California Adventure
Chapter 5

Author's Note: This is the dramatic finish of this fic. It is deep, it is sorrowful and it involves self sarifice. I cried, Ecko cried, we should all just cry and get it over with... Read and Review...

Alexis looked at Artimis and then took her wolf form, growling and barking as the Marevick landed in front of them, and Alexis was being defensive of them. Artimis pondered on any kind of loud nose that they could make and came to no conclusion. As Artimis was pondering this, the Marevick had approached Alexis aggressively and Alexis bit its front leg, latching on with her teeth. The beast hollered and tossed Alexis aside. Alexis tumbled on the ground and shifted to her human form, kneeling on the ground. The air was full of dust and smoke, and Severus and Remus were trying to get the radio working. Artimis saw the beast inhale an Artimis yelled for them to cover their ears. They grabbed their ears and ducked in the upside down vehicle. Alexis was preparing to charge the beats and Artimis rushed to her and pounce d on her, covering Alexis's ears as the beast screeched. Artimis felt the pain and then all was black. Artimis saw Death for the last time and was no longer afraid.

------------------

Alexis felt Artimis leap on her and cover her ears. Alexis felt the vibrations from the beast's deadly screech and she felt Artimis go limp on top of her. She rolled over and saw Artimis lying on her back; her eyes squeezed close and look of pain on her face. Alexis couldn't feel any breathing and worst of all, she felt alone in her own mind. Alexis knew that Artimis was dead. Alexis shifted to her wolf form and leapt at the Marevick and attacked it menacingly, brutally tearing it to bits while sustaining minor injuries. She wanted to taste the blood, the blood fueled her energy. She wanted it to suffer. Alexis ripped it to shreds, tore it's every limp to pieces and then she felt something grabbing her, trying to stop her. She turned and leapt at what ever had touched her and she tore it to parts as well. Alexis stepped back and shook her head, coming to her senses. She turned around to see the Marevick in many gory, bloody pieces. She turned back around to see Remus, badly bitten and beaten up. Alexis quickly shifted back and saw that she had done this to Remus. She ripped her cloaks apart and began to tie the wounds that she had inflicted upon her father. Remus coughed up blood and looked at her with sorrow as he inhaled for the last time. He exhaled deeply and then stopped moving. Alexis began to cry as she looked up at Severus, who looked at her true unadulterated fear. Alexis screamed as she looked down at Remus, clutching him to her chest as she bawled her eyes out. Two had died today and both died because of her.

---------------------

Severus heard Artimis yell or them to cover their ears and he and Remus did so. He watched Artimis leap at Alexis cover her ears. He watched her tossed her heed back in the pain and then go limp. Both he and Remus rushed out form the upside down jeep and to Artimis's side as Alexis attacked the Marevick. Severus grabbed Artimis's wrist and checked for a pulse. He growled in frustration as he tossed her wrist down, knowing that she was gone.

"Damn you. You thick headed person you." He spoke, looking at her and pulling her up close to him. She was no longer warm, her body draining of all the warmth that meant life. He watched as Remus got up and went to stop Alexis. He winced as Alexis attacked him and was trying to get up as Alexis backed up and realized what she had done. A tremor of fear filled Severus as he watched Alexis futile attempt to save Remus. Severus moved away from Artimis and went to get up but was hit with a wave of dizziness from the effects of the Maverick's scream. He sat back down and looked at Alexis with fear as she slowly raised her head and looked at him with tears in her eyes. She screamed out loud, thus making his after effects worse. Severus sat down and tried to figure out how they were going to get to the bureau now. He got up and dug in Artimis's pocket, grabbing her summoning stone. He used it and an agent appeared before them. He looked around and gasped.

"What happened here?" He asked and Severus explained that it was the Marevick and made sure that he said the Marevick killed Remus, not Alexis. The agent popped away and then suddenly there were five agents there, picking up the bodies and they moved the vehicle and everything to the bureau and then handed Severus and Alexis a port-key. Severus had to wrap and arm around Alexis to make sure she got there.

------------------

Alexis just wanted to get home; she hated all the silence that was around her and within her. If only I had listened and covered my ears... Artimis would be alive, Remus would be alive... The only person I didn't kill is the person I've been trying to get rid of for years… Alexis thought to herself and she sighed. Severus put and hand on her shoulder and handed her a book. Alexis looked at it and her eyes grew wide. It was Artimis's diary. She wanted to know what her friend's last thoughts were to the world. Alexis broke the spell easily; she had known how to for years, but never did. She opened it and flipped through the pages seeing the scribbling from Artimis's school years. There were pictures of her and Artimis in it and Severus came and sat by her. Alexis flipped it to the day they were assigned the mission. She read it aloud, seeing as she and Severus were the only one's in the room, waiting to see if anything could be done to bring them back.

"July 8.

Oh my god, we have our first mission. I told Draco last night and he didn't want me to go. Bloody bastard, I get my first chance to work and he goes all protective lover on me. Said he had a bad feeling about it. Ha, he is so paranoid. I'm a big girl, I can kick the ass of a variety of creatures and wizards, and I can take care of myself. Last night though, he made love to me like it would be the last time. That worried me a bit, He's not usually so attentive, but it was nice to be told that he loved me every five minutes. Until he did it about a hundred times, then hearing 'I love you' got annoying. Dumbledore just sent Alexis a letter; we get to go with Severus and Remus. I love Remus; he is so cool about everything. Taking Severus is going to be interesting though. Alexis knows I like him, say more than just a professor way either. I have no idea why, but I find him so attractive. He doesn't know that, no, and I'd never tell him. I'd die if he knew. And if he ever like touched me, like you know that brief little 'I'm grabbing for the same thing as you' and grabbing each other hands thing, ah I'd turn into a drooling pile of human that was once Artimis Callabella. It would be so nice that if for once in my life Snape would see me as a competent woman, and not some damsel in distress student. Doubt that will ever happen. Well, gotta go, need to go pick up the Professors and head to California! YAY! Byes, Love ya.

The One and Only Prancer." Alexis read allowed and Severus looked at her oddly, obviously hearing some information for the first time. He shook his head and looked at her calmly.

"You alright? You don't have to read it aloud you know." He spoke and she nodded to him.

"But you probably wanna know what her last thoughts were too." Alexis spoke and he nodded in agreement. Alexis began again, reading Artimis's most personal thoughts.

"July 11

Sorry, haven't written lately. A lot has been going on. We found our objective; we were spooked by a Marevick, which along with other things has made it hard to find the time. I had another panic attack this morning, it was a bad one too, I couldn't even breath. You won't believe why I had it though. I had it because I woke up cuddled with Severus. It was so nice, but he scared me and we ended up on the floor. Well he hit the floor and I landed over him. And it was his fault anyways. Remus and Alexis sat up and waited to see our reaction. Damn her. Alexis also played a cruel trick and shoved me under cold water during my attack and Severus had to save me. He SAVED ME! Ahh, droooooool! So corny I know, but he did. I think Alexis told him that I liked him, Ahh; I hope not, that's the last thing I need. What with the Marevick and everything, it would be too much stress. But when I was writing this, he asked me in the car if he could read it. He must have been starved for conversation. I was like NOOOO; you'll know that I have bad thoughts about you among other things. Imagine if he got this and read everything, including the first time I saw him in a different light. I bet he'd never do a detention again, but hey I'm weird. Him asking me to read my dairy, ugh, it was odd. Well, I'm tired and road trips are meant for sleeping, and besides, Severus's music is putting me to sleep as it is. I love the classics too but come on; in a car they are bad. You just fall asleep. Love ya.

The One and Only Prancer." Alexis read as she flipped the page and looked at Severus. He was listening to Alexis and had a look of deep thought on his face.

"Go on. Read it." He spoke and she cried, pushing it toward him.

"It's the last page. You read it." She spoke, handing Severus the book. He took it in his hands and as he did a picture fell out. It was a picture of Artimis in her Valedictorian outfit with him and she was smiling and he looked like he didn't want to be there. His voice caught in his throat as he put the picture back in the book and began to read aloud.

"July 13.

We were attacked yesterday. Well we forced entry to the room, but we were just doing questioning. Our objective, He's a Deatheater. I know it in my guts, and my guts don't lie when it comes to these things. And I keep having this damned dream involving death, portrayed as the horrific beautiful woman… Every time I have one, Severus comforts me like he knows what I'm going through. It's kinda weird, well more than kinda. I have a feeling that something big is about to happen, possibly something bad. I don't know what yet, but something. And Severus is being so nice, which always means something is going on that he knows and won't share. He even held me last night. Out of his own free will. It was because I was crying though, probably keeping him awake. I woke up this morning with his arm wrapped around me and he was really cool about it. I didn't even have a panic attack, but then again, I knew he was holding me before I fell asleep. Maybe he is seeing that I'm not just an annoying kid from Hogwarts, that I'm an adult woman capable of dealing with the world. I know he'd never look at me like I'd look at him, but hey I can hope. I'm sure everybody has that one teacher they'd love to have them sweep them off their feet, and Snape is mine. Hell, I'd leave Draco for Snape. But that would never happen save for in my wildest dreams. Thanks for listening; I write things in here that I feel I can't tell anyone, not even my soul sister Alexis. She wouldn't understand that I prefer older, more sophisticated tastes in men. That would fit Severus for a profile. He is very refined in his tastes, something I really, REALLY like in men. Oh god, if he ever read this, he'd kill me. Skin me alive and torture me. We'll gotta go, gotta stake out to do. I'll probably write again tonight. Oh, and remind me, I need to write a letter to Apollo tonight, let him know I'm alright. He worries if he doesn't hear from me for a while. Byes, Love ya.

The One and Only Prancer." Severus read, breathing slowly as he held back all emotions. Alexis looked at him and she was crying, tears streaming down her face. Severus put his hand on her shoulder as he closed the book, a single picture falling out. Alexis picked it up and showed it to him. It was a picture of Alexis, Remus, Artimis, Severus and Draco. They were all smiling and in their graduation uniforms. Severus held back a tear and handed it to Alexis, as an agent walked in and informed them that Dumbledore was there to escort them home. Alexis stood and ran toward the old man, sobbing into his chest as he held her. Severus watched as he silently mourned the woman he had never allowed himself to know.

As an ending note, this was hard for me, because it was like killing myself... This is the first time ever a Misfit has died and stayed that way...I love this Story... tears
Deep Shadows