Thank you so much for reviewing! This story has really been great so far for me, I hope it shall continue that way. I'm sorry if some of the characters may seem a bit off, it's just with the events as they play out allows some to develop more quickly than others. I'm sorry if it seems to take me forever to update but I am an honors student in college and in a sorority plus several other organizations that take up a good amount of my time, but I try to update as soon as I possibly can. Please stay with me and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Just the owner of a plot... nothing else...
Chapter 13: Blood and Tears
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Suddenly it felt like a switch was flipped in her mind, fog rolled in around her, feathers dinged a soft gray fell around her feet, light had burst forth as she twisted away from the attack. Reaching out she grasped the other edge of the desk and steadied herself, her hair drifted about her, the Ether was running in cool currents over her skin. The man growled looking up at her, his eyes were a maroon, too deep of a red to be like Draco's ruby eyes that proved his anger. This guy was either very pissed off or deeply twisted, she had bets on both. She wasn't sure how to use her gift to attack without touching him, then slowly went to the pocket in her dress looking for her wand. The wood was a relief against her skin as well as to her pounding heart as the man came at her again.
Another spin away, she put her back to the door, but no one was coming through there if she knew well enough. No this had been planned, she looked at the weapon he gripped to see something like a needle or syringe. A shudder went through her as she moved backward, trying to get back to the safety of other people. Lately between learning customs, history, and traditions and negotiations with the other clans, she felt the exhaustion setting in. A fighter, she would never be, she had good wand work and could name almost every spell created, it was she felt more comfortable behind the scenes researching than on the battle field. A sweeping motion of her arm and she called out, "Impedimenta!" The man fell backwards but easily flipped himself to land gracefully back on his feet. His smirk caused her to be nervous, from her bond she could feel Draco's uneasiness and forced away her fear to press warmth on the bond to calm him, he needed to meet with Irial more than he needed to come storming in to save the day for her, she could handle this on her own.
Glancing quickly to her right, she checked to see that the student desks were about three feet away, to be sure she didn't get tangled up in those, then left to see four feet to the board.
Her golden orbs flew back to her opponent just in time to see him lunge toward her, "Incendio!" The flames licked at him but he moved away quickly enough to avoid harm, "Diffindo!" Her attacker evaded her attack once more, "Locomotor Mortis!" He rolled away from the spell, and her frustration overpowered her fear, the mist around her grew thicker as well as the light that spilled from her body, her wings appeared in a burst as her gift took over. The void was visible before her eyes, and suddenly there was Blaise standing before her, the shock was too much for her and she fell away from the void. Into complete darkness, her defenses lowering, and as she felt the floor against her back she also felt something stabbing into her arm, then pure pain worse than her change laced through her.
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{Ether}
Fear built up like something was stuck in his throat, immediately his gift reached out for her, but she was gone before he had a chance. Something was very wrong, he could feel it in his bones, and he was going to find out. Focusing on the air around him he summoned an old friend from the void, his sister's gift was better for such things but even Death had power to do so. "Father..." his eyes opened to view the ageless man before him, his wings were apparent now and looked to be a carbon copy of his son only older, wiser looking. "You know why I have called you."
The man reached out his arm to grip his son's shoulder, "My son, how long it has been and to not seen your face. Yes, I know why you have called on me, it is our Hermione. She is mated to the Malfoy heir, they preside over the Immortal kingdom. So much I can see and understand beyond the void, this is what you have come for is it not?" His smile was just as dashing as his son's, and his blue orbs danced in joy, "Do not worry for you sister dear, fate has it's hands in this situation. Strong is our girl, she shall weather the storm to reach a paradise unknown. Worry not for the Malfoy heir either, he shall suffer only a while yet without him she cannot survive. You, my son, cherish soon your good fortune when the weaver of the future comes to you and help her console the-one-who-shall-come-to-victory. The one who sees all will belong to you one day, for now she must be sure the sister of darkness, the healer of mind, body, and soul, will find the one whom she sees in dreams untold."
"Riddles?" Blaise was frustrated, "I come to you for help in desperate times and you give me riddles?"
A soft breeze drifted across them both, "Watch your tongue, young man." Lifting his eyes, he saw a small woman with long curling hair of chestnut, and eyes a soft golden brown, "We can not reveal the futures we know out right, that could change the course of events. No, in our riddles we divulge information that you can interpret as you see fit, ensuring that all we see shall still come to pass."
"Mother..." his eyes stung but he had cried so soon that he refused to weep once more, not for those who had already been gone for so long. "If you swear by it that I am walking the right path then I shall be pleased with what you have said."
Both parents now stood before him, their pride showed on their faces, "Keep focus and continue, our son."
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The sky was dark, but not ominously so, just in that bland sort of way that brings about a general feeling of gloom, "It's been too quiet... it's so dead without us all together here." Her small face looked over at the one at her side, his red hair messily fell in his eyes that were closed as if asleep but she knew he heard her, "Twilight barely leaves that tower, Harry is rarely away from HQ, the others in the Order were constantly busy, yet here they sat. "Classes have drifted to a stand still as if just waiting, kids are being brought home or their younger siblings joining them here. It's crazy, Ronald, what is going on anymore? It's like we're all preparing for an end that we don't know is coming or ever will."
A pale freckled hand came to rest on her slightly exposed thigh, rubbing it reassuringly, his hands were rough from his years of being Keeper in quidditch, and sent shivers down her spine a bit, "Calm, Pans. Things are going to be what they are no matter what we think is going on. It drives Twi and Luna crazy knowing the future, so be happy that we are in the dark, and take the hits when they come. Do not worry for tomorrow when it has not happened yet, and today has its own set of worries." A smile tugged on her lips, as her boyfriend recited some of the most cliche bull she had ever heard, but still it managed to calm her for some time, she had him and as long as she did, she'd be alright. After that night when she'd had to seduce Death Eaters he had barely left her side for long without necessity.
No one else wandered about the grounds around them, no smoke floated from the hut down the way where a normally jolly giant lived. Hagrid was still gone talking to his brethren just as Draco and Hermione were gone talking to their kind. Reclining back on her arms she viewed the tree above her, barely filled with half-dead leaves, the wind blew around them setting a chill in the air. Spring need to come quick, weather like this was dreadful on the soul. The water of the lake lapped at the shore, in an almost muted beat, an owl flew over head but then she looked closer, it was a hawk! "Ronald! A hawk! It has to be Blaise! It has to be that god awful familiar he insists on using!"
Swiftly they both took their feet, following its path up to a tower that could only be to Twilight, the only person besides the Dumbledore its owner ever seemed to contact anymore. It wasn't long after that they heard an earth shattering, ear piercing scream. "Twi..." Ron suddenly was calling up his broom, sweeping her on to it with him, and then they were off shooting right at the stone obelisk. "Merlin... Twi."
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The pain was surreal, trying too look around made his vision spin, and he felt someone helping him to move on his left. It was too slow. He'd never get to her in time like this. No longer could his mind handle the concept of what could have happened, but instead imagined her broken tiny body or how he was going to murder whoever had done this to her. Clan wars, or no clan wars, she was his queen, his mate, and his only link to any life he'd want to live. He was nothing without her. The world was nothing without her. Some sharp whispers came from his left, the tones were changing so it must be more than one person, for all he knew they could be yelling at the top of their lungs but a rushing sound, a pounding sound in his head deafened his ears to the noises around him. Like to that of the resounding calm rhythm of the waves against the cliffs, a beating that sounded like the heartbeat he no longer had. 'Hermione...' his mind reached out for hers but it just fuzzed as the pain would hit so much harder.
Suddenly the ground was gone from beneath his feet and a spinning suctioning feeling hit his stomach, once his feet hit back to the Earth his stomach rolled and whatever it had contained now lay before him on the ground. Commotion was heard all around as another sturdy arm grabbed his other side and it felt as though he was practically being carried across the whatever this was a room, a hallway, hell an open field. No there was the flickering of fire, it was inside that he was sure of. Trying to reel his mind in, he began sensing the minds around him, it made his stomach roll again and it felt as though metal was being inserted into his brain, but he got the vague whispers of the mind next to his. 'The King... possible it could mean... the Queen... last seen... unknown..'
A rough voice left his throat that if he didn't feel the vibrating in his neck and his own tongue moving with his lips parting he wouldn't have known it was him talking, "Hermione... where is Hermione? I need her..." his body convulsed and he felt the grips on his arms grow tighter and then a cool hand touching his forehead. "Not 'Mione..." He knew it wasn't but still the magic that radiated from that simple touch was blessedly calming. The hold on one side loosened and he raised his eyes to catch a smaller shadow being engulfed by a larger one, then as his stomach rolled again he lowered his head to dry heave towards the ground.
The supporter came back and then the cool touch returned as they continued slowly on, or at least he thought they were moving, or was his head just making the room spin again. His back felt as silk brushed against it and he was laid down. The calming feeling returned and slowly darkness claimed him. It was like floating freely, sleep over took and all he could see was chestnut curls, golden eyes, and porcelain doll lips against his own.
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Grabbing her head, she pulled on her hair, as if creating a different sort of pain would take away the one she felt now. It had come suddenly, all three were in excruciating pain and she couldn't handle all three horrific visions at once. A scream tore from her lips, one she couldn't be sure was all her own, a hawk flew before her and she reached out to it but it settled gently on the railing twisting its head at odd angels as if concerned. Then close after she heard her own name, and then red hair and soon after black hair as well. Ron and Pansy. The scream finally died down as her throat became sore and her voice hoarse from it. Slumping to the ground against the rails she felt a feathery head prod at her own comfortingly, then Pansy coming close trying to decide how to comfort her while Ron paced back and forth.
Slim fingers drifted over her hair, and soft words tumbled from soft pink lips, "Hush now, calm... It's all going to be fine..."
"No... it's only going to get so much worse before the greatest ending, the night is the darkest before dawn..." The visions played over and she shuddered at the feel of that utter torment and sorrow, of that horrid loss. "I need... I need... I need to go back to America. There' something awful being planned against Draco, and Hermione might die, and Blaise will die if she does... then I will die... Draco would have died..." The horror on their faces showed the horror she hid inside of herself, "Another, I'll send another here... AH Shadow and his Faerie Queen! She who comes from High, kin to Shadow, healer of all, shall find her dream true here..." Falling back she felt Ron's arm wrap about her, "When she comes bearing our names... take her to Harry..." With that her milky chartreuse orbs fell shut in exhaustion and pain, yet she ignored all signs that she should remain resting.
Sitting up Ron tried to keep her down, "You need to rest Twi. We've never seen you like that in a vision, is this part of Luna's prophecy or one of your possible futures?" He asked just as they always did lately, looking to her and her gift for all the answers. Pulling her body up onto its feet, she stepped away from them both, turning her back to block them out, and towards the door. "Twi?'
A soft sigh slipped past her lips, "I don't know... it doesn't feel like just a possibility though, parts feel set in stone... I just don't know which ones. That's why I must leave, Blaise can't keep me here protected at a time like this. I have to save them all, from outside forces and themselves... I'm going back to America and Rosencrantz." With that she was gone.
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The skies were growing dark again, the day was coming to an end so soon, and still he had accomplished nothing. "My Moon, where are you?" His sigh was soul deep, and he ran his hands through his unruly hair. Leaning heavily against the window sill and pane, his arms bore most of his weight, and he felt just useless. The past few days were a blur of trying to understand what was going on around him between friends who were allies but no longer at his side. There was so much politics and tradition on one side, too much secrecy and danger on the other, then here at home he faced a dulling dread and mundane missions. There was something missing, a puzzle piece he couldn't quite fit in all the way yet, but he knew it was there, just as he had known the others were there and how the ragtag group had all fit together.
"Harry?" a voice he heard all too often, he couldn't turn to see that she wasn't there, not anymore. He had gotten his hopes up all too often, but he wasn't falling for it this time, it would just push him further down in this depression he found himself slumped in. "I know you're there... This is my patronus. Oh dear, you knew that didn't you... Irial swears I don't have to be so spacey anymore to hide my gift. Oh you don't know Irial. Harry, there are things, I need to tell you. I'm with Blaise, but you knew that I'm sure... we're under the watch of Voldemort." He turned then, not seeing a white hare this time though, it had changed to have of a raven. "Things have changed a lot Harry, and I promise no matter how tragic this must seem now, that all is better in the future I prophesy. We all are happy, we all see peace. Harry, know always I love you, but perhaps not the way I'd originally thought I'd loved you. I'll tart from the beginning..." Tears were already pouring down his face.
Falling to his knees he sobbed loudly, "My moon!"
"You see I left mine and Blaise's room, to do some snooping, which I'm sure you're fuming about. I overheard the plans Lucius and Bellatrix were making as well as Greyback, and oh I just can't remember them accurately enough to tell you, but I promise to get it all figured out and have Blaise tell you or Irial tell you. Still I gasped when I found out Lucius was alive and a breeze caught my scent taking it straight to Greyback. I don't remember much after trying to hide on the darkness, my mind blocks off the attack but the next thing I knew I was convulsing in pain on the ground in complete darkness. I heard footsteps, and I feared that they were returning to finish me off. It wasn't them or Blaise, it was Irial. He's the Shadow King of the Immortals, a vampire. He saved me from becoming a monster like Greyback by turning me into an immortal. I am now and forever immortal, a vampire, the Faerie Queen to the Shadow King, a child of the Sight Clan, mate and soon wife to Irial. I'm sorry Harry. I promise there is someone out there better for you, someone who will love you more than I ever could, someone who can do for you that I could not. It is destiny, my love." The raven disappeared after that and Harry felt his forehead hit the ground in front of him as he sobbed so hard his body was filled with racking trembles.
"Hush my darling hero... Soon shall ye be set free from sorrow.. 'Tis time I came to thee..."
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Blood was dried to her skin, but she didn't care, she'd been completely mortal for just long enough for him to hurt her, she had tasted the copper of humanity on her own tongue from her own lip. Fear stilled her heart at the things he intended to do with this new little discovery he'd made, foolish man had allowed her to go, believed she'd remain quiet for him to carry out his plan. She'd sacrifice all to save her Queen and King, for the Immortal Realm, for a family in her Clan and others around her. The grounds were unforgiving in this godforsaken school, she trudged across the desolate courtyard and to the steep decrepit side stairs meant only for servants' feet. Her mission was set in her mind with one last glance out to the courtyard she was surprised to come eye to eye with Twilight. The seer could only travel thus in dire emergencies, had she seen what was befall the Queen, the King, them all?
There was no time to wait for her and she turned taking the steep stairs two at a time with her miraculous enhanced abilities, "Charis!" she heard her old friend cry after her, but the urgency in heart would not let her stop or slow her pace as she took down the hall. Her connection to the High Clan, to the High Queen herself guided her through her emotions through her gift somehow, she was not sure how she knew where to go but allowed her feet to take her where they will as they seemed to know what she did not. "It's done, you cannot save her!"
With that coming to a door she fell forward to her knees gazing through the portal she saw her queen lying spread out upon the ground in an unceremonious fashion, blood pooled around her, yet her chest still moved with breath if not little but still it proved she lived. The blood around her was the purest red, issued forth a strong copper scent, and show no signs of the vampiric poison of the Immortal. "My QUEEN!" she wailed in remorse seeing she had come to late, standing she propelled herself across the floor throwing herself practically upon the body, and allowed her gift to take form. Soon she drew more the pained emotions from her but the wounds themselves she'd ben inflicted with, soon the High Queen looked like nary a thing had happened to her. Tears fell from her face as the wounds reappeared on her skin that had been inflicted to her by the one who attacked her, yet she was unable to remove the vicious potion that had been her evil controller's plot. "Healed her I have, Twi, but not that which I cannot draw into mine own blood myself nor my gift is able. No matter how much you know I wish it."
"Oh I know, none could wish anything ill upon Hermione, you saved her, what else is wrong with her? She'll just... need to... feed." Her eyes grew larger at the crimson blood and copper scent, at the obvious lack of Immortality beheld by the High Queen. "She's mortal again... how can this be possible? It can't be!" Yet she knew it to be true, she had seen this, just as plain as she was now. "Draco... oh Draco." Turning she went to the door leaning against it, "I can't be near the blood, I haven't fed lately. It's different than just being around mortals. Charis, I have but one request for you, I need you to return in my place to Hogwarts. You shall be little help here, I shall prove Regent in their stead. There is one I think needs you, one that you need just as much as well if you'd be honest with yourself. Please Charis, just do as I ask, all this I shall take care of, it is too much for you now."
Colbalt eyes looked to ground contemplating what her close friend was telling her to do, "I shall go, for you, for my Royals, for my Clan, and for this one you speak of. Take care me home, Twi, take care of me loved ones." Sorrow filled her soul as she stood, a sorrow not her own. Softly she smiled as she called out across a very thin bond to another soul, and right before Twilight's eyes she vanished.
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Soft blues eyes were bloodshot and swollen from crying so many tears, for her near and dear, but mostly for the message she'd sent Harry. Any moment she expected a stag to come trotting in, if not the boy himself coming to bring her back now that he knew where she resided if only through Blaise. She sat in the Italian's room in Voldemort's awful dungeons now, Irial had remained at Draco's side, the High King was incapacitated and the Shadow King had just pledged his eternal fealty to him. It was hard being far from him, being his Faerie Queen meant being his mate, they shared a bond. Feeling his pain and being so far from him, caused her more pain, it was vicious chain in which continued harming them both. It also left her completely blind, with Irial's gift as long as she kept in contact with him he provided her with sight, unlike that of her gift of prophecy.
Her memory was still fuzzy after being turned, but the pain of it was apparent like it had just happened, she could feel the burn in her veins, the last beats of her heart, and the single tear that had rolled down Irial's cheek. He had let her see his moment of weakness, she was his weakness, but none who'd do him harm, or his court and clan harm either. Sitting on the bed, she felt the satin duvet with her hands, remembering the deep navy of it, and reached out to run her hand down the smooth wood of the white pine bed post. Slowly standing she felt as the long full dress Irial had given her, it was a beautiful soft cream ball gown, with all the lace and frills she could dream of a princess having. But then she was a queen now. How odd it was to think of herself like that. Taking a hesitant step she felt the cold cobblestones under her feet, the way her body moved was so much more different, it was like an innate grace had be instilled in her. Finally she reached the desk just across from Irial's side of the bed, and on the back of the chair she found one of his shirts, that he seemed to not deem necessary to wear, ever. Lifting it up to her face, she breathed in the scent of her mate, and tears flowed even more freely down her porcelain cheeks. Yet a calm claimed her for a moment and that was all she needed, he had calmed her, had noticed her need for him even among his own sorrows and hurt.
When she continued on she could feel the smooth and large stones of the walls then the hard cool wood of the door, something compelled her to not open the door though. her smile was gentle, she recognized the aura of her mate. He was warding any off from approaching what was his, much like the disguising illusions placed around any place where wizards lived near muggles. Slowly she turned to return to their bed, she was suddenly very tired. "Oh, Harry..." she whimpered as she buried her face into a pillow, "... and my Irial..." Her tears were no longer falling, the anguish had left her, now it was only acceptance. She had hurt the only one she'd ever loved, and discovered one whom could only ever hold her heart. Then it was sweeping through her mind, so much at once, screams and faces, and flames and smoke, so much terror and pain. The vision drained her, and still she reached out to the Shadow King.
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Violet eyes raged with the storms of nightmares as he swept through the darkened halls of the sanctuary of his kind, "I shall find Natura, and he shall die." His growl tore from his throat with all the ferocity of one who held pain and fear as dear as his closest pets. The little one next to him was too quiet, "You sent her away, you did. Good thing it was his permission I was after then, got it too. Now go to him, I shall handle all else, my sister is safe thanks to you. Now off you go, now." The light red like a soft wine peered up at him, "Later... I shall find one you can drink from... I am mated now, little Sighted one." Watching the trailing end of the Regent's gown float after her down into his dungeons, oddly comforted him, she was a gentle one, close to his new Queen and his own Faerie Queen. Another he would deem to protect, he shall he promised himself that much.
His steps echoed as he moved his intimidating presence towards the gardens, the idiot he was after had better be in his respected grounds for his Clan's court here. As each Clan was allowed sanctuary here, they each had respected courts, The High in Malfoy Tower, Shadow in the Dungeons, Natura took the Gardens, Calm had the Drawing Rooms, Bia claimed the War Room and Artillery, Sight held theirs in the Grand Hall, Fides the Chapel, Cruentus took to the awful medieval Torture Rooms, and Immunda had the Astrology Spire. Small areas for each, the rest was neutral ground for all to share peaceably.
Walking to the grand fountain in the center, that looked as if ivy had taken over the statue in the center and the bottom was filled with it yet water still filled it. The bright flaming hair of a little girl blurred by, he reached out and caught the tiny arm. The large deep emerald orbs blinked up at him, in their own innocence and surprise, "You are Shadow King. Papa said he was expecting you and Mr. High Almighty." So Natura was expecting him and Draco, seemed he was only going to get half the audience he expected, Draco was incapacitated in the dungeons mourning his mate. "Want Callie to take you to Papa?" Her smile was mesmerizing, all children were like that, didn't know how to control themselves, at all they didn't. "So you didn't come to take me away to your great big monster dog because I broke Papa's favorite statue?" Her small hand was fragile in his own, yet he knew the strength that laid there wouldn't harm her, no never thought to harm a child he hadn't. Yet he wanted to chuckle at her last question, the stories parents told their children to be good abused his court, what would he and his mate use for their brood?
"Nay, little faerie child, I have come to speak with ye father on Clan business, safe for now you are." Her small giggle warmed him a bit, no use taking out his anger and grief on this little pixie. Then he turned a corner and came eye to eye with his opponent, the Head of the Clan Natura, "Tis' yourself, Natura?"
The other man stood, indicating the others around him to leave, "Still hanging onto that Merlin awful brogue, I see. What has brought you here, Shadow?" His eyes were focused on his child as Irial allowed shadows to begin surrounding her, he felt guilty, that he did, for using a child such as he was. "You can also release my progeny, Calpurnia, come to your father." The little girl just smiled at Natura and continued to hold Irial's hand, he doubted her ability to break the band he'd created around her to keep her at his side. "Is this part of your little revenge plot, Irial?"
A deep sadness suddenly filled him and he reached out to smooth away Luna's grief through their bond and suddenly he wanted to go to her, her feeling of comfort drifted back to him. Still, he worried for her, she'd had every intention of talking to Harry, perhaps he'd have to visit the boy-who-remained-alive after this little issue was taken care of, and he worried for her as she was left blind with him away from her. She was well protected, of that he could be sure. Turning his mind back to the problem at hand he found an angry father staring him down, and a tiny pixie of a girl giggling and dancing back and forth between his hands, yet always in the boundaries of the shadows he had surrounded them in. Perhaps the chid was content to be with him, if her father's quick temper was for show of anything. If he had his way today then perhaps- no he couldn't think of such.
"He's never stoop as low as you." That voice, it couldn't be.
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Amata Mercy
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