Chapter Thirteen - The Tapestry Re-written
Meissa was falling… for what seemed like forever, deeper and deeper through nothingness. The she hit the ground with a sickening CRACK! She was surrounded in total darkness, the air was thick and her heart was racing. A sob from somewhere told her that Claudia was near, and she felt around before finding a handful of robes. 'Claudia' she hissed, unable to see her friend, shaking the robes as though to get the girl to respond. 'My wrist!' Claudia's voice sounded strangely high-pitched.
Then a blinding light flared across the room, illuminating the prone outline of the red-head, who was curled into a ball and clutching her wrist with a pained expression on her face.
Meissa knew from the terror in Claudia's glazed eyes as she stared over Meissa's shoulder that they were not alone. Meissa turned in time to see to the towering hooded figure move out of the shadows.
Then a voice unlike no other spoke through the material hiding his face 'I thought this day would never come' His wand was trained on her even as she edged closer to Claudia 'You look exactly how I thought you would! I never really noticed last time we met'
'Last time..?' Meissa's voice wavered as she took in the surroundings and it dawned on her where they were - 12 Grimmauld Place.
'Yes… you do remember last time don't you. I would have thought it would be hard to forget' his voice was rough, as though he had not used it for a while. Claudia gave a whimper behind her… the figure's head turned towards the older girl 'I had not realised we were expecting extra company… this time' his voice drawled. Meissa stopped breathing, taking in all that he had said before it suddenly occurred to her in an instant 'YOU!'
She heaved herself to her feet, feeling as though her legs would not carry her, staggering slightly as her vision clouded with disorientation. The figure made a noise of disapproval at her sudden movement, waving the wand in her face 'Don't be silly now!' he warned, raising his other hand to pull back the hood.
A flock of black tangled hair fell to his cheekbones, his skin was taut around his face and there was a mad glint in his eyes. He was grinning now as he raised the wand toward where Claudia lay. 'NO!' Meissa lunged forwards, pushing his raised arm upwards as the spell bounced off the ceiling. His other hand swung out of nowhere and Meissa was thrown back to the floor, collapsing against the crumbling wall. The man trained his wand in her now, and he had turned away from Claudia, who was cowering where she lay. 'YOU KILLED HIM!' Meissa screamed, beating her hand against the wall and shaking with silent sobs. 'You killed Alex' she slid down to the floor, defeated. Claudia had let out cry as Meissa's broken words reached her, but the man remained intent on watching Meissa.
He made a tutting noise, shaking his head 'There was me thinking you were like dear old mum. How wrong was I?' Meissa's head jerked upwards and she seethed with every inch of being, hating him, as though the bubbling hatred could somehow affect him, as though he would feel it. 'This… is… my… revenge' he told her coldly, drawing something silver sharp from his robes. Meissa made no move to escape. There was no point. He had killed Alex in cold blood as he would her. She could not draw her wand quick enough. 'Revenge for what?' her words were empty as his shadow fell over her.
He paused, stopping in his tracks 'Revenge for what your mother did to me' his spat through gritted teeth, his insane grin broadening 'Revenge for her reaping my rewards, taking my glory to the Dark Lord as her own - her own cousin' Meissa gasped as the man pointed to the Tapestry inches from where she sat. 'Are you..?' she could not say the name, instead pointing the name engraved along the line near her mother's. 'Sir-' she never got to finish speaking the name as the man let out a shrieking laughter. 'Regulus Black' he inclined of his head sharply. 'No! You can't be - y-your dead' he was shaking with insane laughter once again at her words. 'Wrong again!'