I
Beyond Redemption
A tall wizard in black robes was writing on a scroll of parchment at the desk in a corner of the big, book-lined room. Piling on top of the desk were pieces of mail: one stack of unopened envelopes, some bearing an official-looking red seal, as well as some opened letters. In front of these lay a wand, pointing at the wizard.
The wizard looked up for a moment. Blankly, he eyed a framed moving photograph on his desk in which a beautiful, thirty-something blonde returned his gaze with an enigmatic smile and shifted her head slightly as if to look away.
The wizard stopped writing and rolled up the scroll. The sound of the wings beating through the air was heard as a black eagle owl landed on his shoulder.
The wizard looked up and shaking his head spoke quietly to the bird.
'No delivery duty for you tonight, Arduinna. You'd do better going off hunting.'
Having said that, he picked up the wand, turned, faced the heavily draped window and swished the wand quickly, muttering 'Alohomora' while pointing at the curtains. They flew aside momentarily and with a loud clatter, the shutters swung open.
A cool evening breeze invaded the room. The owl hooted and, stretching her wings luxuriously, flew out into the night.
Leaving the scroll on the desk, the wizard walked slowly to the center of the room. The look of determination and utter contempt reflected on his haughty features. He looked at his wand, as if carefully examining it, his long fingers stroking it gently, his fingertips running along the black ebony wood.
The wizard tipped his head back, eyes wide open, and brought the wand tip to his temple. A disdainful smile graced his lips. There was no mistaking the words that they formed, words followed by a rushing sound. A moment later all that could be seen through the open window was a flash of blinding green light and a dark silhouette falling down as if pulled by an invisible hand. Fragments of plaster and shards of glass came raining down on the dead wizard surrounded by towering bookshelves and cupboards. The serried rows of dusty volumes and various sinister objects of Dark Arts were mute witnesses to the scene. There was a dust free spot that showed where one of them had recently been removed.
At last, all sounds ceased and only the immaculate void left by the missing object seemed to be screaming in silence. A sudden gust of wind blew out all the candles illuminating the death scene. Absolute, abysmal darkness reigned once again.
Note: Arduinna – the Gaulish goddess of the moon, hunting and forests.