning her in a spectator's position. "Avalon, I want you to meet little Amanda Black. Amanda, say hello to my daughter and the heir to my dark legacy!"
Amanda murmured something uncomprehendable and Camarese hit her with a crucio spell. This one had no visible effects other than the fact that the woman looked like she was in excruciating pain. After a few long moments, Camarese stopped the spell and took the woman's chin in her hand. "Say hello to Avalon," she purred happily as the woman convulsed in fear and pain.
"Hello Aff. . . lon" the woman cried out as forcefully as she could manage."
Avalon watched all this with a kind of disgusted panic. She had never loved her mother, but never had she thought her capable of such cruelty. The fact that she was unable to move her body only added to her confusion. Her mother had used this spell on her before, to keep her whole body still, but she hated it every time. She was fully conscious of everything that went on while in this state, but unable to react in any way.
She would remember this moment for the rest of her life. Never would she forget the night when she had ventured down to the basement, the night when her mother had tortured and killed Amanda Black. And another little boy, who slept miles away, not knowing that he would never see his mother again would never forget the morrow.
After that, Camarese would often come in the middle of the night and pull her daughter from her bed to watch her various entertainments. Most of the time she would torture muggles, she hated nonmagic people, but sometimes she would bring in a witch or wizard who had betrayed her trust or offended her tastes.
Camarese stopped using the freezing curse on Avalon after the third or fourth time, instead she began to use threats and more painful curses to keep her daughter from running away. "Someday Avalon, you will thank me for all I have done. This is for you Avalon. I am making you strong. The day will come when you will be as strong as liquid steel, you will know because it will be in your very skin. On that day you will have the chance to wield your power," she explained in the tone of a mother who knows what is best for her child.
Eventually Avalon learned to control her tears and numb her face to the pain. But she always felt it in her heart, tearing away at all that she was. Avalon hated her mother at these times, and it became her life's ambition to never become a bit like her mother.
Avalon's days were filled with aristocratic luxuries to no end, and also constant never-ending pressure to attain the unachievable. Nothing existed in Camarese's day life that was less that perfect, and her daughter could never be less than that.
So Avalon learned to speak the psuedo-intellectual jargon that the elite socialites conversed in everyday. She learned to walk and dance elegantly and to hold her head up in pride. She learned to hide her emotions and to present and cold and beautiful face to the world. And at night, she learned to tolerate pain beyond reason.
Her mother tortured her both physically and emotionally. Sometimes Camarese would inflict painful curses on her daughter to teach her how to endure agony or to punish her for any imperfection. Always, she would subject her to the emotional horror of knowing that she would someday be expected to torture and kill.
Near the end of Avalon's seventh summer, a letter arrived from the Pre-Nocti Academy for Young Witches and Wizards. Her mother was proud. Nocti was one of the leading Dark Arts Academy and those who were excepted to Pre-Nocti were guaranteed acceptance to Nocti when they reached the acceptance age. Unlike most English schools for witchcraft, Nocti required a three year prerequisite before joining the school.
Avalon accepted the notice without emotion, for her life was miserable no matter what changes occurred. She boarded the train on September first with her head held high and her face as cold and strong as her mother's.