Seven Years Later...
Chapter 6 Part 3
"The Darkness Within"
Author's Note: This is going to get really really deep really really soon.
Alexis sat on the couch, rocking slightly as she hugged Artimis's cloaks tightly around her shivering body. She rested a warm cup of tea on her knee as she tried to keep breathing, calm and steadily. Severus had led her here after her outpour of emotion, then both professors had retreated to the kitchen for a moment, whispering in soft tones of what to do. She would let no one touch her after that, regardless her bleeding wounds and bruised features.
Alexis fought to keep what calmness she had obtained as she still tried to fathom why everyone had let Artimis be captured. But she wasn't alone in the room, everyone else sat in their chosen places, solemn and silent as they contemplated their own thoughts and actions.
Ron sat as far from her as possible, not wanting to invoke anymore confusion in her at the present time. How could he explain to her his actions? It wasn't time yet.
Alexis continued thinking to herself, knowing every one present should've felt at least somewhat guilty, they should have be.
Alexis sat, her thoughts unwillingly going to the last thing she had spoken to Artimis before the battle
"This battle is for your father. I don't think you are sorry Artimis, I don't think you ever are."
"How could I have been such a bitch! Always saying the wrong fucking things..." Alexis mumbled aloud quietly, berating herself as a wave of fresh tears flowed down her flushed cheeks. She trembled, trying to stay calm. "She never meant those words you dumbass... you should've known that..." She yelled to herself.Those present in the room looked up, staring at Alexis as if she were insane. She ignored them as she continued mumbling her stupidity, mentally tearing herself apart.
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Draco had been deathly quite throughout this ordeal. Many had forgot he was there. He shook himself, the thoughts running though his mind,
I could have saved her, had they let me, I could have rescued her... Now My father will kill the only woman I've ever loved... I could have saved her...
He continued to think to himself, also mentally berating himself.
It's my job to protect her, I'm her lover, It's my job...He thought as he heard Alexis yell out about her last words to Artimis.
It intrigued him, for he knew his last words to her were 'Be careful honey, I love you', but he wondered what had been said between Alexis and Artimis before the battle. He was sitting beside her on the couch so he turned to her, an intent look in his eyes as he asked, "What were your last words to her?"
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Alexis looked up at him sadly, surprised someone had actually sat by her. She didn't answer, not sure of his reaction, or actions. He asked once more, a bit more demanding this time. She looked at the floor and whispered. " I, I said this battle was for her father, and that I didn't think she was ever sorry, for anything."
She saw Draco look at her with near rage as he turned away from her.
"Your right, you were being a bitch."He spoke, and Ron went, "ouch." in whispered sympathy.
It was then that Alexis felt it again, Artimis was contacting her. The image was dark, and Alexis knew that Artimis had her eyes closed. But before she could tell Artimis to open her eyes, Artimis spoke. "I'm sorry."
With that Alexis burst into tears and the connection and the wave of pain was cut off.
She jumped up from her seat, yelling, "Wait! What the hell are YOU sorry for? Artimis! I'M the one who's sorry!" she yelled, every nerve tingling from the transfer of pain.
Severus and Remus rushed in, looking for flying bodies or furniture. Severus turned to Aaron for an explanation. He shrugged and spoke quickly, "Don't look at me! She was just sitting there... and, she was saying something... then, Draco sat there...and... and... I DON"T KNOW! Ask someone else!"
"Bloody hell, we just calmed her down...'' Severus mumbled to himself.
Alexis collapsed to her knees, holding her head as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Artimis... I'm so sorry... you don't need to apologize... You were in pain, as was I...b, but I let it get to me, you know h, how I am... it should be me there... not y, you... please forgive me... " Alexis cried, kneeling on the cold floor and venting to the cruel world her pain and sorrow.
She looked up with sparkling eyes at Draco. "You're s, so right... I had no right to.. to..." Her throat was so sore she couldn't speak anymore, and her ribs throbbed from her labored breathing as she collasped onto the cold ground, weeping.
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Artimis was losing her control. She had already seen almost everyone in her house killed. Aaron, Hailey, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Crabbe, Goyle, The Twins, Apollo, Parvati, her neice and nephew, and Remus was the last to die. All her loved ones were almost gone, as her sanity.
Then Voldemort looked to her and shook his head.
"You should have been one of us with your ability to watch death so calmly. Pity though. I hope you like the finale." He hissed and she shuddered as tears cascaded from clouding blue eyes.
Two Deatheaters lead Draco Malfoy and Alexis Whyte into her veiw. Alexis was tied up and gagged, struggling her best to get free and Draco had to be dragged in. They were left there in the middle of the room. Artimis's eyes widened and her heart, having already been trampled and torn, practically stopped.
"You can save them you know. Just tell me where to find Manor Dela Loyalty. Just tell me, and they will live."
Artimis gulped, thinking intently on the words spoken to her. Then she laughed at herself, full out, loud laughter. She had actually considered giving into Voldemort. To her, that was funny. Voldemort moved around to face her and asked oh so gently, "Why do you laugh?"
"Because, my secrets die with me." She whispered and glared, then looking straight ahead. She vainly tried to lock eyes with Alexis but had figured she was behind a one way mirror.
She tried to connect to Alexis, but could not. She knew Alexis would understand, she had too.
She watched as they were dually, brutally tortured and finally and inevitably, killed.
That was when Artimis's last shred of sanity finally snapped. No one but Alexis had ever known Artimis's greatest fear in life, the fear of being utterly and truly alone.
Artimis now felt as if she were alone in the world, as if there was no one left in the world who loved her. She let her vision cloud with anger, she felt her blood boil. Darkness consumed her vision. She had endured so much pain, too much for her broken body and soul to hold. The room grew colder, darker, and Voldemort asked in a near anger, "What magic is this!"
Artimis closed her eyes and screamed, screamed for her family, friends, and loved ones. A wave of darkness emitted from her, the entire building succumbing to a consuming fog of pure darkness. No light penetrated it, and all within it froze to the core. The inhumane scream she emitted broke all the glass in the area.
When Artimis opened her eyes she saw that Voldemort had apparated away. She screamed again, her bonds breaking away as the Darkness enveloped her in its frigid, yet soothing, embrace. It made her clothing, filled out her missing hair, and she let loose all her rage, the building being quaked. She screamed again and the whole foundation began to crumble and crack around her. She stood and opened her arms, releasing every ounce of agony from her body outside to the world.
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Alexis sat on the couch, just calmed, when she screamed once again in pure torture and became enveloped in her own burning, green flames, though she did not summon them. Everyone quickly backed away as she flashed out of control, her scream deafening them, and all were awed by the image of a shadow behind her flaming form in the shape of Artimis.
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Artimis stood among the rubble that was once her prison, exhausted and only wanting to go to her now empty home. She apparated to The Manor, expecting to find a pile of rock and debris. Yet before her stood her home in all it's glory.
"Voldemort, What magic is this. How now do you torture me?" She cried out to the sky as people spilled out the door.
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The flames consuming Alexis vanished in a wisp and she fell to the ground in exhaustion, breathing shallowly. Remus ran to her and lifted her up from the floor worriedly, and Alexis suddenly spoke, eyes snapping open, "She's here."
She jumped up and practically flew to the door, the household following quickly as she flung open the doors and gasped at the sight that met her eyes. Artimis stood on the lawn, talking to the darkened sky. It was hard to tell it was Artimis, but Alexis knew. Her hair was all chopped upshort to above her ear on one side, and to her shoulder on the other. Her arm was bleeding as well her face and she seemed to be drenched in blood. She yelled to the sky, calling out to Voldemort.
"How do you do this magic! Is not their death torture enough to break me!" She bellowed, and Alexis stepped back a bit. She evaluated Artimis from a distance and noticed a distinct burn scar on her arm and a deep bite mark on her neck. She nearly cried when she saw Artimis turn around, gazing at the sky with insanity, seeing the bleeding welts on her back.
''She's gone mad." Severus spoke softly.
"No, she hasn't, because then I would have to be mad as well."Alexis whispered quietly, gaze never leaving her friend.
''I question..." he began.
"Don't." She hissed as she stepped forward. Artimis saw her and glared, drawing into a fighting stance.
"Come back for more, you filthy deatheater? You may look like Alexis, but I know you not." She yelled, her fists drawn up as she crouched. Severus walked down the steps behind the confused Alexis and Artimis shifted her gaze to him.
"YOU! YOU GAVE HIM MY BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY! YOU'LL PAY!" She screamed as she rushed for him. Everyone gasped as they saw black shadows fill in her hair and make clothing for her as she leapt at Severus. Severus leapt away to dodge her. He looked at her fearfully, and that was when Remus pulled out his wand, yelling, "Stupefy!", Artimis crumbling to the ground.
Severus sat on the grass and caught his breath as Alexis approached her friend with worried caution. She reached out a hand to her, and the second her skin touched Artimis's it froze and gash of darkness streaked up her arm. She screamed in pain and confusion and Artimis's arms flashed green flame. It was then, when the Darkness and Flame mingled, did Alexis's pain fade and she collapsed silently beside her friend.
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Everything happened so fast that Remus barely had time to react. A form of darkness was moving towards Severus, and his first reaction was to stop it. It wasn't until then that he finally found out what the hell Alexis had meant by her comment. And it happened to be Artimis. Once again, he was shocked into silence. No one could move for their surprise except Alexis, who approached her downed friend in concerned wariness. He jumped back involuntarily as he viewed Alexis reaching down to Artimis. A wave of blackness followed immediately by a flash of green flame rendered everyone sightless for a moment, their vision finally clearing to reveal now two downed women.
Severus remained in his place on the ground, curled into himself, his gaze never leaving his knees. He wasn't moving anytime soon.
"I never had this much trouble with her mother...I mean, I dated Miranda and she never had mood swings like this... The occasional 'you don't think I'm pretty' was enough to drive me nuts...But man, this girl is nothing like her mother...It's just one of those days..." Severus mumbled, almost barely spoke, looking toward Artimis in near fear. Remus glanced at him in worry and he and Draco moved forward slowly. Draco picked up Artimis gently, tears streaming down his face as he kissed her forehead, lifting her to his chest and walking in the house. Remus picked up Alexis and followed Draco, looking to Crabbe and Goyle and nodding to Severus, "Bring him in if it rains, but leave him if it doesn't. By the way, could you get some pictures? Blackmail you know." Remus spoke as he walked in the door and Crabbe and Goyle nodded. This was going to be a long night.
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Well, what do you think?
Do you think this is the last of the misery for our poor Artimis?
Wethink there is yet more to come... Butthen again, we are the authors.