Seven Years Later...
Chapter 5 Part 2
"Angered Child"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker

Artimis curled up on her bed, the soothing music of Linkin Park calming her nerves as she tore a pillow to shreds. Feathers flew through the room, surrounding her in white glory. She screamed, her words not heard over the attack of the music. She kicked, she yelled, she threw an all out five year old temper tantrum. She got off her bed, shaking her fists, yelling out to an unforgiving world, crying, the salty tears flowing down her pale cheeks. She calmed slowly after realizing that she was not alone.

A tall dark figure stood in the doorway, shaking his head as he walked up towards her.

"Snape, If you wish to live, you will leave." She growled, an intense anger burning within her. The room grew darker, yet she did not notice.

"Callabella, calm down and stop acting like an angered child. It's not like the world is over." Severus spoke too nonchalantly.

"HOW DARE YOU! How dare you treat my with such disregards, you pathetic excuse for a human being, who is so scared of his own emotions that he must shatter others in their weakest moment!" She yelled in one breath, roaring in anger as she charged him.

The last musical chord of the last song on the CD played out, and the room was bathed in a deathly quiet. She lost control as she moved, her feet taking her faster than she had ever traveled, her reflexes heightened as she knocked him to the ground effortlessly. He tried to block, to move away, but she held him down, a scream of pure anger emitting from her throat as she pulled him up and threw him against the wall. She stalked towards where Snape slid painfully down the wall, looking at her dazedly as he tried to scoot away.

That was when the flames softly caressed her skin, as the tan hands of her best friend held her back. That was when the realization of what she had down hit her with full force, and she collapsed, unable to breath, what breaths she had coming in as sharp heaves as she watched blood flow from a gash on Snape's shoulder. She couldn't hear the world anymore, everything was silent, and she was alone as her vision went black. She struggled with an inner turmoil, an inner darkness threatening to consume her. She snapped out of her torture as her friend turned and faced her and tear-filled emerald eyes penetrated the darkness, surrounded by flickering green flames. Artimis began to see again, the world coming back to full view in painful light. Remus then decided to pull Severus out of the room.

Alexis could hear her despaired friend's yells as she approached Artimis's room. Upon reaching the door, a coldness unlike she had ever felt began to seep into her body, making her shiver involuntarily. Pushing the oddity aside, she flung open the door and stopped in surprise.

She witnessed Artimis reaching down to a grounded Snape, the physically lifting him and slamming him into a far wall, where he slid down in fearful confusion and pain.

What the hell!...

That's when she noticed it. It was as if Artimis's own shadow had a life of its own, dancing and growing under her feet. And even with every lamp in the large room on, the thickening darkness dimmed everything, the main concentration centered on Artimis as she stalked towards Severus in a deadly calm.

Alexis, even knowing it was her best friend, immediately went into defense mode as she stumbled back, vision turning green as she burst into magical flames. Though she also knew full well that they would have no effect on Artimis.

Severus seemed to shrink against the wall as Artimis glided closer, the dark and coldness deepening. Acting quickly and without thought, Alexis ran forward and slipped around to stand in front of Severus, hoping he didn't get burned as she protected him defiantly. She knew she couldn't physically stop her enraged friend, but she had to try. Putting her small hands on Artimis's shoulders, she pushed back forcefully, locking eyes and hoping Artimis would recognize her in some sense. Realization blossomed in the sapphire gaze of Artimis, and she yielded to Alexis's resisting, sinking to the floor in shock. The darkness totally withdrew into her, the frigidness dispersing. Alexis shuddered uncomfortably, frozen in place at the moment in shock. Artimis seemed to withdraw into herself, slumping dejectedly as she sat on the cold ground.

No, you're not leaving me in any way... Alexis thought, worriedly kneeling in front of her and tearing up; hoping upon hope that this would not last much longer. Alexis turned Artimis's gaze to her own, attempting to transfer what strength and courage she still had to her stricken companion.

Severus heard Artimis screaming and quietly approached her room. The door was ajar and he could see her kicking and screaming amidst a cloud of feathers, undoubtedly from the pillow that was shorn and tossed off the bed. The image evoked thoughts of an angry angel. He stood and watched as she jumped off her bed, talking to herself, screaming.

Then she stopped mid-step, and turned towards him. She growled at him and he scoffed at her. He made the comment he would make to anyone, but that's when he saw her eyes narrowed dangerously. She insulted him, as usual, but colder and harsher, then charged him without warning. He went to sidestep her, but she moved so fast that she knocked him to the floor, surprised. He went to get up, annoyed at her childish behavior. That was when her hands touched him. His whole body froze, the chill moving from her hands all the way down his spine. He could feel her pick him up and toss him, and the second her hands let go, he felt the warmth of the room again. He hit the wall, holding in a yell as the corner of a desk caught his shoulder. He saw her moving toward him, yet her gaze froze him and he felt so cold. Not being able to move angered him, yet Artimis's newfound strength had worried him even more so. He viewed Alexis come in and stop her thankfully, yet he still could not move. It was not until Remus dragged him from the room did he regain the ability to control himself again.

"What the hell just happened." Remus questioned. Severus shook his head. For once, he had no idea.

"What did you say to her?" Remus questioned again.

"I told her... to calm down, and stop acting like an angered child. It's not like the world is over." Snape replied almost regretfully.

"You arrogant asshole! Her world is over at this moment! No wonder she tried to kill you." Remus spoke angrily as he stood and backed away from Snape, disgusted. That was when Alexis was heard comforting Artimis in hushed tones.

Alexis closed her eyes as she let Artimis collapse into her, trembling and shaking as she burst into sobs. She hugged her tightly as Artimis cried into her shoulder, venting everything; every pain, every hurt, every thought. Alexis listened to all of it as Artimis lost all her prized self-control in this dark time. She was at a lost for words for a moment, not sure if anything she said would make a difference. But presently the words came smoothly.

"You are not leaving me alone here. Do you hear me? ...I've always been, and always will be here for you... I promised you that... you'll get through this... we all will..."

Alexis looked up briefly as the door creaked open once more and Remus cautiously entered. He stood still for a moment in awkwardness, then walked over and fell to his knees next to them. He scooped them both into a huge hug, squeezing tightly.

Alexis watched the entire struggle in Artimis's eyes fade and for a moment, Alexis thought that she was giving up, as she herself had done so many times before. Artimis began to mumble incoherently, Alexis soothing her with loving words. She could feel Artimis calm down, and Artimis whispered quietly after a moment, "Where is Severus?"

Alexis shrugged, and Artimis moved away from Alexis and Remus's double embrace.

"Alexis, please go get Apollo and Draco. I need to go apologize." Artimis whispered and Alexis reluctantly left her friend in order to get those her sister needed.

Artimis walked out the door, her head hung low as she saw Severus. She gathered her courage, what little she had left in her sore body. Lifting her eyes to him, she glimpsed almost a worry in his coal black emotionless eyes.

"Severus?" She spoke so softly.

"Yes?" He spoke with such a cold tone that she drew back.

"I'm...sorry, don...don't know what came over me..." She was cut off.

" Nor do I, but I would appreciate it if next time you decide using me like a rag doll to look for tables first. Why did what I say offend you anyway?" He questioned. Artimis grew angry, but held it in.

"Look, I was in pain. Still am, and you just were so cold, so emotionless. I just wanted to see some discomfort, not the old cold Professor from my school days. I'm not saying go jump of the London Bridge with grief, just, you know, squirm a little." She spoke excitedly, almost in haste. He stepped back, and she chuckled with forced humor.

"Don't worry, I haven't anymore strength in me to toss you into anything else." Artimis spoke as Apollo quite healed up, and Draco, who looked worried, rushed up the stairs followed by a tearful Alexis.

Draco wrapped his arms around her and whispered gently, "We can do a funeral tomorrow."

Artimis drew back, insulted.

"My father's body will not lie in the ground to rot. He will be given Entingo Right of Passage. He was the lover of an Entingo, it is tradition." She spoke and Apollo nodded. Artimis turned to Apollo, with sad, knowing eyes.

"I still have the book brother, please take the men and get the wood, make the pyre strong and leave a space for me to stand made of stone." She spoke demandingly and Severus, Alexis, and Draco looked at her oddly. She shook her head and grabbed Alexis and Draco, pulling them to her room as Apollo rushed down the stairs. That was when Artimis's face turned green and she rushed off to the bathroom. She was heard puking for most of the afternoon, but all thought it was from grief.

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DEEP SHADOWS