I'm so thankful for any reviews! I'm hoping you all will enjoy this chapter! Please do let me know what you think about Charis after you begin to figure out my intentions for her. Also I know that part of this chapter may be a bit sad but I'm hoping for it to not be too bad. Some of this wasn't my intentions from the beginning but somethings just develop as I go along.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
Chapter 11: Tides of Fate
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Looking into the darkness of the hallway, she breathed in sharply only to feel pain flood her body once again. She wasn't sure how long she had been out, her mind could barely focus but she felt that most of the blood had stopped flowing from her wounds. If she was able to stay conscious then she knew she wasn't too bad off and her main goal was to find her wand so that she would be sure to survive this encounter. They had left her for dead, the wolf hadn't done his best work this time, she had seen this, yet her mind couldn't remember it was all getting blurry. The stones beneath her were cold on her back that was exposed because of the beautiful dress she'd found this morning, suddenly steps were echoing along the same stones and getting louder as they came towards her. Fear gripped her, were they retuning to kill her, but then she remembered.
They couldn't kill her, the wolf hadn't screwed up he had only done as much as he was allowed. Voldemort wouldn't let her slip out of his grasp, and Blaise would annihilate any who even harm her, but they weren't going to try as hard to please the latter apparently. Another convulsion went through her body, bringing more pain than breathing. The footsteps were coming still closer and still he couldn't shake the feeling of fear. Then she felt something cooler than the stones touch her shoulder, turning her head towards the direction she realized there was still darkness, she was blind. Those evil men had taken her sight, not her prophecy but the beauty of a world that wasn't constantly changing with the slightest change in decision of its occupants. A tear trailed down her face, and the cool hand swept it away, "Who are you?" she whispered, happy she could at least still hear.
"I am like those you have seen before, like the one who sees and the one who hears minds, the little one who can give and take life at a whim. Yet I am different, my gift is one that provides images to the mind, can show what I need the mind to see, to influence and enforce impressions, can accept those same images back, as well as take images from others." the voice was like silk over her soul, drawing a calm, "You are being changed to be like the one who has done this to you... I can save you." Her mind's eye was suddenly filled with images, she saw herself as a werewolf like Lupin and Greyback then she saw fangs and lips closing on her neck. The bright ruby covering those lips, standing out against her pale white skin, her life's blood leaving her being tainted by the poison that provided her immortality, saved her from being a monster that caused such grief for Remus Lupin that he had almost refused the love Nymphadora was offering him.
Slowly forcing a train of thought back at him, he helped her sit up, propping her against his cool chest, "You are half-dressed, how... how long have you been... been what you are?" she asked her breath gasping as the pain was more obvious when she was sitting up. "Why did you... you come for me? How did... did you know? Why do... do you want... to-to save me?" As she waited for her answers she felt cool hands slide around her supporting her more, as if cradling her, then pulling her fully into his lap as he sat cross-legged on the ground, his nose nuzzled against her left shoulder, lips resting on a gash there, a tongue slipping out swiftly to taste the scarlet liquid still lingering there. "I am with some-... someone, his name is-... is Harry." The image of her beloved appeared before her eyes as she gasped and barely controlled a sob, then she saw her prophecy once again. Tears continued to fall and the one behind her growled softly before lifting his fingers to sweep them away once again.
"Your one is not one you love... as one to spend all your life with... let me save you then you will know..." his voice still calling softly to her soul, and her mind opened to the prophecy once again, more holes were filled in that she wasn't able to see before. It was as though he knew the parts she hadn't been able to see before, and she clung in pain physical and emotional to his arms, "Sh... It shall all be clear in time... let me save you..." All she could do was nod, as her body felt as though it was giving out to the poison of that wolf, yet now she was giving it up willingly to another for salvation. The bite wasn't as awful as it should have been, then he continued several bites, and drawing her blood and the other poison from her, yet his own brand began burning through her veins. Her body was convulsing once again as it seared through her, forcing her screams to come out silent it was so painful, but he held her, kept her form trying to harm herself. The light was so bright in her eyes, "I'm sorry..." his whisper was so heavy, "This cannot save your eyesight... if there were anyway I could I would gladly sacrifice for you..." and she felt it reach her heart, listened so well as it slowly ceased its beating and felt herself falling into a slumber.
Reaching out blindly her hand found his face, "I want to know your name... who are you?" There was a soft chuckle and then he forced an image against her mind, she saw dark hair and almost violet eyes, his beautiful skin and a soft smile that disguised his fangs. Slowly a name came to her mind, Irial, he was her dark angel. "Thank you... Irial." Then she fell limp in his arms.
Standing he began his way back towards his own quarters in the building with this nordic beauty in his arms. The dress once was probably a masterpiece made for her perfectly, nothing could subtract from her to him though. Something skipped across the floor when his foot hit it and he bent holding her with one arm and found what must have been her wand and slipped it into his pants pocket. "No thank you... my Luna..."
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Thundering up the stairs as quickly as they could, Charis finally found hold on the other girl's arm and apparated them into the Malfoy chambers, neither completely sure where they were going. Her dark hair blew around her, and she saw that a window was open in the office where her Lord's visitors had been meeting with him before her own forced entry then abrupt exit. Turning she saw her friend staring at the open doorway of the bedroom, walking closer she caught sight of it too, heard Hermione's keening as Draco's face was buried in her neck, "Dr-Draco... you have to stop, Hermione doesn't understand... she's scared, you're scaring her." The blonde girl stepped toward them and the man lifted his head his eyes so ruby like the blood they all hungered for, growls were being emitted from him as he sat up cradling his mate to his chest.
A small hand reached out smoothing his hair as she kissed his jaw gently, "Come back... my love." The young Lady Malfoy, the one she'd requested tea with, and she wondered how her patronus had not already interrupted this. "What is going on, Twi?" The blonde girl stepped forward again and watched as Draco's eyes slowly faded back to a softer red then finally to his bright silver. Bowing his head he kissed the place from which he had drank from her, his lips gentle almost apologetic. "Is anyone going to tell me? Will someone say something!" she demanded almost trying to pull away from her mate but his hold upon her was so tight that she wasn't going anywhere. Charis then hurried forward falling to her knees before them, keeping her head low so that she wasn't looking either in the eye.
"Milady, Lord Malfoy did not intend to frighten you, that was instinctual for him as you are in your condition. He was not feeding, but drawing away the venom, our killing venom from your body. You were, are a being of the white or light magic, where he is of dark or black magic, his poison is too strong for you. Yet you are his mate, he had little choice in turning you without dooming himself to death. Seeing as how you are indecent, the intimacy between you both pulled on his strongest instincts and caused him to realize that his poison was weakening you. It is also considered the closest bond when mates feed from each other, always pleasurable for both parties, strengthening their link. No harm to either immortal." Charis explained it all as best she could, it wasn't a good explanation but all she could provide. There was not a lot of study done on their mating processes, it was dangerous, complex, too hard to completely understand.
Finally Draco seemed to come back to himself, soon he and his mate were fully clothed once again, slowly he reached out and laid his hand on her head, "Twilight, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing here?" he turned angry eyes on the little vampire who stood stubbornly looking away from him. "Well you better tell me, because no matter where you try to go I will find you or I'll send to Moody and find out just as quickly because Merlin knows the old coot wouldn't let you out of his sight at Hogwarts without good reason." Then sighing dramatically, kissed his mate's forehead before standing and allowing her to skitter across the room to hug Twilight. "You saw that... well then it looks like this could complicate things a bit more than expected. I'm dealing with a problem of my own here, you see someone is trying to kill Hermione thus destroying me as well. Charis stop feeling guilty, and bloody hell go to 'Mione to have tea with you, if he finds out you were here he'll kill you as well."
Standing she took her Lady's hand, calmly petting it, "Come my Lady, I have tea prepared in my chambers close by in the Western Tower. There is much to be explained I fear, my Lord has not told you it seems much at all about our kind's structure and those types of things. Leave it to the men to only inform his non-immortal mate only those rituals and traditions concerning the actual mating processes and those other processes that are most obvious to those who are not yet one of us." A smile lit Hermione's face as she turned quickly to give Draco a kiss and then lingered in his arms for a bit.
"No, Charis... it is very like my Draco to leave out anything he finds unnecessary to his own intentions or ends. He forgets at times that our knowledge differs on certain subjects, he and I used to be rivals, became close then now are mates. It has been a dramatic process all of which we still continue to be stubborn and argue at least a good forty percent of the time." her smirk fit almost as if she was an actual descendant of Malfoy and not just the mate of one. He growled at the insinuated insult but sent her off instead with a pat to the bum, that she most graciously stuck her tongue out at him for. Charis was amused by all this, she wondered if she would ever have such a chance to be like them. It was undoubtedly obvious that though she knew whom her mate was, that she would ever be able to have such a relationship as this with him, it was quite the tragedy if she actually thought about it.
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Draco watched carefully as his mate disappeared around the corner then heard the front door of the chambers shut before rounding on Twilight, "Luna! Are you serious? So it went from that vision of that bloody werewolf to that of seeing one of the obscure members of the Shadow Clan, there are only three remaining members..." his eyes just stared into her own now vibrant emerald and she rolled them at him, "Merlin... Irial has returned has he..." Sitting down heavily upon the bed he ran a hand through his hair, messing its perfection, in his usual aloof way. "Charis... she's from Ireland, correct?" When Twilight dreamily nodded he rolled his eyes she was reliving visions, "Irial... I can't do much with the Shadow Clan... especially not with their Head. We called upon their alliance, it's breaking laws to do that Twi..." His mind was running through his own thoughts as quickly as he was running through hers, both not sure what any of this meant.
Things were hazy a bit to him, as his mate was jumbling things for him with this last little stunt he'd pulled, not purposefully, but still he could feel the lingering bits of fear and confusion that sent shame rolling through him. Soothingly he felt her push a calm comfort through their bond, and he sighed heavily, it was wartime nothing could stop going crazy. Turning to the window he used magic to flip open the drapes, the sunlight came pooling in and he could concentrate on the nature outside even if it was a good bit gloomier than what tended to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Her thoughts drifted back to his own and he had to agree, they would have to do something, he was Lord of the High Clan, the ruling clan. Usually he didn't deal in his kinds matters as he was intended, it was hard living in two worlds both vampire and wizard.
The blonde girl twirled it seemed when she turned sharply to meet the one standing behind her in the doorway, "Oh, Guildenstern, how lovely it is to see you again." the man wasn't as pleased to see the little princess of the Sight clan, as she appeared to be to see him. Draco could see from here without his ability to read minds, how over-dramatically she laying on all the sweet sensibility to her once most hated authority.
Sweeping past her, he stood before one of the few he had to answer to on these grounds, yet this was the highest. "I was expecting Herm- Lady Malfoy to be with you, but it is no matter you will inform her quickly enough I am sure. Your Headmaster, Dumbledore, contacted us earlier. It is his wish to speak with you both quickly as possible on somehting he would not relay to me. His suggested times of contact by floo were no later than 7 tonight. That is all, if you'll excuse me." With a dismissing nod, Draco watch the man turn on the spot and disappear far too ostentatiously for what he was.
"I see old foggy hasn't changed a bit, I'm sure he's just as incompetent as ever as well." Twilight let a small smile rest upon her features, then returned the memory of the all the problems at hand, "I think I should stay here with you all, this is just too much for you and Hermione." Draco had begun shaking his head no before she'd even finished, the girl was going back to Hogwarts asap, he had a hard enough time with just his mate, Twilight would drive him up the wall. "And why not, Mr. High-and-Mighty-Bossy-Pants-Undeclared-Leader-Meanie?" He raised an eyebrow at her insult then rolled them when she added a stomp at the end for emphasis, she was a typhoon on legs, but he's get her calmed down soon enough. "I mean, I know way more about tradition and all that jazz than either you or Hermione probably know... ok maybe not you." He'd settled an unbelieving look on her and she squirmed, he was winning, and he hadn't even said anything yet.
Standing to come place two firm hands on her shoulders so that she'd look at him, "Blaise may try to contact us, we have no way of contacting him. If you stay here then he'll not know where you are, he's expecting you to be at the castle, so go there, that where he'll contact you if he's able." With a firm pot and a huff while crossing her arms over her chest, she stomped away from him, "Enjoy the tea, and don't try convincing Hermione... she knows that Twi." he laughed as she pressed the idea of squishing him with a very large hammer over and over after her coordinated plan of attack against his mate in argument had been rejected, her weapon of choice being a guilt trip of her needing her here to teach her tradition instead of being cooped up alone in the castle.
Draco turned back to the window, leaning on the sill, he ran one hand through his hair mimicking an old friend, "Hermione needs my protection... yet I have been dodging my responsibilities... Luna, Merlin, what am I to do... Blaise if there was ever needed you it is now." Sighing he felt the sudden presence of his patronus as he quietly summoned it, the silvery dragon awaited its orders, "Find Blaise, tell him I know that my message will warrant a lot of attention but it is needed, tell him to send word by owl not his damnable hawk, send the hawk to Hogwarts requesting his mate's presence to remain there... for now." The he related the full message of all that was proceeding beyond his knowledge, though it would be shortly for sure that he would discover the situation with Luna.
Once that was taken care of, he moved back to his desk in his office, deciding he may need to write to his aunt Andromeda. it was always good to get her insight in the absence of his blessed mother, a wave a sorrow swept through him at her sudden memory then his mate filled him with her gentle warmth through their bond. He wrote:
Dear Auntie,
First off, Hermione is fine for now and so is your cherished nephew, we are on our mission doing well for the time being. It could change any moment though, I worry so terribly that around every corner when my beloved is out of my sight that some harm may befall her. Even possessing my gift as I do, still I am managing to drive myself almost crazy with worry over her, my father would scold me for being so womanish, yet I know may have felt close to this way about my mother, or is that just wishful hopes in the face of such lately tragic events and information that I only think upon the happier blocking all that may condemn him. Is it not always the son who wants to put such pride in his father only wishing to be as great as he whom he idolizes? However, now I see that my greatest fear is that I should ever find myself doing some of the evil acts that I had overlooked with eyes shaded by the imagined dreams of glory of a young boy. So to you I make a promise, one my mate would deny ever being broken that I should not have to make it, that never shall I betray my heart, betray what I know is true, betray those whom depend upon me, betray those that I consider family, friend, and ally. Send my best to all.
Yr Loving Nephew,
Draco
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Slowly walking into the unexpectedly sunny room, she turned about smelling the sweetness of what could only be wildflowers and noticed a fresh bouquet on the table where a teapot rested awaiting guests. The woman in fort of her was beaming in her joy of having someone in her home, it seemed she was truly a gentle soul, where Hermione considered herself an old soul much like her mate, they were both far ahead of what their years demanded of them. "It is a pleasure to have you, here in my small home, not my ancestral grounds but close enough, the halls of my Clan, our Clan." The deep blue of her eyes gave the feel of trustworthiness that eased any suspicions or allayed any fears. "Please do make yourself comfortable milady."
"Oh, please do call me Hermione, Draco always demands me to accept such formalities especially now on these grounds, but I feel as if we are not so separated that we should be offending one another to be informal. I'm sure you know about me, yet I know nothing of you, my husband calls me a story seeker with an isatiable curiosity." her smile was much more wide than her hostess's. Charis seemed fit to be in the home, and a care giver, there was just something about her that made everything ease in her presence.
Joining Hermione at the table it seemed she was thinking rather hard as she poured them tea, "Hmmmm, well I have so little knowledge or memory from before I joined this life of immortality. Sometimes I have glimpses of rolling green hills, cloudy blue skies, cliffs and the sea, but that is all, sometimes there is snippets of this boy, he is beautiful thick dark hair, indigo almost violet eyes, and I like to think he is me only link left to a chance of family. That is all from before this, I born to this life, a halfling, but I know so little of my early life, it is even obscured to those like Twilight. All I remember is as I tell you, then next is my Da brokenly bringing me here and then he was gone soon after. I've inquired about my parents so much but am met with only silence more than answers. I was told me parents were madly in love, Da never found his mate at first you see, some say there was another before he found Mama his true mate, but she was long gone before he found mama. All I can ever figure is her true mate had died and so she had followed leaving my father bereft. Never have I known how it is Da and Mama met, but I have always known my roots are very much in the Green Isle. Somehow this brogue with which i speak has always stuck with me all along.
"You see all I know about Mama is she was a wizard, much like you. You see I'm half-wizard and half-vampire... Da was of Draco's clan, and so am I. Mama never allowed him to change her, other than that Guildenstern did inform me that Da had been forgiven after his death by the clan, they say only his link with me kept him alive long enough for him to bring me here after Mama died giving me life. I'm a empath, you see, I continually drew his pains and the like into me little body even then. It allowed him to survive two days after she was gone, as he realized it was killing me, so he brought me here hoping that I'd be cared for by the Clan then went off to die so painfully it still pains me today to think of. " Pouring Hermione some more tea, she thought a bit more, "Lately though, someone has told me, written me letters that is. Telling me that I didn't actually get to live here until I was about 12, the same time that Twi came here too, we were the best of friends. After she left, well I continued as my family line intended, I have been a stand in for Lord Malfoy when he is gone, lately there hasn't been much to stand in for and that is more scarey than a relief, something is going to happen and it shall not be good."
Hermione sighed listening to once again another tragic story, it seemed all her friends had one, "It won't be of that I am sure. Yet you mentioned that you didn't come her until you were twelve, then what happened before that according t this person?"
"Aye, your mate is correct, a curious one you definitely are," her brogue was stronger it seemed when she was relaxed not forced into formality. "This person tells me I spent that bit of time on the Green Isle, thus my coloring of jet hair and cobalt eyes so common to those of that they call the Black Irish there. It seems this one claims that was Mama's home land, and the last claim is what strikes me as ringing so true that it clears some mystery, that Mama's devotion to the Catholic faith is what kept her from allowing my Da to claim her. A true family drama that is, an epic, but still my story, Lady Hermione. "
Taking a small sip from her cup, she analyzed all this one girl had told her, so much sorrow for on who seemed to exude a serenity about her, but maybe it was only part of her gift. "Draco and I are here to recruit our kind to the cause of the Order of the Phoenix in the war. It will be a struggle since I don't know much about the culture Draco has brought me in to, he is always so vague about it all. Then that as probably because before I wasn't one of you, he always pressed that your traditions and laws as well as other things of that sort are quite secretive, not easily shared with outsiders. I do hope that you'll oblige me by helping to tech me what you think I'll need to know to be of any aid to our mission. " She paused then analyzing this little woman, she had all the regality of a faerie queen that were legendary to Irish lore and still had this peaceful air of a mothering maid. Her power she knew was rare, and strong, it would be an asset to any side. It seemed she was already loyal to herself and Draco, there was so much there but somehow she couldn't bring herself to ask her to join them just yet.
"Oh, of course, milady. Anyway I can be of help, to ye or Lord Draco, me door is always open. For now, we shall settle with what I can think of off the top o' me head." A gentle smile lit her face and Hermione wondered how her mate had not fell under this ones spell long ago before when he denied her, or perhaps he had. "First off..." Thus began their lesson, that lasted them most of the afternoon, the brogue of the other woman's voice was pleasing to the ear and she wonder why she hid it under formality in front of others. The time slipped by and neither looked up until the door slammed behind an enraged little tyrant, known as Twilight.
Hermione couldn't resist the laughter that bubbled forth at the sight of one of her best friends, "Got the better of you again, did he Twi?"
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It was dark when she returned to him, he had been pacing the floor boards trying to resist going and retrieving her, but he knew better than to walk into a cage of those vicious women when they were socializing. When he heard the door creak open he rushed to gather her in his arms, spinning her gently about the front parlor. "Oh, Draco..." she sighed as she cuddled into his chest, relaxing in his scent he was sure. Slowly he push aside some of her hair to view where he had bitten her earlier, now it was gone, no evidence of his taking from her. Whispers of sweet nothings slipped forth from his lips that danced lightly along that long thin column of her alabaster neck, a purr radiated somewhere deep within her that he could only return with a soft growl.
"Come, my love... it is not the time for such, our dear Dumbledore awaits us by the fire, he'll be flooing in any moment now." Draco's smile was warm for her like it was for no other, once they were seated before the image of their beloved headmaster Draco was first to inquire, "What is this all about, Dumbledore?"
His eyes weren't twinkling as usual which was disconcerting to them both, "My dear children... Twilight is there with you I'm sure, and I assure any moment now she'll be receiving a request to return here, for only here can we ensure her safety. I wanted to contact you both, on the behalf of an odd letter we received this morning. It is from an unknown, it reads that they are an ally behind the lines of darkness, and shall protect what is his, our ivory faery queen that is the light of our wizard savior's world. It goes on much longer in more twists like that, but from what I gather he is of your kind, on our side, and is helping Luna and Blaise, though thy may not be completely aware of it yet."
Draco was on his feet almost immediately, concentrating on this new fact trying to fit it into all he knew, puzzle pieces fitting together. "His name is Irial..." he told the old man to give him something to think on while he continued to pace, his mate was curled up against the armrest now that she could no longer curl against him. Slowly he picked through her memories of her tea with Charis and Twilight, perhaps she'd asked the right questions. "It seems Twi had a vision about Luna... of her being turned by one of the Shadow... it goes to say that our Luna gave up her mortality in trade to survive that vice known by our dear Lupin..." he reasoned out from what he had drawn from Twilight earlier, "Greyback had a bit of fun torturing her, but if she was changed quick enough to my kind... she could be saved with minimal damage." He explained away any worries of that nature, "Still is it not a vice to be one of us... hush 'Mione..." he calmed his mate before she could jump to the defense of the immortal dark death dealers. "What I don't get is his motive in any of this, or for taking sides..."
Running his hand through his hair, he found himself settling heavily back on the couch next to Hermione, "Perhaps... he has someone dear rot him to protect in all this, like you did and Blaise does... like my brother and father had... like we all do anymore..." she had tears trailing down her face as she thought over it all.
Draco ran his hands through her chestnut curls, wishing to just bury his face in them, run his lips so teasingly up and down her neck, whisper once again all those words that came straight from his heart, words he couldn't speak to her for so long. "That seems reasonable... Should we tell Harry?" Dumbledore's words made both immortals become still as statues suddenly at the thought. Harry finding out that his one love was not longer like him, would live on without him after he died unless he was her mate which was doubtful. He would go crazy, try to play hero rushing in to save the day, take her from what could only be a hostile environment to him, endangering himself and the whole of the wizarding world's hopes all at once. It was best to let Blaise deal with it, the man was genius when it came to sticky situations.
"No." Draco once again to took to his feet, walking over to the small writing desk they kept in the room and drew out a piece of parchment, scribbling a quit note down, he called for Hermione's beautiful Christmas Island hawk owl Calliope. Once the note was safely tied to her leg and she was off out the window, he turned back to them, "She'll find Blaise... tell him what is going on if he isn't aware, and take care of it. No need for our boy-meant-to-be-a-martyr to go off on another of his daring missions to save the day." Dumbledore agreed and Hermione stared at him conveying all her pride for him through thought and their bond, "Don't get sappy on me 'Mione... I'm a work in progress, if Potter goes off on another adventure to save the damsel in distress he's putting my sake in danger just as much as his own or the wizarding world's." She continued to smile at him knowingly and Dumbledore's eyes had regained their annoying twinkle.
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The Prince of Shadows was making his way down to Death as they were speaking, it had been far too long since he'd reveled in the feel of fullness of the darkness that Death provided, but this was a different sort of business than pulling for strength. Easily he entered the chamber of one who look at him and have him writhing the floor on the edge of his own immortality, able to see his own end so close in all his time. His back was to him, because he was not fearful of him, no he couldn't be he was destined to be one of them soon, almost as powerful as that of the King, the Head of the High Clan. The room was chilled, the air he didn't need fogged before his face, it took many centuries to break the habit of breathing. Slowly he approached the other in the room, his hand a whisper on the exposed skin of a wrist gave him view of people he had never truly met and some he had. The one that stood out the most was the one that haunted his waking dreams, his Faery Queen. The image was portrayed on the other's mind, Death turned to him slowly, a hard look upon his face. "What have you done, Irial?"
"Nothing that she hadn't prophesied, nothing that could be stopped by mortal or immortal will, nothing that went against the tide of fate." A lyrical answer, smug from his lips.
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Amata Mercy