Blue Kitsune: Hey everyone how's it going? Things were kinda hectic on my end because of so many things that were happening in my life that just kinda threw me into a loop. My grandmother on my dad's side passed away this May and it hit the family pretty hard, especially for myself but knowing that she is in a better place, alongside my grandfather, my aunt and uncle but was a tough thing to cope with. Also on another note, I went and had surgery because of a very concerning matter that I had decide to take a chance on given my family history on my mother's side and so far am recovering quite well thanks very much.
I am very much grateful to the love and support given by those around me, especially readers like you as well as Melrose who has been there. Also we know that it's taking a while but again we're not letting this baby go, unless we are definitely running from real live zombie out to gore on our flesh, lol. But if that's the case we're rrrgggg….(that's zombie for we'll be right there!)
Melrose437: As for me we lost my grandmother very suddenly in February on Family day and it really killed all my inspiration to work on anything. I am getting in the grove slowly but i work two jobs for my two sides of the family while studying so free time is sometimes hard to find but Kitsune is awesome and keeps me motivated so we will keep up!
Disclaimer: Blue Kitsune and Melrose do not own the rights to J.K. Rowling or Walking Dead series because if we did, we totally would rock it out! The only things we do have rights to are the OC and the idea for this story in the mix. Anyways read and review
Chapter 08A:
Perspective & Reflections are Not Always What They Seem
Living life in the remote wilderness of Georgia was no picnic for those not used to such things but surviving on a day by day basis and trying to stay alive was all that really mattered to anyone now a days. People within the small but manageable group did what was necessary in their minds. It was the most organized or efficient way given the heavy stress on everyone's mind. Every moment of being out in the open and wondering when the next group of Walkers should decide to rear their ugly faces their way was taxing on the moral but they'd been lucky so far. at least that's what they thought when they turn in for the evening, minds still turning and fearing of the inevitable to come.
Harley had already figured out the lack of protective measures during her first day with these people and had come up with her own solution by setting a few minor wards which would last a few hours during the night to keep their base camp from being targeted as well as repel any outsiders should they dare to come near their given location. There were worse things out there than just the Walkers to be wary of. The world ending as it did meant resources were now limited, it was in their human's nature to survive at all cost and Harley knew that with these desperate times they would do just about anything, even kill others to do so.
But so far there had been no other incidents whatsoever though the close calls had been shocking though no one any of the wiser then the three involved in that given situation. As the midnight curtain began to rise, giving way to Apollo's fiery chariot dragging the glorious sun, showering warmth and light upon the world even in its current decrepit state of humanity. With the sun now up and while some were still in their tents uncooperative to the labor needed to survive. A few were in the process of leaving their deep REM cycle, their body having programmed themselves to rise for the upcoming morning chores to begin.
Daryl belong to the latest category as he was used to being on the go as soon as he could from his early childhood and the habit continued as he got older over the years. Call it his instinctive nature or just him being someone that likes getting his shit together and doing stuff that had to be done when it needed to be done. These new circumstances for everyone meant no slacking on the job unless there was a valid reason for it but Daryl would rather be on his feet than do nothing at all. Everyone had a job to do and going through the very motion with daylight still burning and getting things taken care before it got too dark to finish.
There was no room to be lazing around or bitching at fate for the shitty bargain they got. He and Merle didn't get many luxuries or privileges like other children did with their folks and friends. It was do the goddamn shit or get your ass kick! Sure life in that household was no fun and games but at least they had a roof over their heads and food on the table instead of being out in the streets and living like hobos.
Daryl's childhood was awful but there were a couple of moments when it wasn't too bad to say the least. The one thing he always remembered was how one night when he was just , he wound up perched sitting over by his window and staring longingly out there. That's what he did that whole time, just waiting in silence observing the sun slowly make its' ascend, painting the sky an array of magnificent colors, ranging from the navy midnight blue to that orange reddish-pink that made him feel warm inside. There was something about it that always made him feel in awe of it, seeing such mystifying beauty surfacing even when things around him were bleak or downright shitty. The sight of it giving rise of hope that another day was here and showing he was still standing to see this.
He managed to get it patented down so that his internal clock would be able to tell him what time it was and be getting out of bed before daybreak to see it happen again and again. It let him be the first to wake up and be out the door before anyone else was up and about by then. It was a good thing too as this helped him avoid his old man after he had been on a bender all night and came home passed out on the couch, stinking of booze and vomit and wouldn't even notice he wasn't there until he got back later that evening.
Some days he'd gotten lucky and manage to avoid him as best he could, others not so much...
Don't think about it Daryl, just don't! Much as he like to push this to the back of his mind and leave it in the dark, he knows those memories along with the many scars littering half of his body proved what a mean asshole his father had been when he had been very much alive.
To anyone who knew his old man back in the day, he was a menace to society and no one personally liked the guy at all, even if he wasn't drunk off his ass. Daryl was even sure no one would've mourn for him had he kicked the bucket way early on before this shitstorm came passing through. Will Dixon, may he rot in the stinking pits of hell, sure love to beat the crap out of him, using either his fists or even his belt for whatever purpose he saw fit. Sometimes the punishments were merit for small things but others were just his way of getting it out of his system and using Daryl as a punching bag until he either went to the bar or upstairs to bed, leaving his son a broken bloody mess on the floor to go and pick himself up.
Daryl was lucky he was able to get through them while thinking of the few close calls he had which surely would have left him at death's door if not by some miracle of him pulling through. A few broken bones and even a couple bruised rib were all he had gotten by while thinking how either he had the devil's luck or perhaps more of a curse for finding he was still alive while having to living in this ongoing nightmare of his.
Sure the wounds had time to heal while leaving him scarred both physically and mentally nonetheless. He wasn't too self conscious but the worst being were on his back which he kept covered at all times, never once going out without a shirt or vest on no matter how much the heat got to him. No one had so much as had a glimpse of these and having not told a single soul, hell not even his brother when he came to spring him from their father's care and give him a place to stay.
That was one of the many thing he was thankful for despite all the shit Merle did while they lived together and dealing with all his 'problems' by coking up and being high as a kite. As much as he can be a dick, he wasn't willing to let his own brother know how the abuse escalated when he enlisted in the army at the age of eighteen, leaving behind an eight years old Daryl to endure their old man's hateful wrath.
To this day, a slight amount shame and discomfort filled him at being unable to be 'tough' in the care of Will Dixon's upbringing. He never spoke about this to anyone; adults he didn't trust, proving that they didn't care or were too much of a coward to raise any help when they see someone like him who is being hurt by a parent, oh the self-righteous hypocrites they all were!
Saying they care but really they didn't so much as lift a finger when it came to Will's son coming to school with a black eye or looking like he been through the blender! Nobody wanted to help and the kids around the neighborhood always looked down their noses and didn't bat an eyelash or even say anything to the authority about Will and how he treated his own flesh and blood the way he did.
'Side if he ever hinted at any events past Merle, he'd probably rise up and head to kill that no good sonofabitch for laying his filthy paws on him when he got the chance.
Yeah too bad I already beat him to that... Daryl mused surly and feeling a small wedge of guilt gnawing inside him though that faded soon after.
~W~A~L~K~I~N~G~D~E~A~D~H~A~R~L~E~Y~P~O~T~T~E~R
He remembered how it happens, it came to play a few weeks into the pandemic spread. The Dixon brothers had retreated to a remote cabin they were familiar with up in the mountains that were a few hours out of the city itself. It wasn't much given the condition it was in but at least it was safer than sticking back in the town where things were getting out of hand at that moment in time. The two brothers had grabbed all they could that wasn't nailed down, bringing their gear and goods with them and stockpiling the place to the brass teeth as they both prepare to hunker down and wait this out for however long this may last. Though they never would've imagined in their wildest dreams think to see this coming from a mile away.
As soon as those stories started to fly around about the so-called terrorist attack with their bio-genetic weapon, some new airborne disease or whatever it was. The Brothers had packed up and booked it out of dodge since that shit storm seems to be spreading from one city to another at an alarming rate. People falling victim to this deadly virus. Merle likened it was 'Faster than a hooker spreading chlamydia to an entire basketball team before the big game' and Daryl had to agree on that statement given the accuracy it took for it to go through every state within such a short timeframe.
By then the population in each area was slowly diminishing in itself while another person was surely biting the big one as nothing that the doctors or hospital could do given how many had fallen sick and piling more casualties as the numbers grew. Not even the government could do anything about it other than tell them to avoid contact and stay behind locked doors, at least that's what the people on the radio said. People were up in arms, believing it was contagious and the last thing he or his brother wanted was to get whatever this was but then it wasn't long before Will Dixon showed on their front porch with a bag beside him and demanding they help him.
Daryl had been inclined in telling him to fuck off yet Merle figured it was better to be safe in numbers though it wasn't necessary to mention they would try to keep a watchful eye on their elder, lest he tries any funny business. They'd trust him as far as either could throw him and if he so much as made a wrong move, his ass would be out the door before he knew what hit him.
The man was certainly no saint, hell sure even the Devil was likely to think he was a pain to be around and Daryl despised him for what he inflicted upon them. But times were different now and no longer was he a small child. Merle had taught him a few tricks ones he picked up in the army and sure he could've knocked him down faster before he tries to lay his hand on either of them. An uneasy truce had been laid before them but Daryl swore he would keep a close eye on Will and see to it he doesn't try any funny shit while he was staying with them.
It was a constant challenge for the three Dixons living under the same roof together, given that their old man barely chip in and helps them out when it came anything other than to bitch and moan and complain about everything. But as much as they would rather he get the hell on out, he was still a good shot and having them outnumber him in case he decides to try anything but Daryl made to keep his guard up around him. It was almost near the end of spring, close to the beginning of summer and even Daryl could see that Merle was being pushed to his last nerve, knowing that if he didn't do something then he might as well leave.
The youngest was proven right that Will Dixon would only bring trouble when Merle went out looking for some game, putting Daryl in charge of making sure the provision and ammo were all good and accounted for by the time he got back. He was the only one in the house as Will had disappeared right at the crack of dawn. Now while neither cared what he did by himself and Daryl having no idea when he might be back but push that thought to the side while taking care of the tasks left to him. It was almost a quarter to three when he heard the door to the back open and going to see what Merle caught yet it was Will cover in blood with deep scratches on his arms and chest, the worst was the bite on his neck like someone tries to take a chuck out of it...
Daryl was shocked by the state of his old man wondering what he had gotten himself into while he was out. Probably pick a fight and lost that's what. He opens his mouth and was about to say something when his father lifts his head and had to take a step back when he saw a disturbingly crazed look in his bloodshot eyes and his maw wide open, releasing an animalistic roar as he lunges straight for him.
Daryl had good survival instinct as one second later might have been too late for him as he quickly steps out of his reach and moving to keep as much distance between himself and his unstable father. He was searching for a weapon, any would do for him while staying out of Will's range seeing his father refusing to relent on his attacks on his person.
He then saw it as he made to avoid his man's second lung at him, his hand wrapping around the hammer that was lying out in the open and gripping it tightly even as he moved to strike out. His intention whether it was to wound or maybe to force him back but then seeing the blood well on his father's forearm as he slices it with the sharp blade. It didn't stop him, it just made him even angrier like some wild rabid animal foaming and knew things were going to get dire. That's when something inside Daryl snapped.
He reacts without a second hesitation as his mind went into autopilot that very moment. Daryl gave an animalistic yell and struck out at him, rushing him before he could get to him, forcing him onto his back and then letting him have it. He was tired of running from him and wanted to give back what was owe to this thing before him. The man who had hurt him, his brother and their mother, he wasn't really a man but a monster in his mind's eye. A terrifying monster that took perverse pleasure in hurting his sons and making their lives as miserable as his. But now, his kids were grown up and able to fight back instead of laying down and taking it anymore. Sometimes he felt that undying bloodthirst gnawing at him, feeling it egg him on to just do it, to give back to him ten folds and let him taste how it feels to be helpless and unable to fight back...
He eventually stops and got to his feet, glaring down at his father's beaten form, feeling the adrenaline leave him and left him in breathing heavily as he looks down at the person before him. He could still remember the blood that was dripping down to the floor and smelling the sudden piss as Will's bladder had given way during the one-sided fight.
Daryl took another look at his old man's face, seeing it was nothing more but mush of mashed up brain and skull fragments like someone had taken a sledgehammer and turn it into raw hamburger meat. The sight while appalling but Daryl didn't seem all too bothered by it as he seen worst before in his life. For the first time, he felt victorious and yet knowing he couldn't stand at what he did. He looks at the mess and realizes that he didn't want his brother to see this, knowing he might ask questions that even he would have a hard time explaining. Even in death, Will Dixon still made life a hassle. Daryl decides that he best be quick, so bending down to grab him by the legs and drag him out and proceed to put it somewhere that Merle wouldn't come across if he did. A small part of Daryl felt a hint of smug satisfaction and leaving his body out for the critters to pick on or maybe a Walker to have the rest of him.
This is where you belong you mean old bastard, hope you enjoy burning down there in them hellfires for all eternity. He had turn around, heading for the cabin and not once even look back as he march out of those woods, leaving Will Dixon to the mercy of the beasts and undead to feast on those grisly remains.
~W~A~L~K~I~N~G~D~E~A~D~H~A~R~L~E~Y~P~O~T~T~E~R
Daryl knew he should've felt something over the loss of his dad, maybe some remorse over what he did but honestly couldn't bring himself to care. All his life he live under that man's thumb, being treated like his whipping boy instead of his own flesh and blood. A father should never do that to his own kin but he had and in return he killed him, although it was more a act of mercy though he doubt Will would have thought of it as such. Daryl didn't like to go dwelling on such matter as it won't change what happened and in the end, what's done been done, end of story.
Merle certainly hadn't been too broken up about it, especially when he came on back and seeing no sign of their old man around, just him sitting at the table nursing a lukewarm beer in hand. Daryl had told him how Will had up and left, didn't leave so much as a notice as to where he was heading off to or whether he'd be back by then. He didn't think he was going to believe his story, especially when his brother saw the state of the kitchen or the blood and muck already drying on his hands. Merle wasn't an idiot but he didn't say anything about it either. In fact, he didn't give a rat's ass about Will, given that things had gotten a lot worse with all the Walkers now roaming the area and likely wound up getting caught by one if he hadn't shown up by now.
Some would say that it was cruel and rather heartless of them to leave their father to such a fate but the brothers had long since came to the conclusion that if they had to choose between themselves or Will, they would have each others' back always no matter what. They decided to up and leave the mountain together, driving for endless hours and seeing how bad was until they got to where the camp was with the others within a few days of nonstop driving and tracking.
Their father's untimely death may have been Daryl trying to put him out of his misery, but a small part of him took some satisfaction which unnerved him quite a bit.
Fear and hatred can do so much to a person and sometimes at night the fear that he would wake up to find it coming back to haunt him after what happen when it did. Daryl wasn't going to say he was sorry he was dead, hell he and Merle couldn't care less as he was a right bastard even before mama died and taking all his frustrations on them. He didn't so much as shed any tears once his dad bit the big one, well that is before he got infected too. The man had been a monster and now that he was dead, he swore to himself that he wasn't going to be anyone's little punching bag. If they so much as try, he retaliates right back and sees how they like getting all bruised and bloody.
Yet now was not the time to be dwelling on such idle things as there were other important task to be taken care of while they still had burning daylight outside. He and Merle were one of the few people to head out into those woods, checking for fresh game as well as making sure the perimeter was clear of any wandering walkers lurking in the vicinity. They tend to find a few critters in some of the makeshift traps they had but anything that was bigger than a possum or raccoon would bring more food to the table and deer seem rather sarces around these parts.
Whatever just have to make due with chipmunk stew again if any are still about. He use the back of his hand to wipe at his eyes, removing the last remnant of sleep while moving about the tent to go and get his things. He heard Merle grunt when he accidentally shoves him but didn't show any sign of getting up just yet.
Daryl had finished changing while listening to his brother still snoozing like a chainsaw with no end. Normally he'd wait for Merle to get his ass up to help him out yet given that his brother was still pass out there and would be unless he kicks him and wake his sorry ass up. Course that left him with another option for today's excursion and decided to go down that road instead.
He made his way through the campground, passing the lingering few going about, some still in the midst of being half asleep on their feet but sure to come around with the hour. He nod at a couple who saw him come by but then looking in the direction to where the cars were and staring at one particular RV sitting parked with the others. He didn't see any sign of anything going on inside the Marauder but there was no need to fret as he had this feeling Harley was already up and like him was getting ready to do some work herself.
Normally Daryl would just continue with what he was doing yet couldn't help wondering if maybe she would like him to stick around and give her a hand with whatever task she had and it wouldn't give him any trouble to spend more time with her. Daryl figured she wouldn't mind his company after what happen last night, plus had a few things he never got around to asking her since it got so late and like to hear her expertise on such.
Anyone who thought they knew the Dixons would have assume nothing scared them, but after what he and his brother just went through and if it weren't for Harley saving their bacon back there, he was sure they'd be dead or worse given what those things were and what they were capable of.
The fact that they would've stood no snowball chance in hell against them on their own without Harley there to take them on herself. He remember in that pensieve showing she taken on at least a hundred of those things and shudder to think if there had been more in the vicinity, lurking around the area or been anywhere remotely close to the camp then. He doubts that anyone would have made it through the night alive and probably be all goners before dawn broke. Daryl didn't think he would've been able to get a wink of sleep after that whole experience and not just because of the resurfacing memories of his childhood, but the real kicker was after seeing what one of them did to that one lone Walker. He could still see that horrified look on its' rotting face when the ghastly grim-like being swept down and latch itself on it, muffling the shrieks of terror that came from its decaying vocal cords.
He was sure that would remind with him for the rest of his day but never thought that there was more than just this ungodly apocalypse they had to be worried for but now seems like it was just the tip of the iceberg for them.
Harley sure wasn't kidding when she said about those things before and after what we saw, I would rather hope she could give us a few ideas on how we can fight them suckers should anymore of their friends decide to come show themselves otherwise we'd be sitting ducks for sure…
It was not an easy pill to swallow but he came to the realization that even with their weapons, he doubt it would've help them in any way against those disturbing entities unlike the living dead themselves. A headshot or a good stab in the brain always seem to do the trick so far yet against given those Dementors were of an entirely different breed of sort he didn't think an arrow or a bullet was likely to even slow them down no matter how many could be fire at them at once. It had certainly been a game-changer when his brother and he encountered those things and Harley giving them a first close look at the other side of what went bump into the night.
Daryl had always figured that the worst case scenario they had to worry upon was either getting bit or being eaten alive by those undead fuckers. But those flying ghastly things, god almighty those had really scared the bejeezus out of him and his brother. He could still feel the ghostly goosebumps crawling up his arms and having those horrible memories that surface from the deep corner of their minds just by being in close proximities to them. It was still hard to wrap his mind around things that look like belong to some horror film or were ghost stories to tell around the fire. But that sure was enough for him to believe and made it a lot easier to swallow when finding out Harley had been around these things before.
The fact that she was a real-life witch like from that old tv show 'Bewitched' or 'I Dream of Genie' was beyond a doubt interesting. Although I sure as hell wouldn't mind seeing her in that getup as I bet she can pull that sexy look off without even trying that's for damn sure. Unfortunately, having that image pop inside his head was starting to make the blood flow rapidly south, his jeans around his crotch constricting tightly down there and close to pitching a tent within a matter of seconds.
The last thing he wanted was for Harley to see him with a boner when she opens her door to find him there. He quickly pushes those thoughts to the side as he tried to focus more on the recent events realizing it seems totally crazy and unbelievable unless you witnessed it yourself. He knew anyone with a clear rationale head would not believe in that hocus pocus stuff but given the rather obvious state of things with the whole dead coming back to life, it might be debated anything could be possible.
She did prove to be able to do magic with that stick of hers and her owl which turned out to be anything but an owl at all. Hedwig was a real bona fide phoenix of all things!
Anyone in his position should've been scared out of their wits but from where Daryl stood, Harley wasn't trying to inflict any harm on anyone during the duration of her stay with their group. Though he wasn't really counting that with either Shane or even Lori but still those two had it coming. From what he gathered in those memories of hers, Harley was not one to resort to such means unless given no other choice and usually was in self-defense when it came to herself and others that were deemed important to her. She having to do everything that it took to survive all those encounters with the monsters and crazy psychopaths otherwise she might not have lived past her teens years. He admits having witnessed what went on and could almost feel bad for those that dare to cross her and any she cared for in those fleeting moments.
Harley was all-in-all a bonafide born fighter, someone who didn't take shit lying down if things got rough and were looking bleak as hell. What didn't kill her, made Harley a force to be reckoned with. She was not going to roll over and let some snake-face bastard get the best of her without giving him hell in the process. Merle and he had seen the burning fire within those eyes every given moment they were around each other and when as she fought her opponents and trying to protect those she cared for, nothing could hold her back from giving it her all.
Yet thinking about her memories full of strange but wondrous creatures had made him remember his brief encounter with the 'Chupacabra' in the wood as he saw something lurking about there. He'd sworn to the moon in having seen it and his brother just laughed at him to this day when the subject comes up, saying there was no such thing.
Hmm, he could ask Harley about it and then rub it in his brother's face when he was proven right that it does exist and see who gets the last laugh. Thinking when he could pull one over his brother for all the shit he did on him growing up and finally managing to give a small bit of payback when Harley let him use that cloak of hers.
It really was hilarious the look on Merle's face when I did that to him, totally worth the shiner there. He's gotta say that thing did seem rather handy and could be mighty useful if they had to be sneaky or try to be inconspicuous. Of course, he'll have to ask for her permission as she did say it was a family heirloom and he'd rather not risk losing something as rare and valuable as something that she claims were a gift from Death passed on through her family.
That was also another thing that got to him, the whole 'there was a sure as hell Death/Grim Reaper' and that he does exist somehow. He wonders if even the entity had some clue as to why the dead were coming about even though Harley mentioned that it wasn't by magic that maybe it was something that humans did to bring them about.
Too bad there was no way to contact it, um him, or whatever and ask this in person, though then again maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea in any case…. Harley had mentioned how the Hallows worked and also that she did meet the being once who had somehow made it clear she was his mistress and yet judging from her forlorn expression, she wasn't all that pleased by her new role or eager to make contact again.
He can't imagine she'd ever wanted any of this. He's seen what she went through as a teen in school, how the kids either praised or turned against her like a flip of a coin. Merle had also been watching and wasn't pleased as he thought of how similar they went through in their upbringing.
They recognized someone who was hurt and abused, seeing that skinny waif-like girl who was struggling to keep from showing the world how much it hurt and yet fighting to stay alive even when she was constantly judged by the whole lot, treated like a shining star one day, then look upon like she was lower than dirt the next when it came to populace and their petty reasons. She made that perfectly clear after risking life and limb for those back home to keep those she deemed her family safe but then having enough of their bullshit attempts to make her more after she took care of old Moldy shorts and his fellow Death Muncher. She had outright refused to follow along with their plans and told them to go screw themselves as she was no one's pet monkey.
If he had the chance, he would give those pompous pricks a little taste of his arrows and fists but not before giving them some creative hell. No one should be treated as a tool, especially Harley. She was just like them in some ways as she went through a similar hardship judging from the way she spoke of her home life, her parents dead and living with people she couldn't stand.
Then that ridiculous moniker, the girl-who-lived, that was a stupid ass name, to say the least, and even she thought so herself. She said that if anyone deserves to be given a title, it would be her parents, her mom especially as she gave her own life and probably did something more to protect her.
He was kinda envious that she had someone who loved her that deeply and even gave her life to save hers as he doubts his own ma would have been inclined to save their skin as Merle told him what she was like being such a bitch and all.
But as much as he hated to admit, that women were still their ma and what little memories he had of her, he did and unfortunately Harley barely had any except when those things came to bring up those final moments or when she told them of how the resurrection stone works which he imagines she used for herself to see them.
All this in a manner of a few minutes when it felt like ages when they came out of there, feeling somewhat dazed but also awed by this new world they'd left to go sleep last night, his brain still busy registering all this new knowledge, mind processing the many things that she had tried to explain for them to better comprehend on this missing half of the world that had been hidden from their kind it had continued that way until he dozed off to sleep.
He got the gist of what she said but also it still left him wondering what else was there that she hadn't gotten around to telling them. Daryl had knocked and was waiting for her to open the door but getting no response he wondered f maybe he should come by later. Then he heard the latch inside unlock and the door open slightly to let him in.
Daryl steps inside but found no Harley in the room even as he walks in and looks around the spacious vehicle, seeing no sign of her anywhere. There was Sirius standing by the door, which he deduces is the one who pushed it open and Remy with their cubs still sleeping in bed but other than that, nobody else seem to be in this place.
Now where could she be...okay so Harley's a witch so maybe she's somewhere here yet how would I find her? Daryl was sure she was still here yet only he had no clue where she was. He turn his eyes over to the two wolves who were still watching him and thinking they might have an idea where their master was.
"Hey ah sorry to bother the both of you but by any chance you know where Harley is?" Daryl knew people would think him crazy to be doing this but after what he witnessed so far, it was highly likely they would understand and give him a clue as to where Harley was. Hedwig was a smart bird and seen how capable she was figuring things out even before he and his brother found she was a magical avian of some sort. He saw Remy and Sirius turn to one another, the female wolf making small growls and yips to her mate before Sirius look back to Daryl again. It didn't take long for a decision to be made as Sirius padding over to the left leading him towards the other door in the far back of the RV. The younger Dixon knew that was the room that his brother had mention was a sort of study but hadn't taken much notice given he had been focused on other things at the time, mostly trying to deflect Hedwig's attacking him and such.
Daryl saw Sirius walk back to his mate while he went to push it open and went in the room. He didn't see Harley in here either yet he was sure she was around somewhere, knowing that with magic anything was possible and in which case she had to be—
His foot caught on something and looking down to find a worn rug that had been pushed to the side and notices there was a latch connected to a medium size door that he had not seen before when he got in. Guess that's what the rugs for. It looked like a storm door people living with tornado's had to keep their bunker locked, he wasn't sure why it was needed but maybe there was more to it, as like Harley said with magic itself.
"Only one way to find out," He grabs hold of the metal ring and lifts it up and instead of seeing what should be the bottom of the RV or maybe the ground itself, it looks like a set of stairs leading through a dark corridor that seem endless and not sure what could be waiting at the bottom. He knew that his brother said curiosity killed the cat, and he did have a knack of always getting into a heap of trouble because of his ongoing need to check things out for himself instead of doing the smart thing and leave it. Yet he couldn't help himself as it was in his given nature to check what it was and also see if Harley was down there.
Well here goes nothing. He went down the cobblestone steps, finding that there were some lights only lit by some type of torches. It was easy to make his way and didn't trip as he made it to the bottom which took a while getting down there. Damn, he never would've guessed that there be a secret passage within this thing but looks can be deceiving as he was starting to realize when it came to looking underneath the expected as Harley had proven.
"Hmm well, I guess that explains where she kept the extra stuff hidden." He was looking into what appears to be a large corridor that lead-outs and saw an array of doors on either side and tried to guess what could be behind each one while taking a gander of his new surroundings. "Damn I bet Merle would be shitting himself right now if he saw this place."
He walks around, looking about and saw bookshelves with endless mounds of tomes and scrolls, some that look old and fragile judging from the discoloration and worn leather as well the lettering on their binding though could barely understand what they said as it was in another language.
He took to crack open one book, flipping through some pages that were yellow with age and smelled really old. Thankfully Daryl saw it was written in English though finding it to be very long and droll while guessing some other words that were hard to pronounce might be Latin by how they were enunciated in there. He skimmed it and saw it talk about certain spells, one that could help and others that were dangerous if said incorrectly. Then he saw a paragraph that caught his eye, one underlined with strong ink that it seems like it bled into the page itself.
"The three-unforgivable…" It looked recent as there was some writing next to it and guessing someone jots a note in there as a reminder and also how they were for. But still not sure why and feeling a certain unease about the term and decide to set the book back where he found it.
He continues to move further in to see what else was there to find down here. He opens one door to see what it was inside. He found what looks to be a weaponry as there was a horde of medieval and modern arsenals, some that look well cared for and also nicely sharpened as he eyed the broadsword and the others there.
He whistled low as he got a good gander at them. Wowzer, Merle would be drooling over these if he saw these fine beaut. He could easily imagine using one of those to swipe the head of those undead suckers with just one cleave, one clean cut. But telling himself that he shouldn't and decided to leave them well enough alone and continue checking the others along the way as he shut the door behind him.
He found the one on the far right was stockpiled with hundreds of different bottles containing multi-color liquids of every kind while others held ingredients that made him a bit queasy as he read what they contain, especially when he saw what look like blue pear-shaped organ and reading the label out loud wondering what the devil was a 'Chimaera gallbladder'.
He left that room, seeing what the others contained until he reaches one of the four doors to the right and threw it open to see what this one had.
"Well hot damn, holy shit on a stick…" His eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as he got a good look at what was inside there and almost couldn't believe it. He saw what looks like a treasure trove full to the brim with mounds of gold, silver, jewels, of rare valuable material beyond what he saw. She definitely hadn't been kidding when she said she was rich, also saw what look like some items sitting on altars and saw three that caught his eye.
There was a tiara that resembles a silver bird with wings spread and inlaid with tiny diamonds and a sapphire in the shape of an opal in the center of it. Beside it was a gaudy looking locket that had a snake in the shape of an S right next to a goblet that had a badger engraved on it.
Those must've been the former Horcruxes. He remembers how she showed them purging of the dark spirit with the venom of the Basilisk she'd used to destroy it. He was surprised how they managed to stay intact after being exorcised of that being and probably kept these safe so no one could tarnish them again.
He kept wandering about the room, not daring to try to touch any of these as much as he was in awe of what he saw but kept his hands to himself. He and his brother may be a lot of things, but they weren't thieves, and he didn't want Harley to think she misplaced her trust in them if he took anything of hers. He was staring at some coins adorned with the strangest emblem when something that caught his eye.
He came across a large mirror that was about eight to ten feet in height give or take, looking like something you'd find at an antique store with its gilded carving and such that look like it was made entirely of pure gold. The surface was well polished and had no idea why it was in here though curious to see whether it had some magical properties of any sort.
Daryl made his way closer and saw there was some writing on the framing itself that sounded like pure gibberish as he read it out loud to himself, "Erised straeh ruoy tub ecaf ruoy ton wohs i. What the hell does that mean?" He was about to take his leave but stops when he saw the reflection that made him go still and had to take a second glance.
It was him but wasn't really him at all. Instead of just seeing himself, well he was in there but he seems so different, he looks like a serious badass wearing dark clothing and carrying a large crossbow on his back. His hair longer and got a bit of a scruffy beard going though he looks like he was quite the imposing figure in there. Then he wasn't alone which made him turn to look behind but saw was just himself before looking once more into the mirror.
It was Merle, he looked about the same yet having him on his right and seeing the two brothers side by side grinning before finally one more showed up and his breath was taken away by just the sight of them.
It was Harley, Harley who he thought was gorgeous but now she was absolutely radiant in this reflection, she had her hair down her back, falling like a midnight waterfall made of silk, her eyes shining brightly as gems and seeing her smile before she turns to his mirrored self and was passionately kissing him and then did the same with Merle right there before his eyes. But the surprise kept coming as he saw a couple others join in, both girls that were about seven or eight standing in between the two brothers and clinging onto Harley when they showed up.
The girl by Merle had long dark wavy hair that curled gently around her face with a pair of bright blue eyes shining as she glanced at him in curiosity while the other had locks of dark chestnut with tints of red when the light hit it and was smiling at him shyly with hazel-greenish eyes. The two were so alike but notes they had similar features to him, his brother and Harley all rolled into one.
Then Daryl saw his reflection reaching to place his hand on Harley's stomach and notices she had a bit of a bump there and it wasn't that hard to put two and two together as he realized what it was that he was seeing.
It was a family, their family together with Harley there and those their children. He felt his heart racing as he looks at this scene, imprinting it in his brain so he would never forget the wonderful sight and wonders if was sort of gateway to see into the future, was that to be them someday…
The girl with bright eyes had her hand extended to touch it against the glass and he subconsciously did the same as he presses his palm up and saw it overshadowed hers but she didn't mind. She was smiling at him with a sweet grin, showing the gap between her teeth and returns the gesture with one of his own.
He wasn't entirely certain, but he'd like to think maybe, if possible, if things were, that maybe they and Harley, that they could…
But his thoughts were suddenly cut short when he found himself being pulled backward and thrown out of the room, flying abruptly back out in the hall. He felt his body hitting the wall though surprising felt like something had cushion his fall when he came out of there and saw the door to the Treasury slamming shut and heard what sounds like a lock being set in place.
Daryl took a moment to try to wrap his head around what just happened though all he could really say in the manner was "What the fuck?" He was pulling himself to his feet, shaking the confusion and wondering what that was all about when something appeared before him and almost had him jumping out of his skin.
The little thing just showed out of nowhere, scaring the bejesus out of him, hearing it speak in some squeaky voice so fast he barely had time to understand what it was saying. "Dobby sorry for doing that but Dobby saw you in there and next to mirror and mistress Harley said not to let anyone near it, Dobby had to get you out of there."
Yet he wasn't paying any attention to what it said as he was going by his own instinct and grabs his crossbow and latches a bolt in. Maybe if he had at least listen to what it was trying to tell him, he would realize it wasn't trying to do him any harm but given this thing showing up out of the goddamn blue and having been around Walkers and not wanting to let anything get the jump on him. His response was to kill something over letting it stay alive able to take him out.
Daryl immediately had his weapon aimed as he let it fly and the thing shrieks but manages to get out of the way of it, somehow standing in another spot before he tried to load another quiver in meanwhile the thing was blubbering, "Ah Dobby is so sorry, bad Dobby bad Dobby! Dobby deserves to be punished!"
But as this Dobby was lamenting over it too much and loudly, grabbing his big ear and pulling on them repeatedly while leaving the only human to watch this bizarre ritual take place. Daryl was not sure what was wrong with it, probably a few screws loose when he heard a familiar voice and one who seems aware of what the thing was, "Dobby what's going on, what are you doing?"
Daryl turns to see Harley and then the thing 'Dobby' rushing over and started talking so fast he had a hard time understanding though she seems to understand and even as he saw the thing went to go hit its head against the wall saying 'Bad Dobby bad Dobby' over and over again before she went to grab it and told him to stop.
"Dobby enough calm down." She held him at arm's length and seeing he had a small knot on his head but knowing he would be fine once he rests a little, "Go to the lab and see Winky, give her a hand and wait until I call you. And Dobby no more punishing yourself, is that clear."
"Yes, Mistress Harley." Then before his eyes, the thing snapped its finger and was gone, just like that. Harley made to stand up and seeing her turns to find Daryl there though was still somewhat surprised by the thing though sure Harley would explain everything to him.
"I um was coming by and thought I could see you, I sorta saw the door and…" He knew that it was a lie but Harley decides to let the 'how' slide, for now, knowing that she had immediately changed her wards on the trap to let the Dixon in as she planned to bring both down here to check it out. She never imagines he would come on his own just after she reset the muggle repelling wards to exclude them this morning.
Looks like she owes Hedwig a plate of bacon for guessing that it would be one of them coming in the day after explaining it all for more talking and also finding the 'Come and Go 2.0' in the study all at once. She hates when her familiars are spot on and like to rub it in her face about it
"I suppose it was my fault as well, it might be a given that I should stay up in the day but I had a few things to take care of but all that aside, I don't suppose you can explain why you were exploring the rooms just now." She gestures to the corridor and more importantly the still locked door releasing elf magic in the air for her to sense. He at least had the good decency to look a bit shameful and knowing that he sort of intruding on her privacy without her given permission.
Harley was not one to hold a grudge, especially as Daryl wasn't the kind she was afraid would cause trouble. Though just now she did have some concern with the way Dobby acted when she came out to investigate the sounds.
"What was it that caused Dobby to go off like that, I presume you went into this room over here." She indicated to where the vault was and sees him give a nod and could guess what else happened, "You saw a mirror in there too didn't you?"
"Yeah but that wasn't no ordinary mirror, was it?" He asks hoping it might have given him a glimpse of his future, one he would be happy to live.
She was not one to be blunt or beat about the bush but felt she best tell him so he wouldn't get any ideas to go looking for it again, "Yes but it's not what you think. Whatever you saw in it, it shows only your innermost desires."
She brought her wand and using a flame spell that she saw before when she was twelve and wrote the words he saw before reversing them around to see it spell in fiery letters:
'I show not your face but your heart's desire'.
"The mirror sees what you want most, something that is deep within your psyche's and reveals it in a way for you to see. Many have come across it and those that do usually stay to look into it unaware what's happening and waste away as they can't compel themselves to leave as the mirror shows the most desperate desire of a person's heart, a vision that has been known to drive a person mad. I gave Dobby specific instructions should I or anyone gets within and look distant off it, to get them out of there before it's too late."
She hadn't though Daryl would be down here, much less checking out the rooms themselves though she probably should have figured as much thankfully Dobby had managed to get him away from the artifact. "I never would guess you would come across it but listen carefully, seeing whatever it was you saw, it's best you don't go looking for the mirror, just promise me you won't."
"Oh, I see…" Daryl was shocked but also a bit disappointed to hear that what he saw was a lie, a pretty good one but the idea that it was just an elusive trick that went to take what he wanted but still not sure why it brought Harley, or maybe it did know somehow…
"Wait, you looked at it before haven't you?" He wasn't trying to be nosy but from the way she reacts to how she was trying to warn him, it was rather obvious to him she had once.
"Yes, I have gazed upon it and similarly to your glimpse it shows me what I desired given I was only a kid and what it showed me, as much as I would have loved for it to be real, it was in a way just a simple trick, nothing but smoke and mirror if you will."
She sighs as she hates being reminded of that memory, the one that showed her of how her heart long for the parents she never knew, the people who must have loved and cherished her. Treating her like Harley and not the Girl-who-lived.
"Sometimes I wish that it were possible, that if I could, I would give up all my magic for it to been as real as you and me." She said this sadly as she looks to Daryl and saw he understands but then decided he should try to change topic given he didn't want to upset her further than he already did. "So who or what exactly was that 'Dobby' fella, I take it he's someone important?"
"Dobby well he's a house elf but he's also one of my closest friends, one of the few I still have remaining. He's loyal but sometimes tends to go overboard. He didn't mean you any harm he was just following my orders."
"Right so an elf huh, ain't what I expect to see." Harley gave a weak grin, knowing what he probably was thinking. "What you were hoping he'd be like a Keebler elf and offering cookies or maybe even something from Santa's workshop. Sorry to burst your bubble but those don't exist and only ones like Dobby and the others do though there might be more but never got around to look further into the matter."
He chuckled sheepishly as he did admit the thought had crossed his mind when she mentioned elves just now. "Well I guess that's all right but I do feel kinda bad for putting the little guy through that scare and having him almost take an arrow to the gut." Also, he was sure Harley would have been downright piss at him for hurting the little guy though if it was any consultation he didn't know about them until that thing popped out like some scary movie villain.
Her pensive thing had only shown major events, not all the details pertaining her life as she left some details that should have been worth mentioning before at the very beginning. Harley thought that too but she had been so focused on giving them a heads up on the whole 'magic does exist' and revealing the more important aspect that went down in her world that she forgo the minor stuff and now feel really bad for not telling him in the first place.
Memo to self; try to keep them up on every tab of information, she thought to herself and wonders how Merle might've reacted if he had seen Dobby first though then again probably like his brother, shoot first, ask questions never. She made another note to let the elves know so they didn't freak although Kreacher, he could fend for himself as sometimes he needs someone to keep him on his toes. It might sound harsh but sometimes one had to give tough love especially for someone as cranky and annoying as him.
"Don't worry Dobby will be alright. He's a tough little guy and knows you were probably freaked out by him and well just reacted."
"Yeah, that's about right there." He wasn't about to admit how scared shitless he was though thinking better him than Merle as he probably is a better shot and the last thing he wants is to explain to Harley why one of her elves was now dead or something to that degree. "You said there are others as in more than one here right?"
She nodded, "Yeah, I got two more here as they all work for me." She saw he had a look at one who was definitely curious and saying, "You want to meet them don't you?"
"Well if you don't mind…" Harley says nothing though she does turn to the side and silently summon them to come here. There were three loud pops and Daryl recognizing the first one as Dobby and standing next to him were two more, another male and a female one.
Now that he got a better look at him and not so much thinking little green Martian, note he could pass as an elf with those large batty ears, long pencil nose and bulging eyes that look out of proportion on him and seem rather creepy as they were staring back at him.
They were all about three and a half feet in height through the other male was crouch over and looks much older than the other two. He had a bulbous, snout-like nose, bloodshot eyes, many folds of skin, and white hair growing out of his ears.
It almost looks like it could keel over though saw it turn to him and open its mouth to show the missing teeth in there, all yellow and crook and trying not to imagine what it's' breath smells like.
"Yes, half-blood mistress and what do you and dirty muggle man want now." Daryl blinks at what he was called though had to resist the urge to lift his arm to see if he stank. He took a dunk in the quarry with the other guys in the evening but since then he hadn't gone hunting. That was when he really started to sweat but that wasn't the reason. Before Harley could say anything, Dobby lunges at him and threw its fist at the other elf, socking him good on the nose. "Don't badmouth mistress you nasty Kreacher, you bad ugly Kreacher!"
But Kreacher proved he was not one to take it and threw his own back in Dobby's face, squishing the thin nose and soon the two were rolling on the ground, punching and kicking one another while throwing in a few bites every now and then, well for the 'Kreacher' it was more like gumming as he lost a couple more teeth in the process from the last fist. Daryl raised a brow as he watched them rough each other up and had to admit, for such a scrawny little guy Dobby really did look like he might be winning against the older elf while he, Harley and the female elf stood there on the sideline watching without doing anything to stop them. Although he saw her sighing and shaking her head as if she was used to this kind of thing. Maybe it was given that she and Harley were just staring at the two elves and probably allowing them to blow off some steam in the process.
Same with Harley who finally had it and said, "All right Dobby, Kreacher that's enough stop it both of you cease this fighting at once!"
This got their full-on attention as they did before Harley turns to Daryl with a look of apology on her face and leaning to tell him, "Sorry about Kreacher, he can be quite the nuisance as he once belonged to the house of Black and that family had kinda an eccentric side about how they felt about people like you or those who weren't about Purity. It's a work in progress trust me."
She said that last bit to herself as a sort of joke as Kreacher was one to tolerate based on habit and even she, the heiress of the Black family, the last remaining one at that knew he had nowhere to go and she wasn't one to go lop of heads as much as it seems tempting to do with his given attitude.
Daryl didn't mind though thinking how those two acted and Kreacher did make him see he was a version of his brother when it came to his trash talking about others. He was sure those two would probably get along or most likely be at each other's throats more or less.
Finally, the only female of the trio was introduced and her name was Winky. She curtsies as she wore a maid's outfit and had a tiny hat sitting on top of her head that even had her name stitched in it for him to read. It was kinda weird in a cute sort of sense though it definitely seems she was the more sane and rational than the two other elves the way she presented herself to him. She had short mousy brown hair and cinnamon color eyes but had a squashed nose that reminded him of a tomato, plus her voice was a bit higher than the others, sounding more like a squeak as she spoke.
"Hello Mister Dixon, Winky is told by Mistress you are our guest, can Winky provide you with anything? Food? Drink?" Daryl would have declined if not for her staring at him with those large eyes and feeling uncomfortable as he was sure she might cry if he said something offensive.
Thankfully Harley intervenes, "How about some refreshments for us in the main lab and also could you see to it that his arrows are sharpened for him, some of the tips are a bit blunt and needs them ready to go hunting with. Everyone else returns to your normal duties that is all."
"Yes, mistress!" With that, the three pop away, leaving behind a startled Daryl who turns to her feeling his quiver lift and seeing the arrows inside gone for a second and then returning looking just as good, maybe even better.
Damn, they look almost brand new given that she had really taken the liberty to make them all nice and sturdy. "Maybe I should ask her to do that for me all the time?"
"Yes, sorry about Winky, she tries to please anyone especially since her last master wasn't so kind to her and had a difficult time adjusting until I took her under my wing and had Dobby give her some help to get over what she went through." She didn't want to mention the elf's addiction to the butterbeer and how she had a tendency to be wallowing over her failings to her late master but Harley saw that with some kind gesture and encouragement, the elf was able to get over these and move on with her life. She took her work rather seriously as she wanted to provide only the very best to her new owner and Harley glad to find she was able to maintain a balance between the other two elves and keep everything well leveled in place.
"Oh, I see…" Not really but he couldn't really get over that it seems that Winky look like she wanted to do something to prove her worth and guessing she wanted to be as good as any servant to her caretaker. Harley decided that they should go elsewhere and begins leading him down the hall to one of the more appropriate rooms adjacent to the others and took them down to where her personal lab was as she figured that he wanted to see the rest of this room.
Daryl took in his immediate surroundings and found it had that mad scientist vibe with all the beakers and stuff and saw a large cauldron in the middle and seem to be cooking something at the moment. Harley had moved to a round table that sat to the side with some beverages and a tray with an assortment of food waiting for them. "Come and sit down."