Chapter 11
Eve sprinted up the staircase, her heart was racing and her breath was short.
She would be dead for certain if she was caught.
Taking the stairs two at a time she quickly reached the top and stopped with confusion. The wall before her was solid. Whenever she had been taken up there before she had always been under the command of Lucius or Narcissa so she had no idea how to make the passage open and how to get out.
Her forehead was covered in sweat and her hands shook with panic as she tried to determine what to do.
Surely someone was on their way by now? Her mind was completely aware that she had less than a few seconds to figure out how to open it.
In desperation she threw her arm out and thumped the wall loudly. The second her flesh connected with the cold stone a familiar tingling sensation shot down her arm and she had to prevent herself from crying out in shock as the wall moved backwards and allowed her passage into the main house.
'Thank you' she whispered in relief.
Letting out a shaky breath to try and steady her emotions, she peeked out of the doorway and scanned the entrance hall warily.
Her ears were instantly met with the sounds of running footsteps and shouts approaching. Her eyes widened and her heart began to pound in her ears.
It was now or never.
Quickly, she made a dash for the front door, almost diving onto the doorknob to escape. She jerked it, pulling and pushing, causing the door to rattle on its hinges.
It was locked.
No, no, no no, no.
She felt a brief flicker of rage at herself. Where was the electricity that had been there before? Why wasn't it helping her now?
What do I do?
The footsteps were fast approaching, and frantically Eve searched the room for another escape route until her eyes rested on the stairs. She didn't have time to pause and think, she didn't have time to consider how she would escape from the top floor. All she knew was that she would launch herself from the roof if she had to; if it meant never returning to that room again.
Moving at an almost inhuman pace, she flew across the room and sprinted up the staircase. She didn't worry about remaining silent, they would know she had escaped in a matter of seconds. All that mattered was creating as much distance between herself and her pursuers as possible. Adrenaline coursed her veins, launching her body into action and pushing her mind into working a million miles per minute.
'What happened? WHERE IS SHE?'
Shit.
She was barely at the top of the staircase when Lucius' yells sounded from just below her. Not wasting time by looking behind her, she ignored the three more steps before her and threw herself with all the strength she could muster into the air and onto the landing.
She landed heavily, wincing as her knees burnt with the friction of her skin against the carpet, but all that mattered was that she was out of shot from any wands.
Ignoring the tightness in her chest, she rolled over, springing to her feet and continuing to run down the corridor before her, the sounds of footsteps following her up the stairs enough to find a new burst of energy.
She ran down the long corridor, thankful for the carpet that masked her footsteps, and made her way past door after door.
When she finally reached the corner, she flung herself round it and paused for a second to collect her thoughts.
Where do I go? What do I do?
Silently she prayed to an invisible force, pleading for the answers as to what to do next.
Yet her begging remained unanswered and another wave of panic hit her like a punch to the stomach.
'WHERE ARE YOU, YOU MUCK BLOOD?'
Eve's whole body jumped in alarm as the proximity of Lucius' voice became worryingly apparent. A strange squeak of alarm sounded from the back of her throat, and a pitiful part of her suggested she just sit down. Just sink to the floor and accept that she was to be found.
That she was to be killed.
What's the point in running –
A tingle.
One spark that shot up her spine was enough to jolt her away from the tiny voice and banish it from her mind.
The bead of electricity danced through her body and urged her forwards, it lifted her head and her eyes locked on the door directly in front of her.
A door she hadn't noticed before.
The second she noticed it, its rich oak colour and the regal carvings of snakes weaving between vines, her gaze was stuck.
It was as if the door was calling for her, compelling her, begging her not to walk away, not to run, but to come to it; to enter it.
A sharp spark once again ignited in her back as if pushing her forward.
Why not?
Moving swiftly, she closed in on the door and silently reached out and turned the door knob.
It was open.
She opened it quickly, knowing she had less than a few seconds before Lucius would see her, and slipped inside. Closing it gently behind her.
For a second she relished the silence, closing her eyes and letting out a breath of relief.
For a second she relaxed as she prepared to figure out her next step in her plan.
But that second was very quickly over when a quick movement caught her eye and she realised she wasn't alone.
'Eve?'
Alina shot up bolt right, her face was covered in sweat and she let out a loud wailing noise that sounded animalistic even to her own ears.
Blinking wildly, she shook her head and glared around the room to determine her surroundings.
Confusion consumed her and she frowned deeply, her fists clenched and her body tense.
'Alli...Alli!'
She jumped, startled, at the sound of his voice and turned – hand extended in preparation for a fight – to find Sirius standing cautiously in the doorway.
'W-what?' she stuttered.
'You keep falling in and out of sleep...or unconsciousness...or a trance...I don't know what it is, but you've been shouting –'
'-screaming actually'
She jumped once again in alarm as another voice sounded from behind her, and relaxed when her eyes fell on Remus.
'We have to go. Now.' She announced quickly, scanning the living room for where she had dumped her robe earlier that afternoon.
'Go? What are you talking about? Have you seen something –'
She nodded quickly at Sirius' questioning and turned to Remus.
'You've been filled in?'
'Yes...but Alli what are you talking about? What have you seen...'
'Remus, I need you to go and find Dumbledore...now' she gushed out 'it didn't work how he thought. She gained use to some of my power...she's escaped. But God, she's still there...she can't –'
'What do you mean she's still there?' Sirius demanded, crossing the room and grabbing her arms so that she turned to stare him directly in the eyes.
'I mean that she's in the Manor...and they're after her. God Sirius, they're after her –'
Sirius stared at her for only a second longer, which was long enough for her to see the flash of panic in his grey orbs.
'Moony – get Dumbledore. We have to go, now.' He told his friend.
Remus opened his mouth but immediately snapped it shut at the look that Sirius shot him, and with a brief nod, aparrated from the room.
'Alli...what did you see?' Sirius immediately demanded, pulling out his wand.
'The power reached her...but she couldn't keep it in. It – It blew apart the room so she could escape...but the front door was locked and she couldn't get out of the house' her chest tightened as she thought of the desperate image of her daughter she had just witnessed 'she ran upstairs...but Lucius is after her –'
'So we need to be there' he replied firmly, and she nodded in agreement.
'The others can meet us there' she added, and holding his hand tightly she spun purposely on the spot, and they disappeared from the room.
Their thoughts were so combined, so perfectly entwined that they landed with complete precision and Alina didn't even experience the normal dizziness that she normal found hit her after apparition.
They landed on the outskirts of the Malfoy property; any closer would have set off alarms and informed the inhabitants of their arrival.
'Let's go' Sirius whispered, his wand gripped tightly in his hand and crouching low to conceal himself using the surrounding bushes.
'Wait!' Alina hissed, reaching out and grasping his arm and causing him to turn to her expectantly.
'What is it?' he asked, his brows furrowed.
She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat and her mouth was suddenly very dry. She was about to return to the place that she had been held captive in for the last fourteen years, delving back into a war with the same people she had fought since her school days, it was not stupidity to realise how very likely it was that at least one of them may not return alive.
'I- I –'
She quickly realised that there were no words to be said.
Their eyes connected and instantly her body burned with emotion, as if a flame had been ignited within her. Her breath caught, her heart felt as if it had dropped into her stomach and every hair on her body stood on end.
It took less than a second for her to close the gap between them; finally demolishing the wall that had been built up.
She paused for a moment just before their lips connected, one second to gaze into his eyes and finally to allow herself to say the words that plagued her every thought, her every breath and every movement.
'I love you'
She felt one of his hands wrap firmly around her waist as if terrified to ever let her go, and he brought the other up the cradle her head gently.
'I love you too' he breathed, closing the gap between their lips.
And despite knowing what she was her entire life, despite going to Hogwarts and living in a world where it was fact not fiction; for the first time she felt as if she truly understood what magic was.
When he pulled away she was breathless, the blood rushing to her head and causing her to blink to clear her vision.
'I'll always love you' he muttered, and kissed her once more softly before stepping back from her and turning to face reality.
They stared silently at the gates surrounding the Mansion in front of them, before simultaneously rushing quickly forward.
We're here for you darling she thought silently
Just hang on. Just please, please hold on.
'D-Draco?'
The fear that had gripped her heart with its relentless clutches caused her to stutter her words, and her hand pressed firmly against her chest as if it would help calm her racing heart.
'What are you doing here?' he demanded, his face the very picture of confusion.
'Oh God, Draco...you've got to help me. Please help me'
It was almost as if with him standing before her, with someone there to ask for help, all the courage she had built up faded and all that remained was terror and desperation. She stumbled across the room towards him and his eyes widened with surprise as she threw herself into his arms and clutched onto him tightly.
'Please, please help me' she whispered over and over.
He didn't respond for a moment as the shock of her sudden appearance set in and then he grabbed her arms either side and pulled her away so that he could look at her face.
'You're okay? You're all right? What my father did...I didn't know if you –'
'-f-fine...I was okay, not at first b-but now...' she quickly told him, letting out a shaky breath.
'Draco!'
Lucius' voice ripped through the night air and burst the bubble of safety that had surrounded her the second she had found herself in Draco's company.
'My father...wait...how did you get here?' Draco frowned before his eyes widened with realisation and his hands dropped from her shoulders.
'Draco...please!' she whispered hurriedly, her hands beginning to tremble.
'DRACO!' Lucius called again, anger clear in his tone.
Draco slowly began to back away from her, his gaze shooting towards the door she had just entered through.
'Help me' she pleaded, her eyes burning with tears and her voice breaking weakly.
He paused at the break in her words, and stared helplessly back at her.
'Eve –'he breathed, his tone laced with reluctance.
'Please Draco...if I don't escape...if they keep me here Voldemort –' she broke off and shuddered as desperate tears flowed down her cheeks and the sound of Lucius' approaching footsteps grew louder.
'-The Dark Lord? Wait...what?' Draco asked, but didn't wait for a response 'if he's involved then I just can't help you Eve...My father...'
'He'll kill me!' she cried a little too loudly and slapped a hand over her mouth to silence herself as growing hysteria grew in her chest.
At her words a flash of emotion flickered in his eyes and her heart swelled with hope, before the light that formed in them suddenly dimmed and his expression took on one of familiar arrogance.
'I'm a Malfoy. We follow the wishes of the Dark Lord and if he –'
'Oh shut up Draco!' she snapped 'I'm supposed to be your friend! It's me Draco! They're going to kill me – I will die...is that what you want?' she demanded, and his mouth dropped open but he didn't reply.
'Is it? 'She pressed and he shut his mouth closed.
'DRACO!'
Fear was evident in his stormy eyes and he paused for a moment in thought before quickly shaking his head.
'You can't die' he whispered, barely audible to her ears.
'Then help me!' she pleaded.
Moving swiftly, he rushed over to the fireplace and took a handful of powder out of an ivory coloured pot from the side.
'Take this...quickly!' he hissed, and she ran over to him, extending her hand so that he could pour the floor powder into her palm.
'It will only work internally, trying to leave the house will alert them and they'll catch you. Go to the dining room, nobody will be there now, it has doors that open onto the terrace...you'll be able to leave that way it's the least guarded.'
'Thank you' she replied, her eyes connecting with his for a split second.
Soundlessly he lifted his hand and gently traced her cheek with his fingers.
'Be safe Draco' she whispered, before throwing the dust into the fire and stepping inside.
'The dining room' she stated clearly, and disappeared just as the sound of the bedroom door flying open reached her ears.
She stumbled out of the fireplace as she landed, coughing and spluttering as ash hit the back of her throat and her eyes burnt.
Floo travel clearly took some getting used to.
She wiped her eyes with her sleeves and gazed around the room feeling slightly dazed.
It was gigantic, just like everything else in the mansion, a large oak table was the centre piece of the room and large enough to seat at least fifteen people.
To her right she found the doors that opened out into the garden and let out a deep breath she was not aware that she had been holding in.
Keep going. Not far now. Nearly there.
Energy immediately flooded to her legs as optimism set in her mind and she flew across the room to reach the doors.
'Please don't be locked' she begged out loud, and let out a relieved sigh as the door opened easily for her.
Not pausing to think she flung the door open and sprinted through, her eyes set on the gates in the distance and her heart set on freedom.
So when the ear piercing shrill sound of an alarm exploded around her and a variety of loud cracks met her ears, the ghost of a smile still traced her lips when she realised she was surrounded.
Three strange men stood before her, wands extended and identical snarls etched on their cold faces, and a woman she recognised as Draco's mother cut her off from behind.
'Going somewhere?' she asked coolly, her eyebrow raised expectantly.
'Well clearly not anymore' she replied resentfully, her heart sinking and her knees feeling weak below her.
She was done.
They would kill her now. And if not, she would be taken back to her prison.
She did not know what was worse.
She allowed her eyes to roam beyond the three men in front of her and set on the gates that surrounded the property.
So close. I was so close.
Another resounding crack brought back her attention, and her whole body jolted violently as she was greeted by the sight of Lucius Malfoy, with his arm firmly grasping that of his son's.
Eve had to catch herself to prevent the gasp escaping her throat, and she knew for certain that the fear in her own eyes matched that of what she could see in Draco's.
'Come along Draco, it's about time you see what happens to filth' Lucius snarled, pulling his son forwards so that they were both standing merely a few feet away from Eve.
'I am not filth' she muttered.
'What?' Lucius hissed, and she dropped her gaze to the floor and snapped her mouth shut.
'Answer me!' he commanded, and Eve let out a cry of shock as a sharp pain sliced down her cheek causing her to jerk her head up in alarm.
Her eyes were met by the point of Lucius' wand aimed directly at her and her hand flew to her cheek to stem the blood that had began to trickle down to her neck.
'I said I am not filth' she answered monotonously, deliberately avoiding Draco's burning gaze.
Her words were met with a cacophony of laughter, the cruel, mocking variety that left a chill down Eve's spine.
'Not filth?' one of the men barked sneeringly 'who is your mother girl? Who is your father?'
Eve remained silent, her eyes not moving from the wands trained on her, she shuffled nervously.
'A half blood and a blood traitor' Lucius spat 'you are nothing – Draco!' Lucius barked, his eyes glaring at her in disgust.
'Y-Yes father?' Draco stuttered, his eyes flickering over to Eve before resting on his father.
'What do we think of Blood Traitors?' Lucius demanded.
'They're as good as Mudbloods' Draco responded easily.
'And what should be done to Mudbloods?'
Draco paused for a second; hesitating on the answer he had never before contemplated questioning.
'Well?'
'They should be killed, Father' he stated plainly, causing Eve to shiver despite her best efforts to remain stoic.
She felt like crying, like screaming and both crumpling to the floor in defeat or sprinting desperately in an attempt to escape, but she knew it was no use.
Somebody help me.
Eve could not prevent the desperate plea running through her mind despite being aware that there was no one there to help her.
Draco had done all he could for her, but ultimately he was his father's son; he was a Malfoy. And she did not expect anything more from him; he had already risked enough for her...more than she had ever expected that he would.
'I think it's about time you had your first taste at an Unforgiveable, Draco' Lucius sneered coldly, pulling his son forward 'With the return of the Dark Lord, it is only a matter of time before you will be required to do so regularly...let us call this preparation'
'Lucius, I do not think –' Narcissa spoke for the first time, her disapproval over her husband's command apparent in both her tone and expression.
'- Narcissa, he is no longer a child to be coddled' Lucius snapped harshly, ignoring his wife and turning back to Draco.
'You know the word Draco, remember she is vermin, she deserves the pain...she is filth' his tongue almost caressed the words 'all you have to do is mean it'
'Father...the – the Cruciatus?' Draco's voice was unnaturally high, and he cleared his throat to disguise his horror.
'Come, Draco! Time to be a man!' one of the men called out, his face twisted into a sadistic grin.
Slowly, painfully slowly, Draco raised his wand until it was directed straight at her chest. His face was ash white and his expression strangely blank, almost as if he were no longer present in reality; as if he had blocked what was happening from his mind.
His eyes settled just past her face and she understood his unwillingness to look at her, to watch her fear and the agony that would soon mask it.
Please no, please to God, do not do this Draco
Her thoughts were futile, she watched as he licked his chapped lips before opening them and forming the word.
'Cru-'
They met no resistance when they entered the grounds of the mansion, it seemed eerily quiet, and the silence did nothing to settle the web of panic that had been spun in Sirius and Alina's stomachs.
Within seconds, they were at the front door of the colossal house.
'It's locked' Alina muttered quietly and Sirius nodded mutely, signalling for her silence and flicking his wand quickly.
The door remained closed and Sirius frowned with annoyance.
Clearly a simple alohamora wasn't going to work.
Alina clenched her fists with frustration and had to hold in a cry of irritation as after the fifth try neither of them were able to open the door.
'Protection is too good here...' Sirius whispered, running a hand through his hair as he sought for another way to enter the Mansion.
'What about the windows? Is there any way we could...'
Sirius spoke quietly, his words flowing quickly as he spoke with urgency, but they gradually grew more and more distant as they faded away.
A wave of dizziness came over her and she sucked in a deep breath to steady herself.
'Alli?'
She heard Sirius call her, but his voice sounded so far away and all she could react to was the sudden sensation of magic flooding through her entire body.
Her hairs sparked on end, her heart raced with the electric exhilaration and this time, the pleasant tingle had developed into an intense buzzing that vibrated almost painfully through her veins.
Her whole body was consumed with the sensation, and as it jolted, as it lurched within her, she could not stop her entire body following the lead.
'Somebody help me'
Alina gasped at the sound of a ghostly voice. It wasn't that she could hear it through her ears or even in her mind, it was as if the words erupted from her heart and extended through her entire body caressing her every fibre.
'Sirius!' she blurted out, her voice sounding strangely loud amongst her web of electricity.
'Alli?'
'We have to go. Go to...' she didn't know where they had to go, she knew that the magical link between herself and her daughter would lead them.
'Where? What are you talking about –'
'She's in trouble'
Alina didn't pause to explain any further, instead she embraced the strength of the magic and allowed it to direct her body, she let the magic tingle through her fingers and extend just a little beyond them so it could lead her way.
Moving at an inhuman speed, she ran with the feeling, ignoring the Mansion all together and instead running around the perimeter, through the grounds of the property.
The quicker she moved, the stronger the vibrations grew in her veins; she was getting closer.
Faster, just a bit faster.
Every step she took her mind urged her body to increase in speed, she could not risk being too late.
Just the thought of not getting to her daughter in time sickened her to her stomach.
She could not explain it but she knew without doubt that they were close, her body was almost overwhelmed by the power that consumed it, and she used the feeling to push herself further.
'She's round that corner!' she called back to Sirius, and paused when she reached the edge of the house.
'Alli...wha-' Sirius whispered when he reached her, but Alina clamped her hand to his mouth to silence him.
'Shh' she whispered, and closed her eyes in concentration.
She reigned in a slither of her magic, reeling it into her mind. She focused on the thought of her daughter, and the space around the corner of the house.
Letting out a deep breath she pushed outwards with her mind, feeling the tingle extend from her and out into the air beyond her.
She paused for a moment, before the familiar sensation of her mind's strength returned to her.
She saw a flash of four men, a woman and a teenage boy.
Surrounding my girl.
The image brought up an all-consuming tidal wave of rage through her body, burning through her veins and sending sizzling sparks to her finger tips amongst the tingle of her power.
The need to release the magic was growing unbelievable strong, and she reached out to grab Sirius' hand.
When their skin connected she felt a jolt as the electricity flowed instantly from her fingertips and into his.
He gasped in surprise, his eyes widening in confusion.
'It belongs to you too' she told him seriously 'it will help'
'Where is she?' Sirius asked quickly, somehow completely understanding that she had shared her power with him, that it now flowed through his veins too.
'Round the corner...there's three Death Eaters, and then Lucius, Narcissa, and I'm guessing their son – so what's the plan? She asked him quickly, to which he quirked an eyebrow at her.
'Is there ever a plan? He grinned cockily, and her heart panged as she recognised the flash of a teenage Sirius.
She smirked back at him and chuckled lowly.
'Silly of me to ask really – let's go'
They didn't pause for any sentiments, they had taken care of those previously, there was no hesitation as they sprinted around the corner, wands extended.
They weren't noticed straight away, the attention was entirely focused on the girl in the centre of the circle.
'Cru –'
She heard the words form on the boys lips and she felt the instant combination of her own and Sirius' fury hitting them simultaneously at what was about to happen.
Alina forgot about the wand in her hand, and threw out an arm in a sweeping motion as she focused on one of the men surrounding her daughter.
She was met with a yell of shock as the man was launched off his feet and thrown to the floor five feet away from where he had been standing.
STAY DOWN her mind screamed with authority as she felt him trying to fight against her hold on him.
He wasn't strong, his mind was not trained and she was met with no further resistance.
The second she attacked the Death Eater his comrades had turned to attack, and with relief Alina saw that Sirius had disarmed the young teenager who had been about to attack their daughter.
A sudden beam of ugly red light shot past her face and she dived to the side, cursing herself for her slow reaction.
Glancing to the side she saw Sirius darting and dodging the curses being thrown at him, his face set with determination and a daring glint in his eyes as he threw curse after curse back at them.
'Cruc –' she heard the word being uttered and turned to glare at the hefty man that had his wand pointed directly at her.
'PROTEGO' she shouted, blocking the attack.
Quickly, she imagined the sensation of the Cruciatus curse, she remembered the way it burned every atom of her body, the way it bent and tore at her bones and crushed her organs, and then she smirked as she pushed the memory outwards.
She sent it hurtling directly at the man before her, and laughed harshly at the sound of the man's screams as he lived out the sensation of her memories.
As soon as he hit the floor, as he dropped to his knees in agony, he was no longer in her mind; no longer a concern.
She glanced up and saw Sirius duelling madly with Narcissa, and turned to focus on where her daughter was.
Alina had to stifle to shout of horror as she turned to find her daughter held roughly around the neck by Lucius Malfoy, whose wand was pressing sharply into the side of her neck.
His face burned with contempt and he smirked mockingly at her, his eyes slits of cruelty.
'Hello, Alina' he greeted her, his voice laced with smugness.
The very sound of his voice sent chills down her spine, and she shivered unwillingly.
But the proximity to her daughter, the protectiveness she felt, caused the vibrations that flooded through her to become alarmingly intense. They ached, and strained within her to reach out towards her child.
'Get away from her' she growled, the anger in her voice consuming the space between them.
Her command was met with the cold laughter that haunted her dreams and she flinched as the sound grated against her ears.
'That's not going to happen...Alina' his voice caressed her name, wrapping it delicately in venom.
Her eyes flickered from Lucius and were immediately stuck, utterly transfixed on her daughter's face.
It was the first time she could see it properly, without it being a flash of memory that appeared in the back of her mind, and she was completely compelled.
Her face was almost identical to her own, even she herself could recognise the similarities; the same hair, the shape of her nose and the curve of her lips.
But those eyes, the stormy grey eyes that despite her fear were flashing with defiance belonged entirely to Sirius.
It was the way that she was trying to mask the fear that had a hold on her that broke Alina's heart and made the intensity of the protectiveness she felt even stronger.
Their eyes were locked and Alina tried to tell her everything she was feeling silently.
Don't worry. It's going to be fine. I will get you out of here.
A flash of something that Alina couldn't quite place shot through the girls eyes, indicating that she seemed to understand.
A shout from behind them alerted Alina to the fact that Sirius was still fighting with Narcissa and she had to deal with Lucius alone.
I can manage she told herself, a wave of confidence sweeping through her.
'Then I'm going to make you' she replied simply.
'Move...and I will kill her' Lucius warned, pressing the wand deeper into her daughter's neck.
'Let. Go. Of. My. Daughter' she hissed dangerously.
As soon as the word 'daughter' slipped from her lips an entirely consuming wave of power surged through her.
She remembered the pain of the birth, she remembered the protection she gave her baby throughout the pregnancy and she remembered the way they had lied to her, manipulated her into believing they had killed her little girl.
Something snapped within her.
Alina forgot about holding back, she forgot about the dangers of unleashing her power and how it could injure her.
She didn't feel any pain, her mind didn't even acknowledge the strain of controlling her magic, she just threw it from her with as much strength as she could muster.
It felt as if a volcano was erupting within her, the electricity that lived within her shot from her body instantaneously and hurtled directly at the man threatening her daughter.
'ALINA!'
Sirius' cry alarmed her, but the power surging through her veins prevented her from reacting.
Her arms flew open as the power left her, leaving her utterly and completely empty. Her knees buckled, but she stumbled forward to stop herself from falling; her eyes still set on Lucius.
He had no time to react, to defend or even attack. His eyes lost their cruel edge and instead widened with utter terror. The air around them seemed to vibrate with unleashed power and the world seemed to freeze in anticipation.
The second it connected with Lucius, a piercing screech erupted from the man's lungs. His face turned a deathly white as if the life had been sucked from his being, his grip dropped from her daughter's neck and he was torn backwards. He fell to the floor and his body began to jerk violently, his body shooting backwards as if an invisible force were dragging him and he was crying out as he twitched and shook in sharp movements.
The louder his yells grew, the weaker she felt herself, and despite her best efforts her legs crumbled beneath her and she fell to her knees.
She reached out and threw her arms to the floor to prevent herself from falling any further, and a strong pair of arms gripped around her shoulders.
Her body froze, and her mind told her that she should fight, that she should protect herself, but she no longer had the strength for resistance.
'It's just me –'
Sirius.
Her whole body seemed to sigh at the sound of her voice, and the world around her began to dim.
'Get – her – our girl' she told him breathlessly, her voice weak as a dull thumping sounded in her ears.
'She's okay...she's all right' his voice was thick with emotion 'she's safe.'
Alina forced her eyes to focus as Sirius pulled her to his chest and she stared intently upward, her searching blue eyes finally meeting two pairs of identical grey orbs.
'You're my mother' a girl's voice whispered from above her.
She opened her mouth to reply, but speaking was no longer an ability she possessed.
Instead she settled with a weak smile forming on her lips.
Just as everything went black.
A/N: So this is definately the longest chapter of the story so far, I really hope it didn't drag on too much and that you enjoyed it! So Eve's been found! Is Alina all right? And what's going to happen next?
Thank you so much for all your reviews I really do appreciate them all and they are what got me to get this chapter done as quickly as possible!
Please keep them coming, your reviews mean everything to me!
And i'm so glad that I still have you readers here!
xxx