Yeah! Reviews! Thank you to all reviewers! Just a few notes here.
HArryReader – no I haven't forgotten buckbeak. Not at all, quite the contrary. But it'll be a while.
Pearlie – yes you did read the exchange between Namach and Xanthius correctly.
Edengrave – actually he did make one major mistake that allowed them realize that he was harry potter. Bet you can't guess it.
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Chapter 23
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"Ah, Mariah, at last, I was starting to think you wouldn't come." Professor Namach said, closing the door and gesturing towards the sitting room.
Mariah was truly exquisite. A dark skinned black eyed beauty with hundreds of long black braids. Rahkesh decided that she was younger than Cyala Ateres, but not by much. Maybe a few centuries younger. Unlike them she dressed in a more modern style, albeit the style of the high class wizarding society. Dark purple/red robes with a black Chinese dragon pattern on them and silver earrings and bracelets, with dragons on them. She also appeared to be unarmed, though Rahkesh knew that her clothing was probably specially designed to look that way.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I've been busy training my new slave." The female vampire said as she settled onto the couch, her heavy velvet cloak folding about her.
"Not a problem. What species?" Namach asked.
"Human, mortal. I found him in the forest a few weeks ago, a bit of mess then, didn't even put up a fight. I need a replacement, Linus just died." She explained, Namach nodded and vanished into the other room, appearing again with one of the diamond and gold wine glasses he favored. Filled with blood from whatever secret store he had. The older vampires were into wealth and decadence in a big way. Though Rahkesh hadn't met any middle aged vampires so perhaps that was the norm for the species.
Professor Xanthius rolled his eyes at the mention of mortal slaves and muttered something about "stuck up blood drinking fiends," Rahkesh pretended he hadn't heard anything any of them had said. He would have to question his friends later, he hadn't known vampires kept mortals as slaves. No one had ever mentioned it. Though now that he thought about it did make some sense, given the way most vampires viewed mortals – as partially intelligent and possibly dangerous prey. Perhaps he'd ask Silas about it. Rianae and Daray would probably ask if he was applying for the job.
Mariah called Eli over to her, and the magical frill-neck climbed up on the couch behind her head, covering the entire back of the couch, and sniffed at her hair. Rahkesh rolled his eyes; the damn lizard liked everyone but him. What had he ever done to it? Maybe Eli just didn't like humans.
He really wasn't feeling up to this. He knew he'd lost too much blood and ought to be resting. A blood replenishing potion had helped but it needed time. His foot still ached and the stab wound in his back, though healed, still had a twinge to it that he didn't like. He had checked all the weapons for poison and found nothing that he couldn't counter, but he wasn't satisfied with the way the back wound was healing.
The two professors undoubtedly knew something was up. Being an elf Xanthius had probably felt and heard the magic of the duel and Tristan was powerful enough to sense it as well. Though they hadn't said anything he hadn't missed the healing and strengthening charms on the glass of water Namach handed him. Really, they weren't necessary; rest would be the best thing for him. He wanted to go back to his rooms and do a little research on wyverns, and then sleep, but Mariah had apparently come all the way from Russia to speak with him.
"Nice to see you again Xanthius, been a while," Mariah said to the white haired elf, who didn't return her smile. "And you are?" Mariah asked Rahkesh.
"Rahkesh Asmodaeus, the first year student who was crazy enough to drink dragon's blood." Namach said. Rahkesh sighed and shook his head, okay maybe he was crazy, but it had been necessary at the time. And he hadn't known how dangerous it was.
"Ah, the one who survived." Mariah said, she put her wine glass aside and pulled out a notepad and pen. Yeah Rahkesh thought the one who survived…again. He got so tired of that title. "How much do you know about dragons?"
"I can recognize a few species, but only a few and I know nothing about them." Rahkesh said, not the whole truth, he'd done a little research, but it would be easier to start from scratch.
"Very well. We're going to try to identify what species it was. Was its tongue whole or slit like a snakes?"
"Slit." Rahkesh replied, wondering why she'd started with the tongue.
"We can put aside a fourth of the dragon species based upon that." Mariah explained, sensing his confusion. "How many claws on the rear feet? How many wing claws?"
"Five claws on the rear feet, and six wing claws." Rahkesh said. Mariah wrote it down.
"Eye pupils slit like a cat's? Or were they round like ours?"
"It didn't have any pupils." Rahkesh replied. Mariah's eyebrows shot up.
"Oh? You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Did the eyes change color frequently?"
"Yes."
"Interesting, there aren't many species like that. Very rare. Were there horns directly above the eye-ridges?"
"No. It had a long ridge running up the nose and another ridge running back from each eye, but no horns."
"Three ridges on the face?"
"Yes."
"Thin or thick?"
"Very thick, like skull armor." Mariah stared at him for a few moments as if she was wondering if he was lying.
"Can you draw the shape of its scales?" She asked, handing him the notepad. Rahkesh drew a quick sketch. Enireth's scales had been smooth edged like a snake's with a little ridge down the middle. Mariah examined it for a moment.
"Colouring?"
"Bright, almost neon green, with a purple shine. And the scales were edged with dark purple. Wings had a dark purple and green pattern. Very shiny." Mariah wrote that down and sat back, thinking.
"Ears?"
"Big, right against the head, darker green, spiked. They looked like miniature wings. Spikes on the ends were bone."
"Tail?"
"Thin and whip like with small bones spikes."
"Was the underside and paler green?"
"Yes."
"Did the wings have scales of leathery skin like that of a bat?"
"The scales were thin and very small. So small that they were hard to see." Rahkesh replied. Mariah opened her eyes.
"That's not possible." She said.
"Why not?" Namach asked.
"The species of dragon you're describing has been extinct for over ten thousand years. That isn't possible." Mariah said.
"Well I'm not making this up, so your report of extinction ten thousand years ago must be wrong." Rahkesh replied.
"Tell me about the shape of its body. Was it thin and snake like or did it have a deep chest like a greyhound?"
"Snake-like. Actually it wasn't too much unlike a wyvern with legs." Rahkesh said, Mariah sigh and rubbed her forehead.
"You're describing a very young forest dragon. There are such dragons alive today but you're describing the original species from which they're descended. The dragons of the cloud forests - Nubigenae silvar – they never had any common name. I only know of them from three records left from the ancients. Two of those records are from Atlantis. There is one record from a sighting in South America eleven thousand years ago and six skeletons have been found. The most recent of those was a very old one that died about ten thousand years ago. There's been nothing since then. Nothing. And not for a lack of searching or interest."
"And now you can rewrite those records." Rahkesh said.
"It isn't that easy. I'd love to believe you but it seems too impossible, and you have no physical proof."
"Memories are hard to fake."
"Perhaps," Mariah said. "It gave you its blood?"
"Yes. It had injured a vampire friend of mine and he was dying. It was hoping I could use its blood to save his life."
"Did you?"
"I drank its blood then used my blood to heal him."
"Well I'm no expert on what effects dragon's blood should have, no one is. What about finding this dragon?" Mariah asked.
"How long do they live?"
"No one knows. Supposedly fifteen hundred years or so. They can't reproduce until they're five hundred; we know that from the Atlantis records. One egg is laid five years after mating, and guarded by both parents for a decade before it hatches. The young are on their own twenty or so years after hatching. A reproductive method like that indicates a long lifespan. Especially since the pair won't mate again until a decade or more after the fledgling leaves. Again all of it is from the records the people of Atlantis left us. It's only facts taken from two different research projects. That's two people who watched different pairs of dragons for fifty years. There're a few other mentions of native people observing them but not a lot of data. Perhaps others have more records," Mariah said with a pointed look at professor Xanthius.
"My people might know more of these dragons. We, after all, were around long before Atlantis was created." The elf said with a vaguely superior air.
"Or the fae, they have been around since the golden years of Atlantis. And the goblins might have some records. Though I doubt much has survived their wars." Mariah added. "If you can prove this Rahkesh it will be a big deal. The dragons of the cloud forests were among the earliest dragons. Not too far removed from the founding species."
"It might be best to keep this very quiet for now." Namach advised, Rahkesh nodded his agreement. The last thing he wanted right now was to be noticed.
"When you decide to go looking for this dragon, let me know." Mariah said. "I'm going to do some research on habitat changes over the last thousand years. These dragons prefer forests high in the mountains that don't get snow, or very little snow. They also need a near-tropical or jungle. And we know that they don't mix well with humans."
XXXX
"You know there is a student here whose mother works with wyverns." Ally told him, tossing the book back into the pile on the coffee table in the middle of his room. "She's a year ahead, Tyler." Rahkesh thought about that. He didn't want to share Sygra's new ability with anyone. Ally, Silas, and Daray knew, and that was it. And they only knew because they'd noticed a bloodstain on his shirt his cleaning spell had missed. The three had pestered him into telling them about the attack, but he didn't give them any details. In fact he lied so that they didn't know what weapons the attackers had used or how many there really were, or that they were dead. They thought the attackers had been students, and Rahkesh wasn't about to tell them otherwise.
"No. I'm not that desperate for information." Rahkesh decided.
"Best keep it quiet." Silas agreed. "Nuri, Satan, enough." The panther sitting beside Silas in the enlarged armchair flicked his ears and ignored him, continuing to strike at the air as the bat darted back and forth. Satan shrieked shrilly at the cat, Nuri purred happily, ignoring the bat's fury. Satan hissed and blew out a stream of fire onto Nuri's paw the next time it got close. Nuri yowled in surprise and pain. He leaped high into the air after the magical bat, almost hitting the ceiling. Satan was quicker than the cat and dodged around his lashing claws and settled down on Daray's shoulder, hissed angrily. Silas ducked as the panther landed almost on top of him, and grabbed the cat to keep him from leaping off the chair at Daray.
They amuse me. Sygra hissed from Rahkesh's shoulder.
Yes Rahkesh agreed softly.
Daray reached up and grabbed his pet by the back of the neck. "Okay enough. If you want to fight take it outside." Satan nipped his hand apologetically. The bat then gave the vampire a bat's version of sad puppy eyes. "No I'm not angry." Daray muttered, picking up the bat and petting him.
"You are such a push-over." Ally told him.
"I am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Yes you are." Rahkesh agreed with Ally. "All the bat has to do is look at you and you cave." Daray showed a fang and growled. Rahkesh ignored him.
"So when are we going to go find the dragon whatever his name is?" Silas asked.
"Not anytime soon. This might take time." Rahkesh replied. "We're all busy enough right now." Rahkesh, Ally and Daray had all added tracking to their classes. Silas had chosen nonmagical disguise. Things had been very quiet amongst the students recently – several deaths could do that. Saul, two dead werewolves, and one dead fae.
But that quiet wouldn't last. Rahkesh had been getting a lot of glares from the other students in his bloodmagic class. So had Daray and Silas. The general feeling was that they had gone too far too fast. And no one liked the idea of having younger students being better than they were.
Rianae had been moved three semesters ahead in thread magic and had already had one challenge from another thread magic student, that dead fae. Ally was the smart one, keeping a very low profile. But she was starting to make some serious waves in her useful spells class. That class was basically a contest to see which students could memorize and learn the most spells in one year. And her skill with martial arts and the re-curve bow had made an impression on the students were headed towards being assassins or other fighting-based professions. And they were starting throwing stars next week, Ally's specialty. Enireth, if he lived, would just have to wait.
"Anyway you can ask this Tyler about wyverns without her getting suspicious?" Rahkesh asked.
"Sure. She's in our thread magic class." Rahkesh thanked her, thread magic, he still hadn't made any progress at that.
"I doubt we'd be allowed to go dragon hunting even if we wanted to." Daray told his cousin, "the master of Moscow has called up his people and gone on a massive killing spree, every vampire unable to put up a decent fight has been killed. That's about seventy dead vampires. And he's expanding to hunt out every young vampire in the country. Word is that the master of Sydney and the master of Tokyo are getting ready to do the same. And there's some nutty ancient vampire running around all over Central America killing every vampire under five hundred he finds."
"Crap." Silas muttered. "I hope they finish before summer or it's going to be miserable cooped up at the castle. And grandmother will insist of extra training." The two vampires traded miserable looks.
"I hope they don't ask Namach to start killing off vampires here." Daray replied. "Not that he'd listen to them or anything but he doesn't need an excuse to step it up any."
"I thought the vamps were being awfully quiet." Rahkesh said, "It's been more than two weeks since any of our classmates have tried to bite me. And I don't think its Namach you should worry about. The fae are real pissed over whatever that was with the master of Vitoria."
"The vampires are pissed over that." Daray corrected. "And it's not the fae we're angry at."
"And it isn't the fae we need to be worried about. Apparently there was an elf involved who got injured so now the elves have decided that they have a right to kill the city master." Rianae said, appearing from nowhere. Rahkesh snarled aloud. The three vampires laughed at him. Rianae magically enlarged the couch (since Daray refused to sit up and make room) so she could sit as well.
"How did you know that?" Silas asked.
"Word from my mother. She's our ambassador. The fae are mad at the vampires and elves, and the elves are mad at the vampires and fae, and the vampires and are getting very worried because when it comes down to it those two species will ally with each other." Rianae said. "Now all we need are the werewolves getting ticked off about something and we'll have a real party."
"So glad I'm mortal human." Ally said.
"Hmm. Unless the humans in that region do something stupid. Then all three species will turn on us." Rahkesh said. Funny how he'd never thought of or worried over such things when he was at Hogwarts. In retrospect he should have, but no one else did. Having blinders about other species wasn't just limited to Europe either; humans tended to band together against "others" and therefore didn't pay nearly enough attention. One day that would be a big problem. He was getting the impression that just about everyone he had known back home had completely underestimated the other magical species.
"Let's see if we can't keep out of this. The anti-human movements among all three of those species are already strong enough." Ally said.
"I don't think there'll be enough anti-mortal vampires left to be much of a concern soon. Most the troublesome ones were young. And the fae have been pretty content to stay in their hidden worlds for the past few millennia. The real worry is the werewolves and elves. But werewolves have been happy enough since Australia and Japan gave them equal rights as humans. And there isn't any point in worrying about the elves; they're into extermination in a big way. So if they get ticked off every human on the planet will be dead before you know they're angry." Rianae said. "You mortals are safe enough for now."
"Is that supposed to be reassuring?" Ally asked. "That bitch Atalia tried to bite me today."
"But it didn't work now did it?" Silas pointed out.
"No, I took a leaf out of Rahkesh's book and shoved a miniature cattle prod under her fangs. Oh did she scream." Ally chuckled nastily. Daray groaned.
"Damn it. Rahkesh whatever obsession you've got, it's contagious."
XXX
Beauxbatons Attacked!
Elite Wizarding School Closes!
Rahkesh glanced across the papers, the two latest copies of the Daily prophet. His former home was not in good shape. Though it hadn't been in great shape when he left either. And everything was going downhill. It was depressing.
The Beauxbatons Headmistress announced today that thirty students are missing and presumed captured while fourteen more are dead.
"The others have been returned home to their families." Madam Maxine said when interviewed. "I feel that with the buildings in shambles they are better off at home for now."
There is no word on whether or not Beauxbatons will reopen but most seem to believe that it will not. Already tutors are in high demand as parents attempt to adapt to this new state of affairs while continuing their children's education.
Rahkesh put that paper aside, wondering how Fleur's younger sister was fairing, Gabrielle would still be in school. He hoped the young veela had been among the survivors. Unfortunately he was still keeping up a disguise and avoiding questions about his home, family, and background, so he couldn't talk to anyone about how depressing it was with more bad news coming in every newspaper. Perhaps he ought to go back briefly and see his…friends…or whatever remained of them. And maybe Regulus would have responded to his letter.
Upon leaving Grimmauld Place Rahkesh had left a letter on the kitchen table for Regulus. Saying only that he knew he was there and that since Regulus was the last remaining blood heir of the family he would be happy to pass on the house to him if he wished. It could only have been Regulus there that night. Rahkesh had sealed it against both Narcissa and Belatrix. There might have been other relatives, but his instructions had been specific, and only a male heir of the direct bloodline could have gotten in. That was Regulus, since he had kept Malfoy out as well. And if Belatrix did have children, well, the house would only permit the heir to enter, and if Rahkesh's' guess about Regulus was correct that meant that it could only have been the supposed dead death eater. Maybe it was time to go back and check on things
Rahkesh took out a piece of parchment and a quill. Before anything else it would be good to contact Fleur. Having a veela family as allies might just be useful.
Dear Fleur,
I heard about the attack on Beauxbatons and I'm writing to ask if Gabrielle is okay. It sounded horrible in the papers, I hope she's alright.
I have been away from Europe for many months so I don't know what the situation is like there, but it sounds awful.
I apologize for not being able to attend the wedding, I don't know if Ron and Hermione told you why I couldn't come, I think they did, if they didn't ask them. Tell Bill that if his werewolf side is causing problems I do have wolfsbane potion on hand, which might help.
Best wishes,
Harry.
Rahkesh felt odd signing his old name, it didn't seem to be him anymore, he hadn't even thought of that name in weeks. He almost removed the name, but left it anyway. With his minor change of magical signature no one looking at the parchment from outside the envelope would sense his presence. As soon as his blood tree was large enough he'd also have a new wand, with the disguise, wand change, and magic change no one would ever recognize him. But until then his wand was his only weakness. And he couldn't be seen, in case aurors decided to check his wand.
Rahkesh sealed the letter and left it on his desk, now he just needed to find a safe way to send it.
XXXX
"So what's the deal with this guy?" Silas asked, sliding into a seat beside Rahkesh. Daray took the seat on Silas other side, which positioned them so that they were along a wall with no one behind them and another wall beside Daray. This left only Rahkesh's side and the front open. If the occasional glances coming their way from the other students filing into the classroom were any indication they had good reason to be so cautious. Their new bloodmagic class did not approve of their presence. They were too young, too advanced, and an oddity. And ever since they'd entered this class they'd been experiencing a lot more of the competition that made Akren so difficult. It was not unusual for one student to sabotage another's work, sometimes in lethal ways, in order to get ahead.
The first few weeks the class had been taught by Namach, since the other teacher was away. But today professor Vaeryes was back, and the other students were looking excited. Which probably meant that they thought the professor wouldn't approve of his youngest students anymore than the older students did. It was unfortunate that Namach only taught the beginner level and the most advanced level, leaving the other bloodmagic classes to Vaeryes.
"He's human, mostly. One parent was a werewolf. He graduated from Akren a year early, got hired by some agency to go take on poachers in Africa. Got recruited by another agency to fight drug lords in South America, came back here to teach after his face got in the papers and everyone knew who he was. And when I say fight I mean assassinate." Rahkesh told him. "Apparently he likes to try to trick his students into making mistakes so they kill themselves. He thinks it teaches confidence and self-reliance." He had asked Rianae to gather whatever information she could on Vaeryes before the teacher came back. Rianae was good at that.
Vaeryes was an albino - that was the first thing Rahkesh noticed; the second was the missing right eye and gold eye patch. The third was the lack of shoes and socks. Professor Vaeryes appeared to prefer to go barefoot. The fourth thing Rahkesh noticed was that Vaeryes bloodmagic runes were visible. Usually you couldn't see a person's runes, once healed after the ritual they became invisible. But if he looked closely he could just barely make out faint thin gold runes scrawled across Vaeryes skin like millions of twisted spider webs. It gave his skin an odd shine. His hair was cut very short and when he faced the class Rahkesh saw that his remaining eye was white, with no color at all in the iris.
"I had some of you last semester in this class, if anyone is unhappy about their grades on the final and having to retake the class, don't come running to tell me about it because I don't care." Vaeryes said immediately with a sneer that would have done Snape proud. The four of five hands that had been up went down.
"Very good. For the rest of you, you are expected to complete two rituals during this semester. If you can find a good reason for not doing so, such as catching Ebola, you will not have to. Yes?" He asked, seeing Silas's hand.
"Did someone actually use that excuse?" There were snickers and chuckles from a few people.
"Yes they did. They caught the disease on purpose. They then died, not a good strategy for an A grade." Vaeryes said. Now there was a lot more snickering and amusement. "And who are you? You weren't in the lower class last semester."
"Silas. Myself and these two got moved up a few semesters." Silas said, gesturing to Rahkesh and Daray. Vaeryes stared hard at them for a moment.
"How many semesters did you skip?" The three traded looks.
"Um, well we never actually completed the beginner class – the last few weeks Namach had us doing independent study – so ah…all of them? Almost all, we've had ten weeks of official training." Silas finally answered for all of them. The whole class turned around to stare at them. Daray glared at their classmates while Rahkesh leaned back in his seat and gave them all a challenging look. Everyone turned and looked back at Vaeryes.
"You three seriously think that after ten weeks of training you can keep up with this class?" Vaeryes asked, sounding incredulous. "Absolutely not."
"It was recommended that we take this class." Rahkesh replied.
"And I do not want to have to slow down the rest of the class to let you catch up on material that you should already know. And as the teacher I have the last say in this and I don't want untrained students in my classroom." Vaeryes told him.
"If we can't keep up, we'll leave. If not, you will acknowledge the Akren policy of putting students into classes for which they are suited rather than where their amount of official training would put them." Rahkesh said, putting it out as a challenge.
"Very well." Vaeryes said sharply. He turned back to the board and began a lesson on changing knives in mid-ritual. The three friends exchanged grins, they knew this. They had reviewed it during their time travel. If Vaeryes wanted to make a spectacle of them on the first day he was going to fail.
By the time class was over Rahkesh was just about ready to kill someone, and Silas had an impedimenta spell on Daray to keep him from killing anyone. Their new classmates had shown their disapproval all class through any nasty way they could come up with. And Professor Vaeryes didn't do a thing to stop them. Someone had set Rahkesh's shoes on fire, someone else poured itching powder on Silas and someone in the classroom had been casting erasing spells so their notes got repeatedly erased. And the slugs that had somehow ended up in Daray's book bag had really sharp teeth. On the way out the door Rahkesh had to sidestep several feet, he made a point of dripping a few drops of acid onto the last person.
Once the class was outside the room the three turned for their rooms, not wanting to hang around with their classmates. Rahkesh sensed a movement behind him, and suddenly he was turned around and flung up against the wall. The other students stopped to watch, anticipating their upstart classmate was going to get a beating. Daray and Silas dropped to the back and waited.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" The werewolf who'd pushed him demanded. "You think you can just waltz in here and do whatever you want do you?"
"Yes, actually I do think that." Rahkesh replied. "Only I don't actually know how to waltz." The werewolf swung a fist at his face, Rahkesh drew a silver knife.
The werewolf jumped back, Rahkesh's knife missing his hand by an inch. Rahkesh smirked and waited, surely they wouldn't give up that easy?
A second later he was thrown against the wall again, and guessed immediately that this student was a vampire; the strength alone told him that. Rahkesh saw fangs flashing towards his neck, and shot a wandless electricity spell. The vampire shrieked in pain as the shocks traveled right through his fangs. Rahkesh broke his nose and flung him away wandlessly.
There were others behind him, Rahkesh sensed six and they weren't trying to hide their presence. He turned, conjuring a wave of fire. Someone else blew it away and the werewolf from before tackled him.
Or tried to, Rahkesh magically enlarged the staff given to him by his Chachapoyaro friends, and swung it around in a blur. The thonk sound as it connected with the werewolf's head was very satisfying. Unfortunately he was a werewolf, and therefore it didn't do as much damage as it would have had he been human. Rahkesh spun quickly, cracking another student across the face, his cheekbone shattered loudly. As he spun Rahkesh brought out a knife and rammed it through the hand of another attacking student who had come up behind him, driving the knife between two of the stones that made up the walls. The other student screamed in pain and dropped the knife he was holding. Someone started casting curses, Rahkesh redirected them, making people scatter as they flung about unpredictably.
Suddenly one of the fae students leaped at him, Rahkesh turned to get ready to fight, but the fae was quicker and the heel of his hand smashed into Rahkesh's' nose. Rahkesh felt something break and blood flew, he jerked away and fae struck him again right over the heart.
It like a heart attack, the blow had not been meant to damage, but it had channeled magic. Violent magic. Rahkesh stiffened and sharp burning pain shot through his chest. He could hear his heart stop, and then begin to beat irregularly. His vision went grey and everything seemed to slow down. He couldn't move, at all. Nothing responded. Distantly Rahkesh was aware that several of the vampire students had turned on Daray and Silas, but he couldn't move or think through the horrible pain. The others were gathering around, watching him as he staggered, unable to think or see through the pains in his chest. His lungs began to burn from lack of air, and he realized that he had fallen to the floor, still unable to move enough to even breathe. Then everything began to clear. His vision came back, the pain vanished and he could breathe again. Rahkesh swung the staff, catching the fae, who was leaning over to watch him, right in the throat.
The other student collapsed with both hands about his neck, choking, his eyes wide and pain. The force of the blow had probably broken something, or partially crushed his windpipe. Checking the vampires, Rahkesh saw that Daray was feeding on one of their attackers while Silas exchanging curses with another. His two friends could more than take care of themselves so Rahkesh ignored the other fight.
His own attackers had gotten over their shock at his recovery and were attacking again. He heard a sound and struck out behind him, someone gasped as the other end of the staff went into his stomach. Rahkesh concentrated hard on a sharp point and pushed hard, the person cried out as the transfigured weapon went into his guts. Rahkesh pulled it back and spun again. Sending blood flying into another attacker's eyes, this one was mortal. Six ripping curses in rapid succession made him back off, dripping blood. The werewolf attacked again, and Rahkesh let loose a four-pointed silver throwing star. The werewolf screamed as it hit him right below his ribcage. Rahkesh threw three more, putting one under an arm, another between his ribs, and another on his thigh inches from his groin. He then summoned them back. Placing his back to the wall Rahkesh got ready for the next round.
But no one came, they were all watching the werewolf, who was shaking and gasping. The wounds from the throwing stars had not healed, as they would have had they been anything else. And they were burning, the skin turned red and blistering. Spreading from the punctures along his skin were faint lines of burns as the poison on the throwing stars entered his blood. The werewolf snarled at Rahkesh, Rahkesh snarled back and took a few steps forward. To his surprise the other student backed off. Rahkesh held up a throwing star and cleaned it magically; he then took the blood from the other three and transferred it into a small glass container. Then he direct a nasty grin at the shocked looking werewolf
"Coated in a distilled wolfsbane solution. Painful eh?" The werewolf growled. "Rahkesh growled back and turned away, headed for his rooms, he didn't wait for the other students to move, but pushed a wall of air ahead so they stumbled back. Once he was clear of the throng he turned back and held up the glass jar. "Blood can be used for many things, remember that, I have yours."
Rahkesh returned to his rooms and collapsed into a chair, still shaking from the fae's magical attack. Silas arrived in his room a few moments after he did.
"What was that thing he did?" Silas asked.
"No idea. Felt like a heart attack, almost. But he wouldn't have used a lethal attack, not here. So it couldn't have been meant to kill." Rahkesh said. "Hurt though." He wiped at his bloodied nose and cast a bone mending spell, wincing as he felt piece of bone slid quickly into place. His eyes were still watering from pain. A cleaning charm removed the blood and healing charms made sure the bone set correctly. "That's the first time I've had my nose broken, whoever that was he's fast."
"Any permanent damage?"
"Probably not, he may not be so lucky though." Rahkesh said, wondering if the damage to the fae student's throat was healable.
"You realize that he might die from that."
"Yeah, didn't think of it at the time." Rahkesh said, shaking his head, that had been stupid. There was a reason you weren't able to directly kill someone in Akren, it was because the magical backlash would kill you.
Daray showed up several minutes later, still licking the blood off of his fangs.
"How many of them did you get?" Rahkesh asked the smug looking vampire.
"Five." Daray said proudly, three vampires, one fae, and one mortal. I've never tasted fae blood before, I like it. Perhaps I shall make it regular part of my menu."
"Five, isn't that just a little excessive?" Rahkesh asked. He didn't have to ask to know that not all of those five had attacked Daray, the vampire had merely taken the opportunity while everyone was watching Rahkesh to drink form several of them. Only the vampires had actually attacked him.
"Not at all. That fae that got you, he's an Amadan." Daray told him, "I got that from the mind of the fae who's blood I drank. They can cause instant paralysis, of a specific body part or the whole. But you can't die from their touch. You'll feel like you're dying, you'll feel like you're dying continuously until you do die. But you won't die directly from their magic. The magic will keep you alive, even though you're suffocating and your blood eventually stops moving. Very painful. Very nasty. Sometimes reversible." The vampire told him, "and how did you manage to break that?"
"No idea." Rahkesh said again. "Enireth?"
"The dragon's blood. Maybe. Well you've gone and shocked the fae witless. They've never seen anything like that happen before. Good going."
"I'd rather have not had it happen at all, no everyone will want to know how I did it, and I don't know." Rahkesh replied. "That wasn't a challenge just over our being the class was it?" He asked, thinking of the large number of vampires who had attacked Daray and Silas, not all of whom had been in their bloodmagic class.
"No. The vampires took the chance to go after me, still curious about what happened over break. And the only way they're going to find out is by drinking my blood." Daray said, "But after that, perhaps they'll stop complaining about the change they can sense in my magics."
"Not likely, they'll just be more curious." Silas told his cousin, "and they'll get whoever the current head vampire of the students is to fight you over it."
"You know you vampires are a lot like the werewolves, always setting up a strict hierarchy." Rahkesh mused aloud, ignoring the furious glares he was receiving at comparing them to werewolves.
"We are not like werewolves." Silas snapped.
"Who said we were?" Rianae asked, leaning in the door. Ally followed her into the room and they took the two remaining chairs.
"What not appearing out of thin air?" Rahkesh asked sarcastically.
"Your damn snake attacked me." Rianae told him. Sygra uncoiled from the female vampire's leg and crossed the floor to Rahkesh; he knelt and picked her up.
I tried to strangle her, but it didn't work, so I spat in her face instead. Sygra hissed to him as she wrapped herself around his shoulders and neck.
"And who said we were like werewolves?" Rianae asked again.
"He did." Both vampires replied, pointing at Rahkesh. Ally pulled out a tissue and started coughing into it. The three vampires glared.
"You both form such rigid hierarchies, you just lack packs." Rahkesh explained.
"We are not in any way like werewolves," Rianae said stiffly, "we do not lose our minds, ever, and we do not transform into animals, and we are much more intelligent and civilized than any werewolf pack."
Ally started chuckling, but turned it into another round of coughs when all three vampires turned to look at her.
"So you claim, as the impartial observer I think otherwise." Rahkesh said. "What is it with you and my couch?" He asked sharply as Daray flopped down, taking up the full length of the couch. Seconds later Satan flew in and settled onto the backrest. "You and that damn bat. You complain about my obsessions?"
"I just happen to like this couch - I'm not obsessed with it."
"Please, you spend more time on that couch that you do in classes. You know I don't think I've ever gotten a chance to use that couch, and its mine." Rahkesh said, realizing that it was very true, ever since Daray had decided the couch was his no one else got a chance to use it.
"Yes, well, it's a very nice couch." The vampire said, Satan chirped his agreement. The other tree started grinning as the recognized yet another confrontation over the couch starting.
"Yes but it's mine." Rahkesh pointed out, again.
"I don't know, given how much fur Satan's managed to shed on it." Rianae said, "It might be his."
"And therefore mine." Daray agreed.
"But I created it!"
"Too bad."
"But I created it!"
"And now its mine." Daray said, smiling, "And stay away from the controls of the wires you installed in it." He added when Rahkesh glanced at the panel beside the table that controlled the ten thousand volt wires he'd run through the couch cushions, powered by a battery and charged by magic. He intended to put it on timer, so if anyone sat on it without the alarm being turned off, by him, they'd get electrocuted. "Poor couch," the vampire said, patting the arm of the couch sympathetically, "being mistreated like that." Rahkesh growled and the others started snickering, "perhaps it should be relocated to my rooms, where it'll be safe from sadistic mortals."
"It is my couch and it is staying here!" Rahkesh said, ignoring his laughing friends. "You keep your fanged carcass away from it from now on, its mine."
"You just keep telling yourself that." The vampire agreed, "we know better, don't we Satan?" The vampire bat's sharp reply made them all wince.
"Squeaky little menace." Rahkesh muttered. Daray pretended he hadn't heard.
"Speaking of menaces, there is a pair of vampire twins a few years up who want to challenge us." Rianae told Daray.
"I don't know them, what do they fight like?" Daray asked.
"Not sure. They're pretty good though, everyone seems to avoid them most of the time. And they always prey on the other students with little retaliation." Rianae said, "they're in one of the high level dueling classes, we could watch the class, it's in the main gym."
"I'll come too," Silas said, "I'd like to watch, any chance they're after me as well?"
"Not likely." Rianae said, "You're not as threatening as we are."
"Right up until he calls the panther – GODDAMN IT DARAY!" Rahkesh roared, seeing the sign "Property of Daray" the vampire had left hanging on his couch. Daray fled the room, Satan flying after him. Rianae followed them out, laughing. Rahkesh shot a curse at the sign, only to have it flash neon orange and remain unmoved "I'm going to kill him!" Rahkesh snarled, "death by botuber puss! I'll add mercury to his blood!" he didn't notice Ally and Silas leaving, laughing quietly, as he plotted revenge.
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Please review, reviews are good for the soul.
In case you hadn't realized it, the couch is the comical relief of the story.
This chapter contains a good hint at what my current plans for the after Voldemort story are. Three sentences containing about fifty-four words. Don't drive yourselves crazy trying to find it please.
Okay, Malfoy's current fate has resolved, temporarily. Malfoy haters rejoice. Whoever InD is you can stop emailing me about it. (I hate it when people email you with questions and then don't respond when you email them back.)