Ebony struggled awake the next morning, her whole body aching and screaming for something alcoholic or warm and red. She flopped out of bed and showered, and was applying her makeup when her door was knocked upon.
"Who is it?"
"Ivory."
"C'mon in Tonks," Ebony smiled in response to her sisters nickname.
"Did you sleep well?" Tonks asked, walking into the room and sitting in the armchair beside the fire, away to Ebony's left.
"Yes, my night was... Pleasurable, if you do not misunderstand the meaning. Yourself?"
"It was alright I guess... I missed you at dinner, where did you go?"
Lenera stepped out of Ebony's bathroom, fully dressed. "Morning Nymphadora," she said stiffly, pulling her cloak around her shoulders. "Thank you for letting me stay, Ebony, I shall return to Hogsmeade now. See you in a week," she stated, hugging her friend and walking briskly out of the door.
Tonks stared at Ebony with a look of slight horror.
"Oh please, she slept on the damn sofa! I have enough trouble finding attractive men Tonks!"
"So, what's a known bounty hunter and recorded werewolf doing in your bedroom?"
"She's... Supplying me with... Food, shall we say, in return for Wolfsbane potion. It's a set up I have used before, she's really very discreet... And married, happily, with a young son," Ebony added, watching Tonks' reactions closely.
"If you're sure, and you trust her. Oh, I came down to tell you, Minerva wanted to see you and Remus in her office at nine o'clock this morning."
"Nymph, it's five to nine!" Ebony exclaimed, pulling a brush through her hair and simultaneously tossing her cloak over her shoulders. "And now I have to run! Good luck with your lessons," and with that Ebony was gone, running down the corridor at full pelt. She darted down a narrow corridor and toppled to the ground when another body ran straight into her. "Stupid bloody students have you not... Remus, heh, urm..."
"Morning, Ebony, want a hand?" He asked, extending his own down to her. She sighed and conceded, taking it and stepping to her feet. "We're never going to make this meeting," he complained, brushing dust off his tattered robes.
She rolled her eyes. "Well then, we'd better run!" She grabbed his sleeve and took off at a full sprint, dragging him along and ignoring his grumbling that she was going too fast. They hit the main staircase at eight fifty-seven, and were standing outside the headmaster's office at nine o'clock precisely. "Now that is timing!" She panted, stretching.
"Oh yes... Tremendous timing... I hate running Ebbs..." He smiled at her, and she could resist smiling back, flashing her teeth and secretly glad that her fangs withdrew. He stared at her, and saw how much she had changed since they'd been at school. Her eyes were no longer a dull blue, but now a fiery brown with endless jet-black pupils at their centre. Her hair had lightened from mahogany to a rich red with lighter highlights consistently throughout. Even the red scars on her neck he could over look.
"I know, but it's good for you!" She smiled in reply, giggling slight as she finished catching her breath. "Look, Moony, lets scrap all this stupid hostility, friends?"
His smile took on a false, cold quality. "We used to be more than that."
"You know why we can never be more than that, not now, not after..."
"Morning Professors," Hagrid said, breaking the conversation.
"Hagrid, do you know the password?" Ebony asked, throwing her thumb towards the door behind her.
He shrugged, "no, sorry Professor! Oh, your... Pet was acting rather strange earlier, thought there might be sommat wrong with 'im."
"Oh, I see. Well, I'll be out to see him right after..."
"Morning Professor Lupin, Miss Malfetti. Please, come in," Professor McGonagall said loftily, leading them into what had been Professor Dumbledore9s office. "Please, take a seat and we'll get straight down to business."
Ebony tried not to giggle as she sat down in the plush chair beside the empty phoenix perch. "Yes, business. Why did you insist in dragging us to a meeting this early in the morning?"
"It's not early," Minerva scolded in response, sipping her tea from the cup. "Anyway, I do not need to explain my actions to you, vampire. I called you both here as I require you to return home."
Ebony's eyes brightened. "Home!" she squealed, her mind remembering her soft bed, warm covers and endless throats.
"Yes, for one simple reason. You must outrun Voldemort to the castle, or we will lose the allegiance of the vampire to our cause."
"None of them have signed a petty allegiance, none of them ever would."
"That's why she's sending us," Remus whispered, staring at his knees.
Ebony rolled her eyes and slumped back into her chair. "There's only one means of transportation that we can use to outrun Voldemort."
"Will he bare two people?" Minerva questioned, catching Ebony's inclination.
"No. However, Lenera-"
"She is a werewolf and a bounty hunter! She is not to be trusted!" Minerva shrieked, rising to her feet.
"Careful what you say," came an airy voice from behind her. "You never know who might hear." They all twisted their gazes to look behind the irate Headmistress and saw Lenera reclining in the window sill.
"How dare you enter my office without permission and armed to the teeth?" Minerva shrieked again, her voice becoming higher and squeakier with every word.
"I see what you mean Ebbs, tense! And anyway, don't you think it is giving your students the wrong idea to throw me from your office?" Lenera taunted, dropping out of the window ledge and landing beside Ebony.
"Lenera, just leave it, alright?" Ebony whispered, nudging her friend lightly.
"No thanks," Lenera stated, walking towards the headmistress, "distrusting me is going to be your last mistake Miss…" A high pitched squeal from Remus grabbed her attention, and she vaulted the desk and landed on his lap. She grinned manically before feeling Ebony's arms wrap around her and hurl her across the room.
"Lenera, try to control your insatiable appetite!" Ebony scolded, standing in front of the other two professors.
"Well, for you? Yeah, alright," Lenera responded, slumping into a chair. "You want to use Solitaire, right?" she asked, cleaning under her nails with a dagger from her thigh.
"Sort of. I need you to do me a favour," Ebony began, walking backwards and sitting on the steps. "Bring me a death eater, as soon as humanely possible."
"Two hours," Lenera cockily replied, getting up and walking out after tipping an imaginary hat to Professor McGonagall.
"Breathe Minerva," Remus cooed, sitting the stressed woman down into her chair and topping up her tea. "What's going on?" he asked Ebony who had gone incredibly pale and had her head in her hands.
"Dark Illumination, the name of my horse, correct?" she asked, not looking up.
"Yes, what about him?"
"He is no ordinary stallion. But... Only those who have... Witnessed a... A vampire in action can see what sets him apart, and you cannot believe in something you cannot see, can you?" He shook his head as he tried to absorb the absurd information, a look of mild horror on his face. "I never wanted you to have to see it but..."
"What is he? Illumination, I mean," he added hurriedly, stepping away from Minerva who was watching with mild exasperation on her face and shaking hands on her blue teacup.
"Part thestral, part horse and part Pegasus. He's a real mixture," she replied, stepping to her feet and turning her back on the others to stare out of the window. She could see the horse in question prancing around the grass with Solitaire, easily outrunning the mare.
"What will I see when... When I look upon him?" Remus asked shakily, trying to ask sensible questions that would draw his mind away from what horror he would be faced with in a few hours.
"A black coat, white skeletal face, legs and hips, skeletal horn on his forehead and a powder blue mane and tail, deep burgundy eyes and hooves the same. Thestral... Wings, wide and thin, covered in jet-black feathers with small claws on the ends." She sounded almost ashamed as she finished. "I'm... Going to go find him," she whispered, sprinting out of the room and tearing into the grounds. She raised her fingers to her lips and whistled loudly, pausing in the centre of the grassy bank. A loud whiney answered her whistle and Illumination thundered over the grass, his wings tucked close to his body and his head thrown into the air so his blue mane and tail flicked back in the breeze. She rested her hand on his face and gently patted him before catching sight of a very confused Lupin chasing after her. She rolled her eyes and swung onto Illumination bareback. "Show me the meaning of speed," she whispered into his ear. The horse stamped for a few moments before rearing then throwing himself forwards, just as Lupin got to the place she had been standing.
He watched the black horse reach the lake and circuit it before plunging into the darkness of the forest. He sighed, familiar dread he normally only experienced days before a full moon growing in his stomach as he remembered what he would be doing in a few hours. Was McGonagall mad? Sending a werewolf into a castle full of vampires? Might as well just kill myself now, he thought negatively, plopping down onto the grass. The sun was still burning brightly the last heat of the summer, and a few scattered fallen leaves littered the grass where the onset of autumn had begun and the chill wind kept the temperature moderate. Two sixth-year students ran out of the castle past him, hand in hand. They paused and kissed one another gently before running off again, giggling. He smiled and spread his cloak out behind him and laid back, dozing quietly in the warmth of the sun.
"WAKEY WAKEY!"
"Agh! Whosawoosawha?" Lupin slurred, jumping to his feet and seeing Lenera standing over him.
"Sorry," she giggled. Ebony rode up beside her and dropped onto the floor.
"Everything's ready, let's go," she said solemnly and lead them all down to the borders of the forest. There, in one of the glades tied to a tree, was a death eater by the name of Selene Bloodworth. Lenera conjured a chair for herself and Lupin, then plonked down and took Ebony's cloak across her lap.
"Look, please sit down. If you pass out, you'll hurt yourself," Lenera suggested. "Sit," She commanded, and inwardly smiled when Lupin obeyed.
Ebony stepped towards the captive and untied her bonds, drawing her neck towards Ebony's descended fangs. "I'm... Sorry..." Ebony whispered, before thrusting her fangs into the woman's neck. Her mouth filled up with warm blood gushing into her throat as she held her tight grasp with her fangs into the woman's neck and waited for her to stop struggling, which took less than a minute. The woman dropped to the floor dead and Ebony grabbed the tree she had been tied to for support, gripping her stomach as her human body battled with the vampire's mind.
Lenera glanced over at Lupin who had gone very pale. Down both cheeks was one simple tear, and as Lenera watched, he made no effort to hide them. She sighed and got up, walking slowly over to Ebony. "You alright mate?" She asked, resting her hand on Ebony's shoulder. Ebony nodded then shook her head before sprinting off into the darkness. Lenera sighed again and handed Lupin a tissue.
"Where... Where'd she go?" He asked nervously.
"Throw up. She needs it, but doesn't like it, rather like you and Wolfsbane. Leave her to it, she'll be back in a bit. You want a drink?"
"Is it Firewhiskey?"
Lenera nodded.
"Then yes please," he stated, downing most of the flash she offered to him. She took a sip herself then put it back into her saddle bag and looked up in time to see Ebony stumbling into the glade.
"I think we'd better get out of here," Ebony croaked, finishing the flask of water she had brought with her. "The centaurs in here aren't too fond of vampires," she smiled before raising her wand. "Accio Tack!" She called, waving her wand. From her room came flying Illumination9s saddle and bridle into her arms. Then, she whistled into the air. Lupin jumped back in horror as Illumination as his true self cantered into the glade, sniffed the air then trotted to his mistress, nuzzling his bony muzzle against her face. She tossed his tack onto his body and grabbed the reins, leading him towards Lupin. "We had better hurry, either you trust me or you don't," she said, holding one hand out towards him. He considered for a moment, then took it and allowed her to help him into the front of the saddle, in front of Illumination9s wing joints. Ebony, meanwhile, turned to Lenera. "Stay here and ensure no harm comes to Tonks. If one hair on her head is harmed, it shall be you I hunt first, you understand?" Lenera nodded meekly then mounted her own horse and cantered towards the castle. Ebony handed Lupin a scarf. "I've got impeccable self-control, but having a bare throat in front of me is just torture."
He grinned and tied it around his neck, noting that it smelled like she did. "I trust you," he whispered as she settled herself behind him, one arm wrapped around his waist and the other holding the reins.
"That's good then. Let's go!" she called, and Illumination took off like a thunderclap, out of the forest and into the open plains before spreading his wings and leaping into the air, narrowly missing the weathervane of the astronomy tower as he climbed. Ebony's grip on Lupin lessened as Illumination began to glide of the air currents and his wings beat less often. "Stunning view up here, isn't it?" she whispered into Remus' ear.
"Not bad, no! Is this how you came?" he replied.
"No, we did it the old fashioned way," she whispered back, checking the direction they were headed in against her compass.
"How long is this flight going to take?" he shouted over the roar of a Muggle jumbo jet which passed over the top of them.
"About an hour, give or take. And no, the Muggles can't see us," she giggled, watching his expression as the plane overtook them.
"That's good then, quite hard to explain a flying horse!" he said. It was the last thing either of them said until the castle drew into sight. Illumination began galloping in mid air and, just as he was sure he would fall, Ebony tightened her grip back across Remus' body as Illumination landed, his hooves skilfully taking the weight as he trotted over the draw bridge into the courtyard. Ebony dismounted first and helped Remus down and then grabbed him.
"Listen. Stick with me, do as I say, try not to speak and do not mention that you are a werewolf. I'm strong and respected, but if they know I brought a werewolf into their midst, neither of us would get out alive. Got it?" He nodded fearfully and followed her into the castle. A tall, beautiful vampiress floated down the staircase in a green dress, a black cloak about her shoulders and her hair down and perfectly straight. He beautiful grey eyes flashed over the new arrivals until she recognised Ebony and ran, helter-skelter, down the stair to embrace her friend.
"EBONY! How good it is to see you my dear!" the woman swooned.
"Samara, you are looking well! I am glad to see that William isn't keeping you from your rest," Ebony cheekily replied. Samara swooped forwards and hugged Remus.
"And you brought Moony! How charming!" Samara laughed falsely while Remus stood stunned.
"Of course. How are things in my absence?" Ebony asked, linking arms with Samara and striding through the halls, Remus jogging to keep up.
"Busy. My dear, you have only been gone five days! The castle would not fall apart that soon!" Samara said, waving her hand loftily in random gestures.
"Listen, Samara, drop the act, alright? I know William is from royal blood, but these airs and graces you are falsely acting are truly bloody annoying."
"Of course. Sorry mate, I just... Dracula misses you, you know," Samara said with a slight tone and a knowing smile, flicking a glance to see Ebony's reaction.
"Yes, no other moron is stupid enough to screw the prat, are they?" Ebony responded icily, opening the door to the main council chamber of the mansion. Samara stifled a giggle when Ebony jaw dropped, seeing Dracula sitting at the head of the table.
"Ebony, my dear, you look radiant tonight!" he said smoothly, touching her arm.
9
"Don't touch me," she snapped, ripping her arm away from him in disgust. She shoved him away from her and closed the doors behind Remus who was examining the room in awe. The high ceiling was lacquered in gold, while all down the walls were portraits of vampires and battles throughout time. In the centre of the mammoth room lay a long, mahogany table with chairs placed all around the side. Ebony pulled three out and took the centre one, while Samara took the one to her left and Remus her right.
The doors at the opposite end of the room flew open and the elders of the clan walked in. Dracula took his seat at the head of the table and the other two, Toskeppuron and Azasut took either side of him.
"Ah, Miss Ebony, Mister Lupin, glad you could make it. I hope you will remain respectful to my other guests," Dracula smiled as he indicated the doors through which Ebony et al had entered. These were thrown open and in walked Voldemort, flanked by Peter Pettigrew and Lucius Malfoy. His gaze swept across the room and paused for a split second on Ebony, before finishing its sweep, then he sat heavily into the chair directly opposite Ebony. Her body stiffened immediately as he caught her gaze.
"I can show no respect for murderers, traitors and down right bastards," Ebony growled in response and got to her feet, walking briskly towards the door with Remus in her wake. A quick spell from Dracula sent her sprawling to the floor.
"Do I have to kill you?" he asked, holding his wand above Ebony. She shook her head. "Good. On with the talks then, yes?" He left her on the ground and walked back to his seat, waiting with a smile to regain hers. She sat down and stared at the varnish on the table. "You two are here to discuss the vampires of the noble clan Almrit to join, as you put it, the good side. Whereas Lord Voldemort is here to give us ultimate power from the dark arts, as well as a certain potion that allows us passage through sunlight. Am I correct?" Both parties nodded.
"I can give you no potion, no power, just the truth and no lies, and the safe knowledge that you are doing what is right, for once in your life," Ebony responded, still staring at the table.
"And yet you are unable to look at your superior. Is that, fear I see in your face Ebony?" Voldemort asked maliciously. "It is, isn't it? Oh, how precious! But, you are not afraid to die, are you?"
"I've been dead for twelve years, I'm not afraid of death, nor pain, nor you," Ebony snarled, looking up and meeting the burning red slits that Voldemort claimed as his eyes.
"My Lord, if I may be so bold, she fears loss more than she fears anything else," Peter piped up.
"And you should fear no one but me Peter, for it shall be by no other means than my wand that you should fall," Lupin growled. Ebony subconsciously laid her hand against his shoulder forcefully, pressing him against the chair.
"Oh, look at this everyone, the werewolf silenced by his bitch!" Dracula commented sarcastically, and the rest of the table bar Samara and Lupin laughed along. Ebony snarled then threw herself in the form of her white tiger along the table and onto Dracula9s chest where she dug her claws in deep then her teeth into his shoulder. He wailed in pain until she let go and changed back into herself, walking slowly back to her seat.
"I'll see to it you get sent to a place where you'll be the bitch. Are you with me, or against me?" she shouted evilly, standing on the table with her arms outspread as she asked everyone and no one answered. "Because if you are against me, there is no one who can protect you. You know what I do to traitors," Ebony hissed the final word, staring at Pettigrew. "Speak up, esteemed colleagues," she called out, turning to face Dracula. "Would you sacrifice your immortality for him?" Ebony asked, indicating Voldemort. "And you Samara, would you sacrifice friendship? Family? Sisterhood?" Samara grabbed Ebony's hand.
"I'm sticking with those I trust," Samara whispered fearfully, glancing around. Like Ebony she was only a half-breed and held no position in the ranks. Ebony had proclaimed her rank as her own and taken it by force.
"And yet, the rest of you fear this mortal more than you would fear me? Fuck you all then,"9 Ebony screamed to them all. She did a quiet countdown, and as she reached one, spells fired at her from all directions. She grabbed Lupin and, using both her body and Samara's to shelter him, they made it to the door. "We'll get the horses, Samara, hurry and change! Get Will!"
Samara nodded and hurried up the stairs. She dropped her ceremonial robes and slipped on black trousers with a red top and her cloak over it. Her husband mirrored her and they ran down to the courtyard where Ebony was defending Remus with her wand and blades.
"GET ILLUMINATION AND GET OUT OF HERE!" Ebony screeched, locking blades with Lucius and losing rapidly. Lucius thrust his blade through her abdomen and she gasped in pain.
"EBONY!" Remus yelled, trying to get free from Samara and William holding him backed against a wall.
Ebony grinned suddenly and pulled the sword all the way through her body before grabbing Malfoy's collar. "Were you aiming for my heart?" she whispered, before pulling the sword out of herself and surging it through Malfoy. "You missed," she snapped. She turned and sprinted towards Illumination and threw herself into the saddle, leading the other.
"How did your meeting go?" Lenera asked as they all landed, Ebony first.
"Let us say that now we do not just have to worry about Death Eaters. The vampires have sided with Voldemort. He was there, and... I think I may have killed Lucius Malfoy, but I didn't stick around to take a pulse."
"Smart move, now they will be seeking revenge," Samara stated, walking up behind Ebony and resting a hand on her hot-headed friend's shoulder.
"And we will be ready. Both of you stay on full alert tonight. Allow Remus to rest, it's been a trying day," Ebony sarcastically stated, releasing the horses to run free. Lenera, Samara and William walked into the castle talking excitedly about the meeting. "You alright?" Ebony asked gently, walking over to where Remus was standing.
"Yes, just, promise me no more field trips to incredibly frightening locations," he replied smiling and keeping his gaze on the freshly risen moon.
"It's only a quarter tonight. Three weeks and three days, it'll be full," she sighed, sitting on the grass.
"Didn't know you followed the Luna cycle?" he replied, sitting a few feet from her.
"Old habits die hard I guess. Also, Lenera is a werewolf so her Wolfsbane must be ready for her at the right time," Ebony replied, laying back and staring up at the stars. "Do you ever wonder what life would be like now if neither of us had ever been bitten?" she asked at length, her eyes closed while she imagined.
"All the time, and I daresay a lot would be different, but much would be the same. It is not what happens to us, but what we do that shapes the path our lives must take," he pensively replied, watching the sun's rays finally die on the horizon.
"Mine seems to be a square," she said, grinning madly.
"And mine is a circle. Everyone I leave behind seems to come back to me," he said, glancing at her. She knew who he meant, but decided not to acknowledge the innuendo.
"Mine is a square because I live my life looking around corners to check my past isn't about to pop up and bite me in the arse," she said. He too knew who she meant, and he too decided to ignore the hidden meaning. Illumination tore between them, showering them in grass as he frolicked down to the lake which made them both giggle uncomfortably. "Listen, when... I... When I said I didn't love you, all those years ago, I lied, I mean... You're one of my... My best friends and... It's just... I was thinking today, I never got to say goodbye to you, you just... You left. I fell apart and now... Here we both are again. I hate fate," she winged, getting to her feet. "I've said far too much. Goodnight, Remus," she whispered and began to walk back towards the castle. She hadn't moved four steps when she sensed him moving behind her. He whipped her around and kissed her cheek.
"Night Ebbs."