A/N: Next chapter ;) Not much is done, but some useful information revealed. Next chapter should hold more in the way of plot and delve deeper into the evil intentions of LV.
Chapter Six: Waking Up
Jasna was lost inside a darkness that coiled in magnificent spirals around her body. Somewhere in a deep recess of her mind she wondered how she was able to see them if utter and complete darkness surrounded her, but by some grace of her gods she could. And there was also a soft breeze kissing her skin, following the trails silky touch of spirals left behind. But accompanying these emotions was the feeling of wrongness, an urge to get away, to escape the hypnotising powers that kept her floating in this sea of black. Someone once told her to never visit this place – who was it?
Slowly, step by step, she managed to unravel the coils that were reluctant to let her go, push away the fog obscuring her vision in an attempt to lock her in a labyrinth with no escape and no centre and rip the web keeping her away from her goal. She did not even know the goal, but she followed the golden hair leading her somewhere – somewhere she ought to be.
A deep ache and throbbing pain greeted her when wispy tendrils of the webs broke apart under the force of her fingers. The golden hair seemed to disintegrate too and the last thought that lingered on in her mind for a few moments after she left that dark place was that it was a familiar colour of hair. More yellow than blonde.
She came back to consciousness in a room illuminated by candles.
For several moments everything was silent before a lone voice broke the peace, "Severus, she is waking up…" Jasna heard a woman say in a whisper. She tensed instinctively at the statement for similar remarks had brought her nothing but pain in the previous weeks. It was a signal to renew the torture until another merciful darkness took her under its wing. But somehow she felt wearier than after one of their sessions. Why couldn't she move a muscle without hurting or feeling dizzy?
A cool hand settled upon her brow and it was then that she noticed how hot she felt. "She is still running a fever…" muttered the dark wizard she remembered from the gathering. His voice was such one could not forget it. "Can you open your eyes?" he asked her.
Jasna was not sure how she should react to the question – should she tell the truth or lie? In the end, she decided it was best to face the situation than cover from it. Feeling completely boneless did not help her think either. Slowly, she managed to open her heavy eyelids and found herself looking into black eyes.
"Good," said the man and she turned her eyesight in the direction the woman's voice came from. So far, only men had caused her pain; having a woman nearby made her feel safer, at least in some small measure. "Try to stay awake if you can. I must make sure this treatment is working," he told her as he leaned over her form.
"I don't - - need your help," she managed to croak out and knew it was a lie as soon as the words left her tongue. Jasna was aware she was like a helpless lamb. The wizard seemed to know that too, if his frown was evidence enough. He said nothing in return though.
Jasna had hoped he would talk for the pain got only worse and thinking about something else helped keep her mind off it. The ache near her heart was impossible to ignore though, a banging and tearing sensation that howled and demanded attention. There seemed to be a gaping hole where once wonderful and peaceful feelings resided. The small tingling sensations were gone – ripped away – and the connection she had with the high priestess missing. Ever since she was given away by her mother at the age of nine, the priestess took care of her. She was a child of the Temple in every sense of the word and now felt utterly lost. Worse – she had done that herself, had renounced the sacred bond freely.
The memory of the torment hit her like a ton of bricks, taking the breath from her. What had they done?! What had she done?!
"No…" she moaned. "No! Sweet Zorya, it can't be!" she whispered for there was not much strength left in her to speak louder.
Tears started to pour down her cheeks unbidden and she felt herself sink into a sea of memories that beckoned with kind hands to embrace them. They will give comfort, they will wrap her into a cocoon of love until all that was wrong would be made right again. They will help her forget the present, keep her locked in the past that held smaller torments and less pain but so much love and beauty.
Jasna saw herself running in the big courtyard with old and young women and men hurrying past to start the day, hiding in the empty corridors, playing in the deep snow that transformed the forest to look like on the card she had from her family, and learning about her magic, training under the watchful eyes of her mentors and fellow students. Not even hands that gripped her hard by the shoulders could tear her away from despair and regret that bubbled beneath her skin and made her cling to the wisps of the bond that was lost forever.
The priestess could feel darkness gather at the edge of her vision, could feel something fester inside her, bloom and writhe in an attempt to fill the void. But it was not enough, it could never be enough and the empty hole demanded more, threatened to devour her all and turn her into that dark and cold place she awoke from before.
"JASNA!" suddenly her name was shouted with painful intensity. There also seemed to be an edge of panic held within, but she could not imagine what would make them react like this. Wasn't her corruption, the fragmentation of her soul what they wished and desired all along? Then why was he calling her away from the lure of that dark place where there was no pain and no emotions? Didn't she deserve to let go this once? To forget about doing the right thing and be selfish?
Something told her this lino of thought, these ideas were not her own. Something was whispering them into her ear. Before she could find out more there was another presence beside her; she could feel its power, the powerful intent that enabled it to come this far. It moulded around her and started to drag her away. She did not object but let herself float for a while. The presence was alien, not like the mind-touch of the high priestess. It was more angular, bitter… it was not feminine.
This realisation made her come back again. Men should not enter a priestess' mind – it was too dangerous for awakened feminine power was a force of nature that opposed the control men's magic consisted of.
Once again she was staring into black eyes, darkness still obscuring half of her vision. "Thank Merlin," Severus muttered and relaxed the grip he had on her face; his own was chalk-white, lips pressed together so hard they almost seemed nonexistent. He had been scared stiff when she seemed to experience the backlash of her shattered bond. He had never imagined it would be like this – a gathering of dark magic, a destructive force that seemed to pray upon her mind, trying to lock it up piece by piece until only a shell would remain. Using the legillimens spell was a leap of faith he took, but it seemed he was able to get through. Yet what he experienced while inside was something that would keep him awake for several nights. Such force, such unleashed magic and potential! The Dark Lord knew nothing of the old powers. She still had several seals placed upon her person and it was luck that they remained intact. Whatever the Temple was doing – it was dangerous and should not be meddled with.
"Look at me!" he cried when her eyes clouded over again. He could not loose her again because he was not in shape to bring her back – his magic was almost depleted. Snape knew he will be arriving back to Hogwarts by floo – a preposterous idea any other time.
It was then that a thunder of footsteps was heard in the corridor. Narcissa had fled the room when the priestess' magic got unstable, rushing for Lucius who slept in the master's bedroom. Severus did not know what Lucius could possibly do without his wand, but he was glad Narcissa got out of the way.
Jasna focused on him and seemed to calm down her erratic magic. Every glass item in the room had nonetheless cracked from the distress she channelled through her powers. "It hurts… it hurts so much…" she groaned. "Help me…" she pleaded.
"Lucius – three spoons of pain-relief," commanded Snape while still holding her face with his hands. She had to calm down, she had to sleep and gather strength, let her own powers knit together the wounds. There would be scars – invisible as they may be – but what the Dark Lord destroyed could never be mended again. In some way she reminded him of his younger self. He will never experience what others called normal life - life without the Mark and dark magic - and she will never be able to live fully when removed from the Temple and its teachings. Both carried marks that no magic of the world could ever wipe away completely.
"Sleep," he told her and she followed his command. Snape only hoped that a solution to her problems would present itself soon. He could not spare a moment of his precious time on her much longer.