Order 03: Demise

Lucius was watching the couple entwine intimately and he felt a brick fall into the pits of his stomach. They were … together … and his best friend was going to kill him … that, or die for him.

His hands ached from being pressed onto the knobby trunk of the lush tree and his brain throbbed as it paced to absorb all the new information that was being thrown about carelessly.

He watched with tear-encrusted eyes, grayness of the irises painfully pronounced. His lips were shades pinker while his hair fell to his shoulders limply, lifelessly.

Lucius watched the two break apart like puzzle pieces that… fit. Her light skin in contrast to his sallow flesh was desirable; curly, lush blonde hair entangled with charcoal-black was a beautiful dissimilarity, and her perfection placed against his flaws was delusional though priceless.

The man did not see such things when he stood next to his wife. The only thing the mirror reflected was cold perfection. It left his veins pumping slush.

"Severus, my love …" Narcissa breathed, "I feel most abashed. Imagine Lucius knew—imagine he was to find out about us …"

The man beside her inhaled deeply and sighed. He did not speak but frowned, as if contemplating something that required total concentration. When he uttered words, they were empty. "Well, no matter who dies in our bloody affair, you will always have one of us to choose. Though you may prefer me over Lucius—and I do not see why … he was always the chosen one when it came down to women—you might not get to keep me. I was not yours initially. Lucius was, however, and I think it best that you go back to him. Living two lives does not add onto life, Narcissa. Instead, it takes away."

Narcissa clutched the cold man's robes and bawled into his chest, her tears coming out silently, forming puddles on her flawless cheeks. She did not know that a human being could cause her such grief … such agony … "Put me out of my pain, Severus; I'm begging you."

Snape did not speak again. Gingerly, he raised a hand to her shoulder and patted it softly while whispering soothing words.

Lucius rose to his feet, finding he was terribly unstable. Once he remembered how to walk, he set off at a quick pace towards the two dismayed lovers. Neither noticed a shady figure approaching them in their entanglement of misery. It was only when he stood a foot away from them, tears pouring down his face like an uneven rainstorm did Severus look up, dark eyes widening with shock. A gasp escaped his heart-shaped lips.

"I'll put you out of your pain, Narcissa." Lucius' voice cut like a razor blade through the tear-streaked silence. The woman looked up, her mouth agape and brow furrowed softly.

"Lucius, oh… Lucius, I'm so sorry!" she quietly whispered, crumbling to her knees in front of the man. He gazed at her coldly, metallic eyes narrowed with malice.

No one said anything as she cried passionately, her fists balling the ends of Lucius' dark robes into her hands. Instead of words, glares of ice were exchanged between the two men.

"I trusted you," Lucius stated defiantly, words pronouncing strength he did not feel within.

Severus scoffed and glued his eyes to the ground. He spoke several seconds later, with an annoying drawl. "I know you did. I shall repay your trust by dying for you," he paused as Narcissa gave a very loud sob, her head resting on Lucius' polished shoes, "as I'm sure any noble friend would."
Lucius snarled venomously, shaking his head to show displeasure. "I do not ask my friends to die for me. Instead, while they are alive, perhaps they could show respect and not betray the trust I kindly placed in them."

"I didn't mean to!" Severus hinted impatience for the first time, "Honestly—I didn't want to take Narcissa away from you, as she's the only person alive you care about—"

"I don't care about her!" Lucius roared, shaking Narcissa off him vigorously. Once he stood some two feet away from the distressed woman bawling into the grass, he continued calmly, "It's not a matter of who I have alive, Severus—no one understands me—it's a matter of initial trust. She's my wife, cheap or not. I suspected you'd understand that. Alas, I was wrong … like the so many times I was wrong about you, my friend."

Severus reached into his robes and brought out a silver object. It glinted painfully in the murky moonlight, as Lucius understood what he was holding carefully in his right hand—a knife.

"Please, allow me." He hissed, beetle-black eyes fixed upon Lucius, who drew his wand.

"You will not die." The blonde man shook his head and forcefully said, "I am as good as dead. In mere months, you shall mourn the loss of a man you once thought you knew. Kill me."

Severus was motionless, the sliver of metal gripped in his hand so that his knuckles were turning white. His face was a pale gray suddenly, and Lucius could have sworn the man across him would be sick. However, his eyes were contrasted against his pale skin beautifully. He raised the knife slowly in trembling hands. "No."

Lucius charged at him, knocking the shaking man backwards. The knife slipped out of his sweaty hands and Lucius took it quickly, cutting himself deeply in the process. He pinned the suddenly child-like body beneath him and clutched the fatal weapon.

"Yes."

A soft sob was heard as Narcissa got up from the floor and kneeled down next to Lucius. "Please, Lucius … I implore you …"

"TO DO WHAT?" he slipped his wand back into his robes tentatively with is free hand. "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?"

Narcissa shrieked as the scene blurred in front of her eyes—a moment ago, Lucius was on top of Severus and now he threw her down, the knife positioned at her throat. His hands were brutally trembling as crystal tears streamed down his face. "I won't kill you, Narcissa. I just want to know what it is you wish for me to do? Do you want me to take the knife to my own throat so you can be with your filthy lover? Is that it?" he spat angrily, "Or do you want me to plunge the knife into his heart?" Lucius dug his nails into her pristine skin. "Listen very closely to this, because I'm only saying it once: you are bound to me by marriage. Once I die, you are free to be with other men. However, while my heart pumps, you are to be faithful."

Behind them, Severus stood up, robes filthy with dirt. He placed a hand on Lucius' shoulder and led the other to the man's hand, in hopes of calming him. "Please, be reasonable. There is no reason for anyone to die tonight."

"YOU SAID THERE WAS!" Lucius bellowed, face inches away from Severus'. "Filthy liar."

Narcissa muttered softly, "Please, listen to him … Severus knows what he's saying!"

In his epitome of anger, Lucius slashed his right hand quickly. Before he could open his mouth to scream about how Severus was always right, there were two screams that shook the cemetery and a squirt of crimson.

Lucius' eyes darted around as he realized, with a bang that knocked him backwards onto Severus, what he'd done. His hands were bloody and red, knife tinted the same color. There was a small stream of blood trickling from Narcissa's throat, where a very deep line was etched into the pale, silky skin.

The frantic man looked at Severus, who was shaking beyond control; he looked back at Narcissa and saw the blood was pouring onto the ground.

Lucius had done what he said he would—"I'll put you out of your pain, Narcissa."

A soft rustle drew both men's attention to the fierce, pink cheery blossom tree. With a shudder, the branches shook softly and one pink, lush leaf fell to the ground.

Fin.