Feeling someone poking her cheek gently, Talia did not open her eyes, body still relaxed and limp, despite being fully aware of the binds restraining her movements "What sort of measurements did you use? She has been out of it for a few good hours." The voice she recognised in a heartbeat, that sweet tune laces with so much worry when it came down to her.
A pair of feet approached her, voice soon reaching her ears "Don't underestimate this one, it takes more to knock her out and even more to hold her down." Feeling a hand in her hair, her head was lifted "I think she's faking it. Want to test it out?"
"No, I really do not. We agreed that we will not hurt her."
A low chuckle followed, cold and sarcastic, however Talia opened her eyes witnessing the two men bickering. Burning through the ropes binding her, she grabbed Jasper's arm, removing it form her hair, twisting it painfully behind his back, him kneeling, hissing in pain through yellow stained teeth. Glaring at Felix, firelit eyes greeted him "Hello boys."
"Told you." Jasper groaned as Talia lifted his arm further in that impossible angle, ready to break it.
She glanced at the room she was being kept it, anger shaping her face as she recognised the old Auror camp "What am I doing here? Who else is going to join us eh?"
"No one." Felix quickly spoke before she could hurt Jasper further, hands on display for her to see, wand nowhere in sight "We needed to make it believable since we knew you would never agree on a meeting all alone with us."
It was an odd combination, that much was clear, however the hold on her former trainer loosened, until he could scurry away from her, good hand rubbing the sore muscles. The fire refused to dissipate, Talia taking a step away from them for good measure. Felix she somewhat believed, barely. But Jasper, with him being free and joining the Death Eaters, that was another story.
But he was as unhindered by her as ever, taking out a cigarette, lighting it, blowing the smoke casually in her direction "We have been monitoring you for a while. Mister Winger being well…him…made a mistake in getting you out in the open like that. You on your own are lethal, but with him you grow soft and weak."
Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she chuckled "Good to know some things never change. Now" she went over to Felix, extending a hand out to him. Rummaging through his pockets, he took out a cigarette of his own, placing it between his lips to light it for her, Talia snatching it before he did "I got it. So, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"The Dark Lord is looking for the prophecy." Talia giving Felix a dangerous look for his poor choice of words.
"I know and I don't care about that. I barley care about keeping Harry out of harms' way. There have been prophecies left and right about all sort of things. I couldn't care less about some fables."
Shaking his head, Jasper peered at her "There were prophecies of creatures never aging walking the earth, years falling off their backs as if time itself did not exist." Tilting his head to the side slightly, he smirked "If I were you, I would watch out for such prophecies as they tend to come true." Glaring at him, her eyes turned to Felix who still did not know all the details, Jasper catching on "Regardless, since you have been protecting your little friends, I suggest you pay attention. Afterall, what more could he want than immortality and power?"
"Well the only one who might still know something is you. So if I were you I would sleep with one eye open."
Throwing his cigarette to the side, he pointed at her "So should you. And so should mister Winger in case I falter and spill a name." Plunging at him, Felix got in between them, Talia glaring dagger, but ultimately refraining from hurting him "I see, you care for our little friend here as well. My, my, aren't you a charmer."
"Unless you have a date to provide me with then I suggest we drop this silly attempt at help."
"Talia." That was the first time Felix had addressed her in such an abrupt manner, her eyes focusing on him, fire beginning to die out from her gaze "We risked a lot to arrange this, we could be going back tonight and end up dying. At least try to get inside the Ministry, try to find some truth to these claims. In the meantime, we will try to find out more on the inside and tear this organisation down."
She wanted to believe him, she wanted to in some deep twisted part of her. But she did not make a move when Arthur Weasley was attacked, she did not care about speculations and rumours, about probably prophecies and the hidden meaning behind them, she only cared about saving people and hopefully in the process, herself as well.
Motioning to Felix, Jasper's gaze was ruthless "It appears we have made a mistake. This isn't the woman I remember, but a shadow of her former self." Ignoring Talia's obviously growing anger, he turned to leave, looking over his shoulder to address a few more words her way "You're stupid like this Talia. You gave yourself one shot at redemption and it came in the form of one simple man. You wasted your potential on a mere mortal with a scared heart. And it's because of that you can't fight anymore."
His footsteps walking away resonated deep in her ear drums, each step as if crushing her heart further. How dare he, a simple minded man address her like that? "I will kill you Munday."
Stopping, he turned around, arms stretched wide "Well then Talia, here I am. Do it. Do what you have always wanted. Let your rage define you."
Her breaths refused to leave her lungs, mind going blank for a few moments. She flinched when Felix came in front of her, taking hold of her cheeks, pulling her in. The feeling of his lips on hers put everything in overdrive, feelings rushing to the surface with devastating force.
She did not know for the first time what she was even doing there. Why she actually returned and why she was fighting a war that was not even hers to begin with. Why she was suffering for a world that pronounced her dead a long time ago. Where she would forever be seen as different, not accepted by anyone. It was only a matter of time.
In a few years nothing would have mattered as everything would have faded and she would still be there.
Pushing Felix away, tears burned her eyes, blurring her vision "Run." She uttered softly "Both of you run." But it was as if her words fell on deaf ears, Felix approaching her once again, this time pulling her into a tight embrace.
Jasper approached the pair slowly, shaking his head as if disappointed, pulling Felix away, a slap interacting with Talia's face "That's enough out of you. Get a grip. You have fallen far enough." Pushing Felix away, ignoring his protests, he grabbed Talia by the shirt "Since when do you feel sorry for yourself? You have never played this card." Shaking her, she did not retaliate, his anger growing stronger still.
Pulling out his wand, he uttered the Crucio curse, the force of the spell as if breaking apart Talia's bones. Casting it upon Felix for good measure, he watched them struggling through the pain, bodies convulsing "You are pathetic. The next time I see Winger I am killing him just to rid you of that nuisance. Then maybe you will be able to focus properly."
Her lips mumbled something, jaw clenching through the pain.
"Louder Talia, I can't hear you." Casting the spell again, a cry of sheer pain left her mouth, however it was too short lived by his standards. Taking out his small whip, a clean slash cut her cheek, blood soon painting her face.
Hit after hit, curse after curse, everything served to hurt her further.
"You learned nothing. I helped them save you for nothing. Constantine would have been a better fit for the Crane ritual."
Her eyes lifted slowly, a blank stare piercing his. Lifting a trembling hand, she did not pull away when the whip hit her again. Through blood stained teeth she conjured the Crucio spell, hitting Jasper square in the chest "Feel that? Enjoy it, because it's what I felt." Getting up on wobbly feet, she cursed him again and again, the slither of pleasure inside her chest growing as she saw him on the floor in agonising pain.
"Talia…" turning to look over at Felix's pale face as he was barely recovering from the aftermath, her eyes softened slightly.
"My sweet Felix." Kneeling in front of him, she pushed away the hair sticking to his forehead "Why did you have to go play the hero? Why didn't you stay by my side?"
"I wanted to." Taking her hands into his, the pain in his eyes radiated through her soul "Forgive my foolishness, but I knew no other way for you to get away. Why did you return?"
She blinked a few times, the question swimming in her head "I don't know." The admission hurt, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth as she repeated her statement "But I will find a reason to fight." Pulling him, she placed a gentle kiss against his lips, a faint smile shaping her lips "Now go, take him. Keep each other safe. Promise me." He nodded slowly, pushing himself up.
She waited until she could not hear them anymore, until they Apparated off the premises. Lifting her tired body, she slowly made her way through the former camp. Into the former room her and Talbott used to share as partners. Into the old library they used to study day in and day out until they found the perfect fighting style to suit both of them. Inside the nursing station that contained the bare minimum to treat their wounds. Inside Jasper's office where she had to endure so much alongside the others.
Sitting in the middle of the training grounds, she closed her eyes, her muscles tensing, heat expanding from her fingertips. It destroyed everything in its wake, burning the structure to the ground, destroying everything that once used to be.
Making her way back to the Order, Talia found a few of them in a heated argument. About Harry, about the next steps, about her "She's one of us Moody." Talbott's voice roared from across the table.
"I don't need a constant reminder, I know that, but from how the attack played out it's clear they were after her."
Tonks looked at Talbott, concern in her eyes "Do you think the Death Eaters want something to do with her? Or worse…him?"
Talbott's head hung low, thoughts by the dozen flooding him.
"It was a ruse." Talia spoke entering the kitchen. Turning around, Talbott's chair hit the floor when he suddenly stood up "You should all really learn to be more quiet, what if it was someone else?"
Making his way towards her, sunset coloured eyes took in she state of her, no hesitation following as he pulled her in his arms. He was worried, she could tell. He was scared for her, scared even then when seeing all the blood on her skin. He cared for her still, she knew it and she did not like it. But seeing him in that state, how could she deny Talbott a moment of abandonment? Wrapping her arms around him, she also was willing to let go of all the rage and pain for just a second in time.
Because she knew that the moment his arms would unravel, questions would follow and all the pain she had been denying and hiding underneath her anger would come back out and stronger than ever.