It was dark when he called his next meeting, a calling of every single death eater he had at his disposal, this was no longer a hunt for a man meant to die, it was a search for two individuals who dare defy his will, two who would suffer agony worse then he had ever given before they beg for death, and if they were lucky, he might oblige their wish.
"It seems that Tokida has proven himself useful, his source has given us the location of the thieving woman, and that traitorous bastard Severus. The ones who can bring them both to me alive, shall be rewarded beyond their imagination. The one foolish enough to kill them, Shall enjoy a torture far worse then what I have planned for them." He said broadly standing just to his left a death eater with golden eyes smiled behind his mask, things were going perfectly.
He had forgotten all about the old family home, but now that he knew they were there, He would move faster then them while those foolish death eaters were traipsing through marsh He would bring his dear younger sister and the traitorous lump to the dark lord, for the ultimate of tortures, He only asked a chance to... reunite with his sister, take part in her pain.
"My beautiful beast... soon those lovely golden eyes and wonderful black pelt will be added to my skins." He glanced at his left wrist as the collection of death eaters dispersed, three long scars cut across otherwise unmarred flesh, Her mark, like a chain and shackle that linked them till their dying days, unless one of them died the other would find no peace... how ironic, that he must kill the one thing he had once thought to protect with his very life... until she became fathers favorite.
"Why are you still here?" Bellatrix Lestrange sneered and he snapped to attention, had he actually allowed himself to become lost in old memories? He frowned and strode past her
"Be silent you idiot woman, I have no time to waste on you foolish questions." He said sharply, she frowned
"Don't act so high and mighty, you almost act as if your better then us." She said He turned to her a cool glare passing though the mask
"I am better then all of you save the Dark Lord, and we all know in truth there is no one better then him, not even the Potter brat." He said she stepped forward wand out
"You dare say your better then me?!" she demanded He didn't turn
"Bellatrix, even that thieving bitch is better then you." He said curtly before exiting the room leaving the woman standing in the center of the vast hall fuming.
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"We have to leave!" Maya's shout rang though every hall of the house as the map door was thrown open and she came peeling out, Matchi and Megumi appearing by her side in an instant
"Matchi take the last of the stuff to the house, Megumi You go tell Severus to go to my room, the one with the fire place, We're going, now!" she said, the two nodded and then they were gone. Pulling the dark green cloak close to her frame she slid her wand out and began strengthening the wards around the house, something was wrong; they were to close, much to close.
The only logical explanation was that they had discovered the location of the house and were now on their way to attack. Had he remembered the house? Was he the one leading them to her and her companions? If so she wanted to be there when he showed up.
Standing at the entrance hall she frowned. The dark mass that had taken over the map had actually been several dots all with names, all heading strait for them... she wouldn't stand a chance against so many but she had to do what she could, for his safety, he was going to aide in this war, and she was going to make sure he was alive to do his part.
"Maya!" a shout from the end of the hall and she turned what the hell was he doing
"Damn it woman you're not fighting them on your own! You're coming with us!" he said grabbing the surprised woman's wrist tightly he dragged her along the hall, her dark green robes flying out behind her. A loud blast filled the air and she frowned
"HE-" her yell of protest was silenced as he pulled her close and clamped a hand over her mouth
"Be quiet." He hissed, In no time flat they were in the dark windowless room floo powder sitting ready on the mantle
"You first Severus, The house is called Hollow Keep." He frowned and grabbed her hand
"You're coming with me, I told you once before if you die I'm not taking in those elves." He said firmly she nodded
"I'll be right behind y-"
"CHEACK EACH ROOM THAT TRAITOR AND THE BITCH WILL BE IN HERE SOME WHERE!" The yell was close, and the sound of loud blasts taking out every door was getting closer
"Go now." She said shoving a hand full of powder at him and pushing him into the fire place
"Hollow Keep!" he said clear and firm, she looked away at the bright blast of green light that filled the room momentarily. A loud blast filled the air and the door flew off it hinges right at her the floo powder crashed to the floor and she tumbled back into the shadows.
"There's a fire place! And, powder all over the floor." Several cloaked figures swarmed into the small room
"Vaspatchi." The silent spell was enough to douse the flames and the Floo link, but it gave her away
"It's a woman!" one yelled and she frowned. No way was she going to be taken out by this gang of fools. Her body began to warp even as she swiftly moved towards them
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A few seconds after he was cleaned of the green connection of the floo network had died,
"NO!" Matchi came rushing in
"Mistress!" she yelled expecting to see Maya with Severus, the woman wasn't there
"Where is the mistress what happened?!" she demanded Severus shook his head
"I can only guess..."
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"Animagus!" one yelled, as A great panther bowled over one of the death eaters, it's teeth sinking deeply into his arm, he let out a loud scream and she bit down tighter, the sharp taste of the blood awakening the sleeping beast with in her, bone crunched and the death eater collapsed from fright and pain. Pulling away from his arm blood dripped from her jaw and she growled deeply as if daring them to fight her
"Stop standing there you know what the dark lord said," The shout was a woman's, and in several seconds spells were shooting though the air, one of them was bound to hit her in such a small space right? They were right mot of the blasts that hit her were single shot attack spells but a string orange blast hit her full in the chest and breathing became difficult instantly.
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Where was she, 'I'll be right behind you.' That's what she had said, what was taking so long, and of course there was no floo powder, the anti apparition wards prevented him from even trying to get back to the room the fast way.
"Maya..." he muttered bracing himself on the fire place, where was she? Why hadn't she come though... was she captured? What was happening? He hated not knowing.
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Dashing past them and down the halls more spell flew either their aim was getting better or she was slowing down, each hit filled her with pain, burning the squeeze on her lungs, everything hurt Suddenly something sharp wrapped around her left hide leg and tugged her paws gave out and her golden eyes looked back, a glowing string on energy connected to a death eaters wands cut though the flesh and fur. The death eater tugged hard and the string of energy tightened and a loud roar of pain echoed through the halls. Several of the dark clad people swarmed as hand held her down she struggled against them
'I promised! I promised!' The same words went though her mind. One hand clamped over her jaw, some fools attempt to stop her from bighting any one else, It gave her an opening instead.
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He was pacing now His mind reaching as far as it could, but he couldn't find her, was it possible the wards stopped his Legilimancy as well? Or was it something more, was it her mind any more?
Matchi had left to look for Megumi; it seemed that she had vanished after they had arrived at the safe house.
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Her teeth tore in to the mans soft flesh and he pulled back with a yell only to tear his hand more as she refused to let go, a few sprang to aide their comrade releasing their hold on her, the instant she could she released the hand and struggled free The energy was still bighting into her leg with a leap she launched at the death eater holding the wand with her binding attached.
The death eater jumped back, the woman was smart and not about to be taken down easily by the panther.
"Ah, ah, you'll have to do better then that girlie, it seems My constriction spell hit you to, you lungs must be in so much pain... everything hurt's doesn't it? And the pain will only gat worse." She taunted jumping away as Maya lunged and swiped at her, the deadly curved claws out but only catching air A beep growl escaped the beast and it swiped at the woman's wand instead, as soon has the wood left her hand the whip dissipated and the pain in her leg lessened slightly.
Leaping over the startled death eater she dashed back to the room and morphed back grabbing a hand full of floo powder she though it into the fire place and threw her self in
"Gromiyo Apartment Complex!" she said quickly the flames erupted in green then vanished just as the death eater dashed in
"Damn... Well, she won't last long no matter were she's gone."
"You let her get away?" the voice was annoyed and the woman turned only to be hexed by golden eyed man
"Damn it... you keep slipping away from me..."
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Jack and Sally where just sitting down to dinner when a knock came at the door, a weak noise but still a knock They exchanged glances before Jack stood and walked carefully to the door, no one knocked and all contact with the order had ended moths before, to ensure their safety.
"Who is it?" he asked tentatively
"White... O-open the door." The ragged voice on the other side of the chep wood was unmistakable, as soon as he opened the door Maya tumbled in covered in blood and ash, she lay shivering on the floor
"OH GOD!" sally had followed jack and was hiding around the corner, she had taken a peek when a thump filled the air only to see the bloody woman deep ragged breaths escaping her, rushing over to her fallen friend Sally dropped to her knees and pulled her out of the door which jack closed quickly but not before quickly cleaning the blood of the white paint with a charm.
"Let's get her to the bath room she needs to be cleaned up." Sally said as Jack lifted her carefully into his arms
"What do you think happened?" the woman asked Following her husband as he walked swiftly to the bathroom and settled the battered frame in to the tub another charm had her torn robes discarded a soft clatter as her wand fell against the proclaim of the tub
"I'm not sure, but it must have something to do with the man she saved." He said evenly, Sally paid no heed to the fact that jack had basically stripped her old friend to nothing more then her knickers, she was much to worried about the bark haired woman's heath to even think of such foolish things. A cough escaped said woman and her eyes fluttered open the golden orbs unfocused
"S-Severus... I promised... I'm sorry I had to find... another place to go, your all I could think of." She managed Sally shook her head and placed a hand on Mayas lips as Jack began to work on her wounds
"Your our friend we have to take care of you when you like this, I'm glad you came, I'm glad to know you trust us that much." Sally said with a smile
"You look like hell." Jack said Sally glared at him a moment before a weak coughing chuckle escaped Maya.
"You try fighting a dozen death eaters and see how you look afterwards." Both Jack and Sally laughed Mayas eyes closed and she sighed her breaths still ragged, what could have happened?
"What were you thinking fighting death eaters?" Sally demanded Maya shook her head
"I have to do my duty..." she said softly her eyes drifting closed, No she couldn't sleep she had to tell Severus she was alright, Trying to sit up Sally made a noise and pushed her back down
"What are you doing you need rest!" she said sharply Maya shook her head
"Have to tell him I'm all right… do you have a fire place?" She asked Sally shook her head no
"You have a house elf don't you Why not just call for her and have her tell him?" Jack said Sally smiled
"OH! Honey your brilliant!" she gushed throwing her arms around her husband Maya frowned and shifted Grasping her wand she muttered something and her robes reappeared
"Maya?!" Jack said with a frown what was this girl? Doing trying to hurt her self more
"I'm sorry but I'm allowed to be modest and any way I don't want you tending to me like a nurse I just needed a place to go." She said evenly, they both new she was lying but neither of them would mention it.
"Matchi!" she called with a crack the house elf was in the room in an instant she flung herself at Maya who closed her eyes in pine holding back a shout
"OH! Mistress! I have been so worried! The sir is pacing like a mad man Muttering things like Idiot and fool I think he means you but you are not harmed!" She yelled Maya patted the elf's back and held her at arms length Jack and Sally where just staring in surprise, was that a house elf or a kid? It acted so child like...
"Can you tell him I'm ok I'll be there soon?" she asked Matchi nodded with a bright smile glad to know her master was alright, the worry she had felt when the woman had not come through the fire had been great
"Yes mistress Matchi can do that." She said brightly and with a crack she was gone.
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Severus stared a the place were Matchi had vanished from, She had just walked in to tell him she couldn't find Megumi when her head just snapped to the side and her eyes went wide, with a crack she had vanished and he was alone.
Another crack filled the air and Matchi was smiling
"She's ok!" Matchi said launching herself at Severus and causing him to topple over in surprise
"W-what are you going on about?!" he demanded shoving the elf off Matchi crawled off and crossed her legs beaming at him
"The mistress she's ok." She said Severus frowned and pointed to her hands
"Blood." He said simply the elf frowned
"No the mistress said she was fine." She said firmly standing; her mistress would never lie to her, not like that! Severus shook his head
"She probably thinks she will be." He said silently as Matchi ran from the room
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Maya sank into the tub her face becoming rosy, most likely the loss of blood and the stress of the attack had made her sick Sally stepped forward and rested a hand on her friend's forehead
"Your in bad shape you need rest." She said softly and with a careful spell transfigured the tub in to a small ingle bed with warm think sheets
"I can't stay and sleep I have to go to him..." she muttered pulling the covers over the mouth and nose to hide the color staining her cheeks Sally frowned
"You can go in the morning Now sleep!" she said firmly.
"Ok..." Maya said softly as the couple walked out Jack magically dimming the light in seconds Maya was asleep.
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Matchi showed Severus to a room already set up on the second floor, as soon as he was changed sleep tugged at him, Matchi had left dreamless sleep potion next to the bed on a small table, The room was rather small, but the house was much smaller, The bed was warm at least and as he sank into the sheets he felt sleep pulling at every shred of his mind, She was ok... The more time they pent together he found he was worried, those scars of hers, he wanted to know their stories, her wanted to tell her the stories that went with his,,, what was it about her?
"I'm not actually... glad she's alright... I honestly don't care about the stupid woman... do I?" he muttered the last thing he said before he slipped in to the world of dreams, If he couldn't see her face before her slept he damn well would see it in his dreams.
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Inside his small room his golden eyes traced the claw marks on his wrist for the thousandth time His bare frame sitting on the edge of the bed, Pale fingers curled into his dark hair, grown long, he liked it long for some reason.
"What's got you so occupied, normally we're at it by now." The voice was soft and silken, She was just another death eater he pretended to care, she pretended she didn't know he was with other women, what did it matter as long as he was with her at times...
He looked back at her, ruby eyes glittered playfully and he smiled sliding a hand down her side
"Yes you're right... why dwell over one woman when I have you right here?" he said softly, she smiled, the silken tones of his voice meant that his brooding was over, his attention was on her now, good.