Chapter 33: The Mouth of Hell
Leolin sat at her breakfast table in the manicured interior courtyard of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. The previous owner had recently gone bankrupt, and Leolin took the opportunity to buy the Palazzo. It was enough out of the way to keep her from getting annoyed with the bustle of the city, but it was still lavish enough to suit her tastes.
She was still in her dressing gown drinking an espresso when heavy boot-tread sounded on the stone walkway leading back into the marble hallway of the palazzo. She turned to look and sneered when she realised it was Cristian. She turned back to her coffee, completely uninterested in him.
He was undeterred by her reception. He was used to it by now. She knew it irked him that the power dynamic between them had shifted, but he was paid so handsomely he was forced to swallow his dissatisfaction.
"We have a problem," Cristian said in a bored tone, crossing his arms.
"Yes we do," she agreed. "You're ruining my appetite. I didn't summon you. Get out."
"Swish was picked up last night. Teller's holding him in Florence."
"What?" she demanded, on her feet at once.
"Do I have you attention now?" he asked wryly.
"You better have come right here with this information," she snapped. "If I find that you sat on this for more than ten minutes, I will rip your heart out with my bare fucking hands."
He sneered.
"No need to be nasty," Cristian said sullenly. "And yes, I came right here. Teller's put out word that he''s caught La Genie, and the buyers are in a state."
"Did Teller release Sweeney's name?"
Cristian shook his head.
"Has he been charged yet?" she demanded.
Again, he shook his head.
"He doesn't have enough."
Her floo buzzed.
"Bullocks," she said. "It's Teller. I have to get to Florence and set this straight. Call Severina then stay out of our way," she said.
He folded one arm over the other.
"You know," he sneered. "It wasn't so long ago that you were under my thumb. I would be careful how you speak to me, Leolin. You never know when the winds might change."
"I will kill you long before it ever gets to that," she warned. "And do as I say."
"Yes, your majesty" he said sullenly, and she disappeared upstairs to get dressed.
She strode through the glass doors of the IAO an hour later, and Teller sneered as he took in her fitted black blouse and flame red pencil skirt.
"You're late, Thenàrd," he sniped. "And this office has a dress code."
"I was in Rome when you flooed," she said evenly. "And I'm a consultant, not an employee. Besides, this is business casual. I'm not technically in violation of anything."
"Technically not," Teller growled.
She gave a cat-like smile.
"Why does it bother you so much that I'm beautiful?" she queried.
"I don't think you are," he replied at once. "Only heinously unprofessional."
She sat on the nearest desk, casually dropping her expensive bag before crossing one shapely leg over the other.
"Oh liar, liar, darling," she purred.
"Get off my desk," he snapped.
She ignored his directive.
"Where's the suspect?"
"Holding cell B-4."
He handed her a file and she pretended to peruse it. In reality she was spinning her rims, trying to think of a way to get Sweeney out a trouble.
"What makes you so sure this is him?" she said, still reading.
"He was convicted of petty theft when he was sixteen, he's been confirmed to have been in 18 of the 37 cities that have been hit, and he fits the psychological profile."
"Psychological profile?" she asked.
Shit. She hadn't expected Teller to be that clever.
"Both his parents were killed in the British War, and he's a loner. Keeps himself to himself. The few people that seem to know him say he's arrogant; thinks he's better than everyone else."
"Is that enough to convict?" Leolin asked.
"No," Crofton said. "We need a positive id from one of the buyers we've caught."
"That's not going to work," Leolin said, rolling her eyes. "La Genie isn't stupid. He has a fence."
"You don't know this guy like I do," Teller said, snatching the file from her. "He wants recognition from his buyers. He needs applause. One of the buyers knows him. I'll have confirmation by the end of the day. I want to charge this little jerk by tomorrow."
Leolin rolled her eyes, secretly glad that Teller was so predictable. He was unknowingly going to play right into her hands.
"This isn't going to work, Teller! This is a bloody waste of my time."
"You're being paid to work this case," he sneered. "Get on it."
"On what?" she demanded. "You haven't given me any marching orders, Captain."
"Go bleed his guy. If you squeeze him maybe he'll slip up or crack."
Good, Leolin thought, she would get a chance to see Swish alone.
"Fine," she said sullenly. "That's no more stupid than you trying to squeeze buyers."
"I'm going to leverage their cooperation," Teller corrected. "With immunity on the table, someone is going to spill the beans."
"You're understanding of human nature is so simplistic," she said, picking up the file.
"No more than yours," he called, already halfway out the door. "Floor me after you're done with him"
"Fine," she called over her shoulders, already swiping her wand over the door to the holding cells. On recognising her wand, the door swung in and admitted her. She gave a casual glance over her shoulder to see if she was being followed before letting the heavy oak boom shut behind her.
Leolin kept her gait normal as she strode down the long stretch, her eyes focused on the file as she went. A wandering eye, the Wizarding version of a security camera, watched this part of the corridor, and it would look suspicious if she didn't act normally. The cells were thankfully unwatched, and when she reached the cell her posture remain nonchalant, though she caught Sweeney's eye and nodded. She unlocked the cell and stepped inside.
The cells weren't watched, but they were still guarded by an extendable ear, mostly to keep aurors from mistreating suspects.
She gave Sweeney a reassuring nod before pulling out the chair at the table and sitting down.
"Mr…MacAngus, is it?" she said casually. "Have a seat."
"I'd rather stand," he replied, and she nodded to say that this resistance was good.
"And I'd rather be lying on a beach somewhere. Sit. Down."
Finally he did as he's told.
"We know, Mr. MacAngus," she said almost casually. "Why don't you just own up to this and save everyone the trouble."
"Own up to what?" Sweeney demanded. "I haven't doneanything wrong."
"So you deny you're the art thief La Genie du Mal?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "Is that what this is about?"
"I'm going to read a list of names. Go ahead and tell me if any ring a bell. Francesco Cybo."
"No."
"Allesandro Farnese."
"No."
"Kassim Beyhan."
"This is pointless. I don't know anyone on this list!"
"Helmut Wohl."
She nodded and he sighed.
"Yes, I know him."
"Ah, I see," she said smugly.
"And how is it that you know him?"
"I handled some of his investments. I'm an accountant."
"I see. And where you aware he was purchasing stolen art?"
"I—yes, he said. He knew where she was going with this. They'd turned Wohl in with an anonymous tip. "I reported him."
She winked. They'd set Wohl up using a tip. That would give him some credibility.
"That will be all, then. Good day, Mr. MacAngus."
"Wait!" he said. "I turned him in! As soon as I found out about the art! I turned him in!"
"So you've said," she sniffed.
I'll get you out of this, she mouthed, and he nodded.
So pulled out her floo even as she exited the cell, sending a quick message.
Sev,
Get to Alessandro Farnese's house and goad him into signing a gag. Vlad's creeping around Rome somewhere, are we're going to set him up.
-Lai
She then flooed Teller.
"Hello?" he said tersely.
"You were right," she said begrudgingly. "I think this MacAngus bloke's our man. He did Wohl's books for him."
"I've already talked to Wohl. Wohl said he had an accountant that he was sure sold him out. He also said the fence was a Frenchman, not a Scot."
"Then should I cut MacAngus loose?"
"No," he said. "Wohl's got hundreds of people working for him. He admits he doesn't know any of them personally. MacAngus could have heard what happened from someone else, possibly the fence. I'm going to keep digging."
"Where are you headed next?" she asked.
"Farnese," Teller said. "He was the first one we caught. It could be La Genie hadn't worked out all the kinks yet."
Leolin smiled. She knew he'd go after Farnese sooner or later.
"What am I supposed to do until then?" she demanded.
"I don't care," Teller snapped. "Just don't leave the office."
"Fine," she said. "Floo if you find out something. I want to get back to Rome."
Teller hung up just as Leolin's floo buzzed again.
"Sev?"
"It's done," Severina replied. "They both signed a gag they didn't even know they were signing. Honestly, men are so stupid."
"Good timing," Leolin said. "Teller is on his way to Farnese now. I can't wait for this whole thing to blow up. While Teller's squeezing Vlad, we're free to plan the next grab. Teller will be spinning in circles before he can get his bearing."
"Call me when it's done," Severina said. "We'll make a grand celebration out of it."
"I will," Leolin said, kicking her feet up on her desk. "Merlin, this is going to be so fun."
It perhaps seemed cruel to set two men unassociated with the La Genie as scape goats. On the other hand, Leolin would do anything for her family and her choices hadn't been accidental. Farnese had been accused of beating his wife and daughter to death in a fit of rage, and though he was convicted, the judge had mysteriously gone missing, and the charges were dismissed. Vlad had a penchant for young girls, and he'd been accused of raping them on several occasions, though never convicted.
About an hour later, her floo buzzed.
"And?" she said, seeing it was Teller.
"Farnese turned over his fence, and the fence says he barely saw La Genie, but that he's a German named Achterberg. It's probably an alias, but it's a start."
"Oh congratulations, darling," she purred. "Can I leave now?"
"Yes. Release MacAngus on your way out?"
"So I tell him you're sorry?" she said.
"Go to Hell," he replied
Leolin heart was hammering in her chest when she arrived at King's Cross, and she looked around wildly, still half-expecting a trap. However, there was none, at least that she could see. Immediately she drew out her floo and hailed the twins, first Effie then Sweeney, to no reply. She snapped the floo shut, forcing herself to relax before casually heading down the main thoroughfare towards the platforms. The terminal was surprisingly crowded for the late hour, and it hummed with the conversations of the hundreds of muggles who thronged around her.
Their indistinct murmuring was setting her teeth on edge, but she was grateful for the coverage. She needed more than anything to blend in. Unfortunately, her elegant gown and diamond necklace were drawing bemused stares, as was her wand, and she hurriedly concealed it in a hidden pocket of the dress. She wish she'd thought to bring a change of clothes. Hopefully Sweeney and Effie would have some. She wanted to be able to make a quick break if she needed, and the heavy velvet of the garment was less than ideal. At the very least, she hoped they'd bring trainers. She'd kicked off her shoes in her haste to get away from Adrian after the fight, and on top of everything else, she was also currently barefoot.
Still feeling absurdly ill-at-ease, she glanced around before drawing a gleaming cigarette case from her cache, slipping a fag between her lips and pretending to light it with her floo as a pretense for being the flame close enough to speak into it without arousing too much suspision.
"Sweeney!" she hissed into the flames. "Where are you? I'm worried and I'm flying blind. Floo me back straightaway."
She snapped the sleek lighter shut just as a surly conductor appeared.
"You can't smoke in here, Miss!" he snapped in exasperation, pointing to a sign on the wall which said the same thing.
"My mistake," Leolin muttered, stowing the cigarette back in the case and vanishing it without thinking about it. However, she realised her mistakea second too late, and she glanced up at the man to find him studying her with scrutiny.
"So, what?" he said. "You a magician, or something?"
His tone suggested how unenthusiastic he was about this prospect.
"Something like that," she said. "Would you like to see a trick?"
He wrinkled his nose in contempt.
"Not really, thanks," he said, not sounding thankful at all.
Leolin shrugged, eager to end the exchange and keep moving. She felt exposed standing in one place for too long.
"Your choice," she replied flippantly. "Have a good night."
He tipped his cap.
"You as well, ma'am."
She made a small salutatory gesture and hurried on as quick as she could without arousing suspicion. When she felt she'd made it a respectable distance away, she glanced back and found the man had long since disappeared back into the crowd. Leolin then turned and flicked her floo open, feeling increasingly dismayed when there was still not word from Sweeney.
Trying not to panic, she headed on, though she felt her heart grow cold and sink and centimetre or so lower in her chest when she looked up to see an sullen Augustus Rookwood prowling along a catwalk thirty or so feet above her head, surveying the crowd below him.
Fuck, this was exactly what she'd been afraid of. Adrian was still tied up at the ministry, but he'd sent Rookwood ahead to ensure they couldn't leave the city. Luckily for her, the train from Paris had just arrived, and there was a fresh swell of bodies populating the main terminal. Still, Leolin could see Rookwood's keen eyes searching for her, and she knew if she remained where she was for too long, he wouldn't undoubtedly find her.
When she spotted Kai Morris as well, she surreptitiously slipped behind and fought to control her hammering heart. Adrian's inner circle was clearly still tied up at the embassy, but she suspected Rookwood and Morris had at least one other accomplice with them. Peeking out, she spied Marcus Flint, and she swore quietly under her breath.
Fuck, she thought. Without Sweeney or Effie, she had no chance of taking on all three of them. That meant she was going to have to find a way past without being seen. When she tried both of the twins again and once again received no answer, she eased her wand down into her palm, took a steadying breath, and readied herself.
She was La Genie du Mal; if anyone could do this, it was her.
Carefully she eased into the sea of people, moving with the ebb and flow to avoid drawing attention to herself. She resisted the urge to look up, keeping her chin instead tuck to her chest in an attempt to hide the resplendent diamonds at her throat. She was only a hundred or so yards from the catwalk they were standing on now, and if she could find a way underneath them, she could hide out at Platform 9 and 3/4 until she found the twins. For a moment she considered what she would do if they didn't show, but it was ultimately too hard to stomach that prospect, so she forged ahead instead.
When she was a mere ten yards from the platform and almost directly in Rookwood's sightline, she heard a small voice exclaim, "Look Mummy! A princess!"
Leolin looked over in horror and alarm to find a girl no older than six pointing straight at her.
"Olive," her mother chided, urging her in the opposition direction. "It's rude to point."
"But Mummy," Olive protested. "She looks like Cinderella!"
Her mother turned to give Leolin an apologetic look, but the damage was already done. Flint and Rookwood were on the move, wands raised.
The crowd screamed as Flint fired a curse into the throng, stunning a man and sending several others reeling back. Leolin fired a similar hex in his direction before tearing off, hoping vainly she'd be able to lose the trio in the chase.
Unfortunately, Kai Morris was quicker than expected, and he was on her heels from the jump. Luckily for Leolin, he was a poor dueler, and even her fleeing back wasn't a good enough target.
Taking his loss as her gain, she turned and hit him squarely in the chest with a stunning spell that blasted him off his feet. Wasting no time, she dove head first at the pillar between 9 and 10, hoping too late that the powers that be would sense her distress and magically open the platform. Blissfully fate seemed to be on her side, and she passed through the brick with ease, landing in a pile on the other side.
Immediately she cast every protective spell she could think of, trying to ensure they didn't follow her here even knowing they somehow wouldn't be able to. Even from hundreds of miles away, it felt like the magic of Hogwarts was protecting her. Or trying to, at least.
It was dark and peaceful on the one the platform, and the old Scarlet steamer lay sleeping beside her. Suddenly she yearned to board it back in time to the very beginning. She looked up, and she could practically see 16-year-old Draco standing across the platform, watching her keenly
She exhaled a stale breath and inhaled a fresh one. Now wasn't the time for a doleful amble down memory lane. The most important task of her life lay before her, and she needed to be hardened and ready. As she was affixing her mental armor, her floo began to issue soft plumes of emerald smoke.
"Eff!" she cried. "Merlin's beard, where the fuck have you been?"
"I'm so sorry," Effie said. "Swish had some last minute arrangements to make, and we didn't know if the lines were secure or not. Are you alright?"
"For now," Leolin said. "I'm hiding out on Platform 9 and 3/4, but Rookwood saw me. He knows I'm here."
"Has he got anyone with him?" Effie said, sounding serious.
"Kai Morris and Marcus Flint," Leolin said. "At least that I saw. He could have others."
"Right," Effie said, clearly processing this information. "Did they follow you to the platform?"
"I'm not sure," Leolin said. "They may have guessed I'd come here, though."
"Right," Effie repeated. "Do you think you can make it to Platform VI?"
"I think so," Leolin said slowly. "But we're going to Rome? I thought Swish said—"
"Change of plans," Effie interrupted. "Can you make it? The train leaves in ten minutes."
"If I leave now, I can."
"Okay, good," Effie said. "Now it could be like you said; Rookwood and the others could be waiting for you to come out, so I'm sending Swish to cover you. After we hang up, wait thirty seconds and go. Once you're back in the terminal, you run like hell, you hear me? No matter what's happening you don't stop."
"But Swish—"
"No promise me, Leolin," Effie said sternly. "Promise me you won't stop for any reason."
"I can't do that," Leolin said earnestly.
"Listen to me," Effie said, voice stern. "If we want to pull this off, you need to trust me and do as I say. Do you trust me?"
"Of course," Leolin said.
"So what are you going to do when you get off the platform?"
"Run like Hell," Leolin repeated.
"Good girl," Effie said. "When you get here, board the train. Understood?"
"Yes," Leolin said, rising to her feet and running her thumb along the underside of her engagement ring.
"Alright," Effie said. "Good luck. See you soon."
Leolin clicked the floo shut and took a final shaky breath before barreling through the brick wall. She wasn't even completely through it on the other side when she felt a curse whiz by her face, knicking her cheek and shattering the brick closest to her head.
She countered the curse, which Rookwood had thrown, but Flint had emerged now, too, wand similarly drawn. She threw up a shield to defect both their hexes, but she had no means of escaping without leaving herself vulnerable to attack.
They stood facing off, Leolin's wand flicking between them as she considered what to do. Kai Morris had joined them, and Leolin fought down a swelling panic. However, she was saved when Sweeney emerged, firing cleanly and knocking Flint unconscious.
"Leolin!" He screamed, blocking a nasty hex from Morris and a cruciatus from Rookwood. "Get out of here!"
"I can't!" she cried, blocking a curse from Victoria's lover Robbie McNair.
Adrian had clearly emptied his reserve in hopes of catching her.
"You promised!" Sweeney countered, felling Morris as well. "Go! I'm right behind you!"
Reluctantly Leolin took off, velvet gown hiked to her mid thigh as she ran. She heard a thud and turned to find Sweeney had brought down McNair, and now he was faced off with Rookwood and a rather battered-looking Kai Morris. Wasting no more time, she began sprinting as fast as her feet would carry her.
"Miss!" A muggle transit authority called as she blew past him. "There's no running...in...here..."
Leolin's pulse pounded in time with her feet as she tore across the expanse, ignoring more muggle remarks as she shoved past them. Occassionally she glanced back, but she saw neither Sweeney nor any of Rookwood's crew. Finally, she arrived breathless at the stone divider between Muggle platforms 5 and 6, and she passed through the Southern face and onto the Wizarding platform VI.
The familar train bound for Rome steamed and hissed on the tracks, heralding its imminent departure to the witches and wizards still milling about on the platform. Leolin once again dodged into the crowd, ducking as the lanky Adolphus Yaxley appeared, eyes swinging in wide arcs across the assembly in search of her.
She needed to board the train before he caught up, but she realised as she watched others do so that she wasn't likely to get far without a ticket. She glanced at the conductor, who stood manning the door. She had no time to buy one properly; Yaxley would surely see her before then. She sighed knowing she'd have to settle for the next best thing.
Glancing back to ensure Yaxley hadn't spotted her, she purposefully bumped into a portly older gentleman and gracefully lifted the folio folding his ticket from his overcoat pocket.
"Me scuzzi," she sputtered, vanishing the ticket into her cache. "Io non ho visto voi!"
"No, no, no, signorina," he said, taking her slender hand between his two fleshy ones. "No apology is necessary."
"I'm sorry," Leolin continued in English. "I'm terribly clumsy."
She could see in her peripheral that Yaxley was edging closer and closer. She needed to go, but the gentleman's grip was rather firm, and she had no way to escape him without being rude and causing a scene.
"You, clumsy?" the italian repeated, sounded offended himself. "Never, signorina. You are a an angel! A swan!"
"Grazie," she said, gently tugging now. "You're too kind, but I really ought to be going."
"Do you have a bag, signorina? I will carry it for you."
"No, grazie mille, I really must—" she began, but she was cut off by Yaxley calling to her across the platform.
"Oy, Lefevre!" he bellowed. "Get back here!"
"Excuse me!" Leolin said to the poor fool, wrenching her hand away and stuffing several galleons in his palm. "And thank you!"
"For what, signorina?" he called as she retreated away, shouldering to the front of the line and thrusting her ticket at the conductor. Yaxley was attempting to do the same, but the crowd was less obliging towards him, and he was still stranded on the platform swearing as she slipped onto the train. No sooner had she started down the corridor then she was yanked into a compartment. She screamed and grabbed her wand, but her would-be abductor only laughed.
"Easy, lass," Sweeney said, folding her into a hug. "It's just me."
"Swish," she breathed in relief. "You made it. Thank Merlin."
"Course I did," he said, grinning as he touched her cheek. "I have no intention of dying tonight."
She laughed, but the looked faded as they heard Yaxley's rasp calling her name.
"C'mon!" Sweeney urged, tugging her hand and yanking her into the corridor again. "We need to move!"
"There you are!" Rookwood growled from the opposite end of the long hall. "Come here, you!"
"Time to go," Sweeney said, stuffing her into the nearest compartment and sending a twister ripping down the aisle towards Yaxley.
"Excuse me!" cried the compartment's occupant, a wealthy-looking English witch in her late fifties. "This is a private car!"
"So sorry!," Leolin said, scrambling over the woman's owl cage to the door on the door at the other end. "Good night!"
"My word!" The woman exclaimed as Sweeney followed.
They burst into the far hallway only to spot a bloodied McNair.
"Here!" he cried. "I've got them!"
Leolin threw a stinging jinx right into his face between Sweeney nearly tore her arm from her socket pulling her into another car.
This one had four blokes in it, and they seemed far from bother when Leolin burst in, breasts heaving and making the diamond strung across them sparkle.
"You alright, love?" one asked, reaching a hand down to help her to her feet.
She accepted the gesture even as she frowned at him.
"Oy!" another bloke exclaimed when Sweeney dove in. "What the fuck, mate?"
"Lefevre!" Rookwood roared. He must have been right outside the door.
"Bollocks!" Leolin whined.
They already knew McNair was guarding the other corridor.
"Quick," one of the men said. "Pop into that luggage rack. We'll cover you!"
Leolin and Sweeney traded a glance then nodded. At this point, what choice did they have?
Sweeney scrambled up and the first man offered Leolin a boost.
"Nice knickers," he smirked as she heaved onto the rack.
She responded by kicking the spectacles off his face. He gave a small smile.
"Fair enough."
Quickly the other four rearranged the luggage to cover Leolin and Sweeney before sitting down and trying to act casual.
Just then the door burst open to admit Rookwood.
"Oy!"one of the man snapped, but Rookwood shot him a look that silenced him.
"I'm looking for two fugitives," he said, flashing the badge at his hip, along with his wand. "A young woman and a red-haired man."
"haven't seen them," one of the blokes said flippantly. "Sorry mate."
Rookwood grabbed him by the collar and jammed him wand into the poor blighter's jugular.
"I have witnesses that say they came into this car!"
"Well we didn't see—"
"You're all four under arrest for obstruction of justice," Rookwood said. "Hand over your passports."
"Wait!" one of them said. "Alright, we saw them, okay?"
Leolin heart was hammering. Seven hells, they were trapped.
"They burst in here then climbed through the sodding vent. Don't arrest us!"
Rookwood released the man he'd been holding and glanced up at the vent. Leolin could see him through a small gap between two of the bags. Please Merlin, she silently pleaded. Don't look over here.
However, he didn't. He simply blasted the vent aside and scrambled through it. When the sound of him clumsily crawling through the duct faded, the six of them all let out a sigh.
"Fuck me," the one with glasses breathed.
Leolin and Sweeney were already climbing down.
"Thank you," Leolin said. "I wish we could pay you back for that."
"How about a quick snog?" one of them ventured, and she gave him a look so dark he laughed nervously. "Or not. Your choice, obviously."
It was here that the whistle sounded a final time and the trained lurched into motion.
"Bollocks," Sweeney growled. "C'mon, Nay, let's go. Thanks, mates."
"Anytime, fair lady," one said, and Leolin rolled her eyes and peeked cautiously into the hall.
"Coast is clear," she hissed to Sweeney. "Let's go!"
"This way," Sweeney said tearing down the hall and shoving Leolin into a compartment in first class.
Leolin burst in, turned, and cried out in surprise when she found herself face to face with...herself.
"What the bleeding Jesus is this?" Leolin exclaimed in a strangled voice.
"Our escape plan," Effie said. "Hello darling."
It was here that Leolin recognised that though there were six people in the compartment, she was seeing only three faces.
"Hiya!" the other Leolin said cheerfully. "You must be the real thing. Lovely knockers you've got."
Leolin looked at Effie, the real Effie, in alarm.
"Who are you lot?" Leolin demanded, wildly uneasy.
"Merlin, Swish," his polyjuice twin chided. "You couldn't have given the poor thing a heads-up?"
"There wasn't time, Sweeney said. "Nay, take off your dress."
"Excuse me?" she snapped.
She glanced over at the other Leolin, who was heeling at of her black trainers and wrestling her shirt over her head.
"Now, Leolin!" Effie said, glancing at the compartment door.
This twins, Leolin realised, were already dressed like their counterparts.
Sweeney and not Sweeney turned away in deference as she stripped the dress off and handed it to her twin. She unfastened the necklace and handed it over before stepping into the soft leggings and tank top the woman had been wearing.
"And your ring, too," other Effie said, sounding sheepish.
"Are you fucking mad?" Leolin snapped.
"Just leave it, Maggie," facsimile Sweeney said to fake Leolin. "They won't notice."
"Sorry," not Effie said. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"No," Leolin said, swishing the ring back and forth. "I know you didn't."
"Right," other Sweeney said. "We ought to get going, darling."
"Be careful," Effie said, kissing them all on the cheek. "I mean it."
The other Sweeney gave a familiar grin.
"Always are!"
He cuffed real Sweeney genially on the shoulder.
"Stick to the plan," Sweeney said sternly. "Alan, that means no showing off."
"You're no fun," Alan said, smiling.
"I mean it," Sweeney warned.
"Right, right," Alan said. "Scout's honour."
"Floo when you're safe," Effie said.
"We will," Maggie agreed. "Good luck, you three!"
With that, she and Alan disappeared into the corridor. Leolin could immediately hear shouts and incantations, indicating that McNair, Yaxley, and Morris had caught up. It was three on three. Leolin hoped the trio was up to it.
"We don't have much time," Effie said nervously, glancing at the door and the meleé echoing beyond.
"Now what?" Leolin said.
"We're getting up this train," Effie explained. "Swish, give me a boost."
"How?" Leolin demanded.
"There isn't time to explain!" Sweeney said as Effie wiggled through the open panel in the ceiling. "C'mon."
He held out his intertwined hands to Leolin and she hoisted herself up as well. She and Effie then pulled Sweeney up. When he was through, he drew his wand and cried "Bombarda!", blowing a hole onto slightly big enough for them to wiggle through onto the top of the speeding train.
The wind screamed by them, biting at their clothes and hair as they all fought to keep their balance.
"Now what?" Leolin cried over the howling.
"We jump!" Sweeney replied.
"Are you fucking crazy?" Leolin said.
"Just trust me! Aquamenti!"
A small pool appeared in the distance, though it was fast approaching.
"When I tell you to," Sweeney instructed. "Jump!"
They all took hands, watching as the pool grew. In reality it was the size of a swimming pool, though it looked thirty or forty feet deep.
"Get ready!" Sweeney called, squeezing their hands. "Now!"
Leolin squeezed her eyes shut and screamed and they launched off, through the breath was stolen from her lungs and she made no sound. For a moment it felt as if they were in free-fall, but suddenly Leolin's feet broke the water's cool surface, and she was driven fifteen feet deep into the pool. Immediately she began clawing her way upward, and she gasped when she finally emerged.
She doggedly swam to the edge and scrambled out, collapsing onto her back and breathing hard.
"Merlin," she breathed. "I cannot believe that bloody worked."
"No sense in pretending you're not impressed," Sweeney said smugly.
"La Genie strikes again!" Effie laughed, breath labored as well.
"I'm just glad no one drowned," he brother replied. "After all that, it would have been a pretty rubbish ending."
They all laughed.
"So where are we really going?" Leolin said, standing and ringing out of her hair.
"Greece," Sweeney affirmed. "Siccum Aestus."
Leolin felt her clothes and hair drying at the spell.
"Cheers," she said. "How are we getting there?" Leolin asked.
"You'll see. C'mon, this way."
Leolin nodded, swishing her ring back and forth. Even in the dark it shone.
"Merlin's flowery pants!" Effie exclaimed. "Now that is a diamond!"
"Oh this old thing?" Leolin laughed.
Effie's eyes sparkled.
"Did Draco give you this?"
Leolin nodded, and Effie squealed and hugged her.
"So you too—"
Leolin nodded again, beaming.
"That's brilliant!" Effie cooed. "Tell us everything!"
"Things got fairly harry tonight," Leolin said, trying to forget that part and focus on the happy ending. "And just when I thought I'd lost Draco he burst in, told me he couldn't live one more day without me, and got on one knee."
"Well done, you saucy minx," Sweeney laughed. "We knew you could do it. And without even breaking the gag."
Leolin nodded, smiling down at the ring again. To her it was a symbol of hope, a reminder that the night was darkest just before the dawn, and the dawn was finally on its way.
They lapsed into comfortable silence, trudging along the subterranean track lead only by their three torches. Every few minutes they would reach a fork, at which point Sweeney would draw a small object from his pocket. It would belch out a small tongue of flame, and they would go where it indicated.
"So I'm sorry to ask," Effie said, watching Leolin fiddle with her ring. "But besides you and Draco, what happened at the embassy?"
"It was a trap," Leolin said. "Severina's cousin Anaïs betrayed us, and Adrian was there waiting for us when we got there.
"You're joking," Sweeney said, stunned. "Why would she do that? Borgia blood is thicker than molten gold."
"But she's not a Borgia," Leolin said. "She's a Cortez, and she comes from a long time of backstabbers and tyrants. Sev told me her ancestor was a conquistador, and he used to roast Muggle chieftains alive.
"I can't believe it," Effie said. "Though it makes sense. That's the leak we were looking for."
Leolin nodded.
"We never could figure out how Adrian found out we were in Rome. In fact, I think she was the one who attacked us in the chapel."
"How is that possible?" Sweeney asked. "I thought you said Chaisson killed that bawbag."
"He did," Leolin said. "Or we thought he did. But metamorphagi have a different genetic makeup than we can shift forms to slow fatal injuries. That's what she must have done, because she was there tonight. She was posing as Brank. She probably would have killed all of us if Blake hadn't stepped in and saved our necks. Adrian grabbed her before we could. Merlin only knows what he'll do with her. I feel terrible."
"How was Anaïs able to pose at Brank?" Effie quieried.
Leolin bent her head, feeling disgustingly guilty.
"Rhydderich sold him out. He's the American ringleader Adrian's been chasing. Adrian's got Sharpe, too. Her cover blew sometimes this afternoon."
"How did Rhydderich know it was, Brank, though? I thought he had a secret keeper."
"He did" Leolin said. "They must have sold him out, too."
"Merlin," Sweeney breathed. "Every time I think things can't get any darker, they somehow find a way to."
"The only good news is that Teller got the Americans on our side. If they can hold the embassy tonight, we have a chance of fighting back.
"We're on Tex's team now?" Sweeney said. "Admittedly never thought I'd see the day, especially considering he almost caught me red-handed."
"I still don't really like him," Leolin said. "But you do sorta have to respect him. He stuck his neck out for me twice tonight, and he was literally die before he gives up control of that embassy. I have to admit, with him on our side, it feels like our luck is finally about to change.
"That ring certainly feels like a good omen. Merlin's beard, Malfoy has good taste.
"All I care about is that it's better than Gen's."
Effie laughed.
"So did he say he was going to do about her and the baby?"
Leolin felt some of the warmth in her chest going on. She'd secretly been wondering the same thing.
"I don't know," Leolin admitted. "But whatever we do, we're going to do it together. That's all I care about."
"What did he say when he proposed?"
"That I was perfect and that he loved me," Leolin said. "It wasn't over the top, but it was exactly what I needed to hear."
"Well it's about sodding time he said it," Sweeney grumbled, nudging her playfully.
"It still doesn't feel entirely real," she admitted.
At this Effie leaned over and pinched here, make her squeal in pain and surprise.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed. "That bloody hurt!"
"But at least now you know you aren't dreaming!" Effie pointed out cheerfully.
She stuck out her tongue and Effie returned the gesture as Sweeney affectionately tucked each of them under one arm.
"Are you happy?" he asked, kissing Leolin's temple.
Leolin looked down at her ring.
"I'm the happiest I've ever been."
"Good," Effie said. "That means I don't have to strangle Malfoy."
Leolin laughed.
"I'd definitely prefer you didn't."
They grinned at each other, though the merriment faded at a sound in the distance. They all tensed at the bevy of distant pops that rebounded from both ahead and behind them. on the dimly lit tunnel.
"What was that?" Leolin breathed as all three of them drew their wands.
The question needed no real answer, because if the sound of apparation wasn't proof enough that they were no longer alone, the muted crunch of heavy bootfall certainly was.
"Bollocks," Effie whined. "How did they find us down here?"
They immediately formed a triangle, their backs pressed together as they each covered a direction.
"We need a plan," Leolin said. They could hear muffled voices now.
"Fire at will," Effie said, twirling her wand in her palm in an attempt to released some pent-up energy. "That's my bloody plan."
Several voices were distinctly audible now, and they were speaking a Slavic tongue Leolin didn't understand. Serbian, she guessed. Perhaps Albanian.
At hearing this, Sweeney lowered his wand.
"Relax," he said. "These aren't Adrian's guys."
"Then who—" Effie began, but she was interrupted by the appearence of a thick-jawed man, who barked orders at his lieutenants before giving them several as well.
Sweeney, to their eternal surprise, answered them in the same tongue.
"nie sme tuk, za da govorya s Viktor," he explained, holding his arms up in a gesture of surrender before slowly setting his wand down on the ground.
"Swish, what the fuck?" Leolin grit out.
"Are you sodding crazy?" Effie added.
Sweeney ignored them, instead drawing his curious lighter from his pocket. It the light of the men's torches, she could now see it was a small brass dragon no bigger than a galleon. It had been crudely painted red and gold, presumably, Leolin thought, to resemble a Chinese fireball.
Though it had been curled up peacefully in Sweeney's hand, it was now pacing in agitation back and forth across the span his palm. Sweeney extended it out to the man, at which point he reached towards it. As he did, it belched out a small but potent flame, and the man winced but didn't pull away. That seemed to be the reaction he was looking for, because he nodded and the men on either side of them lowered their wands. Leolin and Effie glanced at each other before doing the same.
Effie turned incredulously to her brother.
"When did you learn to speak Martian?" she demanded.
"I'm allowed my secrets," he said, tucking the fireball back into his pocket.
"What's going on?" Leolin demanded, swishing her ring in agitation.
Sweeney shook his head before subtly indicating the Slavs with his eyes. Leolin and Effie exchanged their own glance and nodded. The less outsiders knew about their business, the better."
Leolin tried to push her shoulders from her neck and take a breath, but when they produced a blindfold and offered it to her, she grew uneasy again, shaking her head.
"Absolutely not," she said.
"C'mon, Nay," Sweeney said seriously. "Tonight could very well be our last chance to do this. We're vulnerable without Brankovitch's help, and if Pucey got control of the American Embassy, we could be trapped in London indefinitely."
Leolin bit her lip. He was right and she bloody well knew it.
"Please, just trust me," Sweeney implored, and she finally nodded and accepted the mask.
No sooner had she slipped it on then she was being tugged along what seemed to be a mile or two more of tunnel. Finally, the blindfold was removed. She blinded several time, letting her eyes adjust, and when they had she found herself inside a rather well-furnished hideout. There were various maps on the walls, a potions set along the back wall, couches, a vault, and a table at center, in front of which stood a round-shouldered figure, which back to them as he studied a parchment. At the sound of their approach, and she couldn't quite contain her surprise. The man before her was unmistakably Viktor Krum.
"Leolin," he said through a thick accent, extending a hand. "Viktor."
He was thin, dark, and sallow-skinned, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He looked like an overgrown bird of prey. He'd aged very little since she first seen him at the Triwizard Tournament. He was slightly bulkier, perhaps, though he still had a classic seeker's build, and he'd grown a short beard.
"Nice to meet you," she said, shaking it.
"Not to be rude," Effie blurted. "But what the hell are you doing here?"
Krum laughed gruffly, crossing his arms across his chest. The action tugged slightly at the top button on his shirt, revealing a small tatoo of a chinese fireball on the left side of his chest.
"This my side business," he explained, accepting his talisman back from Sweeney. "Welcome."
"Blimey," Effie said. "First Brankovitch and now you? Who knew the Quidditch World was so full of secret agents.
Krum laughed again.
"This was my father's trade during first war. After World Cup, I figure was time to start again. We go. We have long way to travel."
He turned to his surly lieutenants, giving them orders in Bulgarian. They nodded and headed back the way they'd come, presumably to go back on patrol.
"Yo are sure this what you want?" Krum asked Sweeney. "No security."
Sweeney nodded, and Krum shrugged.
"We go, then," he said, jerking his head and indicating they should follow him.
When they reached a grate in the ceiling issuing moonlight from above, Krum drew his stout wand and muttered a spell, at which point the grate covering the hole disintegrated and a rope latter materialized. He headed up and they followed, ducking as they emerged onto a narrow boulevard that snaked along Regent's Canal in Muggle London.
Docked on the bank was the colossal man-of-war the Durmstrang students had arrived in for the Triwizard Tournament.
"The muggle won't see this thing?" Sweeney asked incredulously.
It was a truly massive vessel, and Leolin was frankly surprised the canal was deep enough to float it. On the other hand, magic was—well—magic.
"Muggles never see anything," Krum replied casually. "Come."
They all boarded, and as soon as they did, the ship's maroon sails swelled with a non-existent wind and the ship sprang to life. Krum flicked his wand casually at the ancient wheel before retreating a ways and perching casually on one of the outstretched cannons.
They all watched him in bemusement.
"He does make a rather convincing pirate," Effie said appreciatively. "I'll give him that."
"Right," Leolin said. "Now that we're alone, where exactly are we going?
"Greece," Sweeney replied. "Krum says we'll be there by dawn."
"Where exactly in Greece?"
"I know this sounds crazy," Sweeney prefaced. "Though I suppose it's no crazier than a necromancer. Charonium is a real place. It's in Thesprotia in Espinus."
"Oh, right, Espirus," Effie said sarcastically. "My home away from home."
"Alright, wise arse," Sweeney said. "It's off the East coast of the mainland near the Ionian islands.
"So how do we find it?" Leolin asked.
"Sweeney produced a small torch.
"I got this off an oracle in Crete. It will lead us straight to the cave."
"I'm not sure why, as a witch, the existence of Oracles surprises me," Effie said. "But somehow it does."
"I donna know why," Sweeney replied. "They're basically like our seers, and now we know at least some of Greek mythology is true, is it really such a stretch to imagine someone has a beat on what these characters are up to?"
"I suppose not, "Effie admitted.
"So how do we destroy the coins?"
"We don't, exactly," Sweeney said, frowning in concentration. "It's more like we're returning them to their rightful owner."
"Oh hell no," Effie said. "Tell me we don't have to do a hand off with Charon."
Sweeney laughed.
"We just have to throw them back in the water. Apparently he's...expecting them."
"Why?"
"Because he's being trying to get them back since Bones stole them three hundred years ago."
"If he does show up," Effie said. "I am out. I will swim back to the UK if I have to."
"He won't," Sweeney assured her. "He can't come to this world."
"But Bones can?" Leolin asked.
Sweeney shrugged.
"Apparently."
"Why?"
"Search me."
"Should we be expecting any resistance?" Effie asked skeptically.
"Not from Charon. So unless Pucey shows up, which is literally impossible, this should be a bloody cake walk."
"And what about getting back. Is Krum taking us?"
"That ship's too conspicuous, and who knows how long this could take. I have no intention of getting jammed up on the way out."
"So how are we getting back?" Leolin pressed.
"Thestrals," Sweeney said. "We'll ride them to the Athenos villa and Aleco will have a portkey ready for us. He's already confunded it to fool the border charm. Once we get back, we are all going deep into hiding to weather the storm. The minister's not going to take a blow like this lying down. Once we've regrouped, we can strike with everything we have."
Leolin nodded, letting the plan sink in. The first thought that surfaced was the realisation that she'd be seeing a thestral from the first time. Suddenly she imagined Scabior's blood gushing onto her hands, and she shut her eyes.
"Just think of what it will be like to be bid of these sodding things," Effie said, breaking Leolin's reverie.
She let this thought sink in instead, and despite everything she smiled, causing Effie and Sweeney to smile as well.
"What are you grinning at, lass?" Sweeney said, nudging her playfully.
Leolin gave a soft laugh.
"I'm going to go home and shag Draco's brains out."
They twins laughed, too.
"Amen to that!"
Leolin smiled, looking affectionately down at her ring again.
"I'm so happy for you, Nay," Effie whispered. "You deserve this."
"I know I should be worried about what's coming," Leolin confessed. "And I am. But for the first time in forever, it doesn't feel impossible."
"I told you not to give up," Sweeney said.
"I know," Leolin said, squeezing his hand. "Thank you for that.
Sweeney nodded, and they all looked up to find Krum at the helm.
"We make port soon. Ten minutes."
"Already?" Leolin asked. "It's only been an hour."
"This fast ship," Krum said, shrugging.
"Just think," Effie said jovially. "Malfoy will be bollocks deep in you by tomorrrow."
"Elizabeth Fiona MacAngus!" Leolin squealed, flushing.
Effie shrugged affably.
"It's true, though!"
Suddenly a cold chill passed across the deck, leaving a frost behind.
"мамка," Krum muttered to himself.
"What was that?" Sweeney exclaimed.
"Gatekeeper charm," Krum said, already flicking his wand and muttering spells. "Sends alarm and strips off protective charms."
"Can you fix it?" Leolin said, panic already setting in.
"Already I disable charm," Krum said. "But ship still will need repairs. Will likely set us back hour, maybe two."
They exchanged worried glances, but Sweeney shook his head.
"I know it's not ideal, but what other choice do we have? It's 1,800 miles to Greece. We'll never make it without the proper cloaking charms. If we try to cut corners, Pucey might find us."
By this time Krum had docked the boat at a large deserted pier, and a boarding plank had appeared.
"I will be quick as I can," Krum promised.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Effie asked hopefully. Leolin knew why she was so anxious; she didn't want to sit around doing nothing for an hour.
"Sorry, but no," Krum said. "You will only slow me down."
"Stay out of sight," he said, gesturing to a worn warehouse one hundred yards off the water's edge. "I will come when I am done."
With that he turned and went back to his work.
"C'mon," Sweeney said, and they took off, slipping silently inside the warehouse and settling down on the ground. The vibe was tense, and they sat in silence for a long period.
"Should we take turns sleeping?" Effie suggested.
Leolin shook her head.
"I don't think I could."
"I would say we could tell riddles," Sweeney said. "but almost being eaten by that Sphinx sort of robbed the joy of them from me."
They both nodded, smiling faintly.
"How about a story, then," Effie offered, turning to Leolin. "Tell us about how you and Malfoy fell in love."
Leolin smiled, swishing her ring.
"It's sort of a long story," she said.
"We have plenty of time," Sweeney pointed out.
Leolin considered where to begin.
"Well it all started at quidditch trials my fifth year at Hogwarts."
Telling the story was like reliving the whole glorious affair, and the twins were an exceptional audience. They reacted to every new development with the appropriate level of delight and disgust, and when she finished, they cheered.
"And that brings us to today," Leolin concluded. "With me less than twelve hours away from shagging him senseless."
They all laughed.
"I do so love a happy ending," Effie said wistfully.
"So do I," Leolin whispered earnestly, looking down at her ring again.
"What time is it?" Sweeney said, consulting the phantom watch on his left wrist. "I'm half tempted to have you tell the whole bloody thing again!"
The smile slid off Leolin's face. She'd been so caught up in the story that she truly had lost track of time, but now that she thought about it, it had been far too long.
"Something wrong," Effie said, reading her thoughts.
"We have to split up," Leolin said at once. "We have to keep the coins separate just in case. Just until we know it's safe."
The twins nodded.
"But we should meet back up in fifteen minutes no matter what," Effie said. "And if you get into any trouble, send up red sparks."
"Be safe," Leolin begged. "I couldn't bear to lose either of you now."
They took off in different directions, wands raised and ready. Leolin covered the docks at the far end of the pier, jumping at every noise but ultimately finding nothing. She should have simply gone to Krum. Perhaps he was fine and had simply overestimated his skill or underestimated the damage. She started back towards the far docks, still scanning the sky for red sparks. Blissfully, there were none.
She saw no initial sign of Krum as she neared the man-of-war,but as she turned she saw a figure emerging from the opposite end.
"Swish," she breathed, tearing towards him. Relief flooding in and extinguishing her mounting unease. "Merlin, where the fuck have you—"
However, as he grew closer, hood still drawn, she backed away. He was far too tall and lithe to be Sweeney. When the figure pushed the hood off, she gave a shriek of surprise.
"Hello my angel," Adrian purred, sauntering towards her with a calm grace. He was backlit by the muted moonlight, and he looked like some terrible god from a scary story. She raised her wands to send up sparks, but he was too quick.
"Expelliarmus," he said lazily as she continued to scramble away, and her wand arced towards him.
His gold-flecked eyes drank Leolin as she retreated, and they glittered menacingly.
"Don't look so surprised, darling," he said mildly, raising his eyebrows. "I told you I was clever. Petrificus Spachulas."
"How—" she stammered, wriggling vainly against her immobility. "How—" she began again, but the terrifying look on his face robbed her of words.
"How—how—" he mimicked cruelly, his bright teeth glinted as he did so. "Did you honestly think you were that far ahead of me?"
"Krum," she breathed at once, but he shook his head with a smile.
"Don't blame poor Viktor. Stupid blighter defended you with his last breath."
"You killed him?" she said quietly, feeling guilty and sick to her stomach.
"Of course I did," he said casually. "I had to. At this stage, I can't afford loose ends."
"How did you know where we were?" she demanded finally. "We didn't tell anyone where we were going. How could you possibly—"
He held up a hand to indicate she be silent.
"Do you really not know the answer to that?" he asked in condescension.
"Rhydderich had no idea where we were going," she pleaded in answer. "I didn't even know until we got here."
Adrian shrugged, still slinking forward.
"You're right, of course," he agreed, smiling. "But haven't you asked yourself how exactly Rhydderich ended up a stiff?"
Her mind raced, and he laughed at her bewilderment.
"He was mine from the jump," Adrian explained. "Long before he came to you and made that unbreakable vow."
"How is that possible?" she demanded.
"Ieaun has always been such a bleeding heart," Adrian said in mild contempt. "I knew he wouldn't be able to resist helping Rhydderich after he saw how pathetic Azkaban had made him. Honestly, you couldn't have thought that was just coincidence, the two of them running into each other!"
"Why would Gareth want to help you?" she asked, mostly to herself.
Adrian raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"Oh my gods," Leolin breathed. "You have Merys."
Adrian's eyes glittered.
"Rhydderich thought he had her somewhere safe, but I'm afraid it just. wasn't. safe. enough." He punctuated every word then smiled again. "Once I had her, it was painfully easy to convince him. He would have done anything to get her back."
"Is she dead?" she said, voice trembling.
His expression darkened.
"Someone had to pay for Tommy's death. I figured she was a good place to start."
"Oh gods," she choked, feeling sick.
"As for Gareth," Adrian continued, unable to stop gloating. "He came up with a very clever way to keep tabs on you. Though I can't give him all the credit. You're the one who gave me the idea in the first place."
"What do you mean?" she asked fearfully.
"You really thought I wouldn't be able to replicate that tracker charm you slapped on me in New Orleans? I do admit it had me stumped for a time, but once I got Rhydderich and Geoff Blackburn involved, it was easy."
She must have reacted to the news of this new betrayal, because he laughed.
"You thought he would actually join your team knowing his brother Langdon was helping you? C'mon Lef, don't be so stupid."
"But the unbreakable vow…how did Rhydderich—"
"Ah yes," he said, as if only just remembering it. "I admit I didn't anticipate you'd take it that far. Luckily, Rhydderich is good at thinking on his feet. He slipped the tracker on you before he made the vow but didn't activate it. It wasn't ideal, I admit—I would have preferred having tabs on you earlier—but it did the trick. Once I had you where I wanted you at the embassy and I knew you were going to destroy the coins, I had him turn it on. He'd served his purpose by then anyhow. After that," he said casually. "It was easy. I just followed you, and you lead me straight here."
Her heart sank. She should have seen Rhydderich's betrayal coming, though she admitted even now that she had no idea how she would have avoided it. Even if they hadn't agreed to accept his help, he would have easily be able to slip the tracker on her during their meeting.
"Did you really think I would have let you go tonight if I didn't already have a way to get you back? I told you, there isn't a place in Merlin's black cauldron you could go that I wouldn't find you."
He gave a dark grin.
"Now," he said. "I'm bored with this. Give me the coin; I know you've hidden it in your little cache. Give it to me."
"What does it matter?" she said softly. "One coin's not going to do you any good."
Adrian raised his eyebrows.
"Then it's a good thing I have the other one then, isn't it?"
He held up the twin obol for a second before tucking it back into his pocket.
"Sweeney—" she began.
"He's not dead," Adrian said, nonplussed. "You can have him back when I get the coin. Consider it a—gesture of good faith. Now give me the coin, Lefevre."
"No," she said. "You can take it off my corpse when I'm dead."
"Very well. Crucio."
She buckled in pain, crying and twitching. At the second bout, she fell to her knees, the rough gravel digging into her skin though her trousers.
"How about now?" Adrian said forcefully.
"No," she rasped.
"Crucio."
The third time was worse, but it was easier to bear knowing that Adrian wouldn't be able to take the coin off her unless she gave it to him.
"Leolin," he breathed, crouching next to her and speaking in a soft, calm voice. "Don't make me hurt you again. Give me the coin."
She let out a ragged breath. There was a single tear on her cheek, which he wiped away gently with the pad of his thumb.
"C'mon Leolin," he murmured, tenderly stroking her cheek and tilting her chin up so he could study her face. "Just give me the coin."
"I can't," she all but pleaded, wishing he would stop touching her. "You know I can't."
He rose again, eyes furious.
"Crucio."
Her mind was going wild from the pain. Finally the feeling stopped, and a warm, contented feeling took its place. She knew at once what the feeling was, and she knew she had to fight it. She thought of Kelly and how he'd withstood the Imperius after being tortured for hours. She had to do the same.
"Leolin."
She was still lying on her back, and screwed her eyes shut, fighting the sensation with everything she had.
"Give me the coin, Leolin."
"No," she grit out. "Stop. I'm not going to let you control me anymore."
He crucio'd her a fifth time, and it seemed to drag all the fight out of her. When he cast the Imperius again, she could feel her resistance slipping away, even as she clung to it desperately. After everything we've done, she thought in agony, after everything they'd been through in the vault, Adrian was still going to win.
She felt the curse urging her to stand up, and after battling it for a minute or so, she felt herself rising as if she was being controlled by marionette strings. Adrian was waiting for her, eyes glittering. He eased her wand into her left hand.
"Fetch me the coin," he instructed in a quiet voice.
She squeezed her eyes shut and desperately fought off the warmth.
"Do it," he said in a harder tone.
She raised her wand with a trembling hand.
"Prodio," she whispered, and the coin materialized in her right hand.
She squeezed it tightly, her last shred of free will finally giving out.
"Now open your palm," Adrian instructed in a soft voice, and she did.
He plucked the coin almost gleefully from her outstretched hand. He held it up in the light, letting it gleam.
"Finally," he sighed, smiling cruelly at Leolin.
He tucked the obol in his interior coat pocket.
"Now," he said imperiously, turning his full attention to Leolin. "Kiss me."
He took a step towards her and she instinctively curled her arms against his chest, tilted her head up, and did as he commanded. His lips were soft, softer than she'd expected, and the hand that slid across the back of her neck and into her hair was pleasantly warm.
The imperius coaxed a breathy sigh from her lips, and he urged them farther apart with his, brushing his tongue to hers. She hesitated for a moment before intensifying the kiss. His breath was fresh, and the taste of it lingered on her tongue. She leaned farther into him, her breasts pressing against the firm plane of his chest as his hands migrated from her hair down her back to her hips, which he pushed suggestively against her own. Desperate to be closer to him, to devour him, she strung her arms around his neck, and he lifted her gracefully off her feet as the kiss intensified.
In her ruined state, she probably would have given him more, but finally he released the imperius, and she tried to jerk away in horror. He grabbed her by the wrist.
"Next time you do that," he told her seriously, eying her swollen lips again. "You'll do it on your own."
She didn't respond, just lunged for the interior pocket of his coat. They tussled for only a second before he cast her forcefully to the ground.
"Deal's a deal, Lefevre," he said, snapping his fingers.
Tate Rawle appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and pushed Sweeney at Leolin.
She and Sweeney both ran towards Adrian, but he threw up some sort of barrier that blocked their path. She pounded her fists against it in vain.
"Thank you fetching me these," Adrian said, smiling blithely at them. "You're probably the only one who could. Oh, and you can have this back."
He cast her wand at her feet, and the barrier between them rippled as it passed through. He turned to go, but seeming to think better of it he turned back, eyes glittering hatefully.
"Oh, and one more thing: the minister wanted me to remind you that no one steals from Lucius Malfoy."
"What are you—" Leolin began, but Sweeney began coughing, she fell silent.
When he pulled his hand away, there was blood on his palm. Leolin looked at Adrian in horror.
"Every decision has its price, Lefevre," he warned her. "And now it's time to pay the piper. You should have stolen that painting from Lucius yourself."
By this time Sweeney could no longer stand on his own, and he collapsed, more blood pouring from his mouth and ears.
"Swish," she called pathetically, not knowing how to help him. "Sweeney, hold on."
Adrian watched them for several seconds before disappearing with a final swirling pop.
Sweeney's breathing was ragged now, and she could see in his eyes he was afraid.
"Swish," she said, beginning to cry in earnest. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for you—"
"Don't…be…" he choked out between hiccups of blood. "I would do it again tomorrow."
She wanted to help him, to reassure him he would be okay, but she couldn't. She knew he was going to die, and so did he. Blood had begun to issue from his tear ducts now, and she wiped it away.
"If I have to die," he said. "I'm glad it's here. I'm—glad it's—with you."
"Swish" she sobbed pathetically. "Don't go."
She could feel the energy draining from his body.
"Tell—Effie—I—love her and—I'm sorry."
Leolin nodded, stroking his flaming red hair.
"I will," she promised, pressing her forward to his.
He began to choke in earnest, and she squeezed her eyes shut, still stroking his hair. When she opened her eyes, he was gone.
She lay gently cradling Sweeney's body long after he'd gone, sobbing quietly as she continually smoothed his fiery hair off his ashen brow. She'd cleaned the blood from his face, but the anguish of his final moments remained etched in his features.
"I'm sorry, Swish," she whispered quietly. "I failed you."
"Swish!" came a distant echo. "Leolin! Where are you?"
The sound of panic in Effie's voice churned against Leolin's guilt, making her feel sick.
"Here," Leolin croaked, fresh tears blossoming as she stroked Sweeney's cold cheek. "I'm here."
Effie appeared at the far end of the dock, bounding towards them. Leolin could see a nasty lump forming along her temple. She must have been knocked unconscious.
When Effie had about halved the distance, she seemed to understand what she was seeing because she stumbled slightly as she let out an agonised scream.
"Sweeney!" she cried, feet barely brushing the ground as she tore across it. "Sweeney!"
Spent from her sprint and her screaming, she collapsed next to her brother's body, cradling his head and sobbing into his bright hair. Leolin relinquished her grip as she fought down hysteria at witnessing Effie's anguish. Finally, Effie looked up at Leolin.
"What happened?" she croaked.
"Adrian had Rhydderich slip a tracker charm on me before we made the Unbreakable Vow, and he turned it on tonight and followed us here. He—he has the coins."
"So my brother was just collateral damage," Effie said flatly, eyes burning with hatred. "Just another casualty of Pucey's hatred for you."
"I'm sorry," Leolin choked, reaching to touch Sweeney again.
"No!" Effie screamed. "Don't touch him! Haven't you done enough?"
"Eff—"
"You killed him!" Effie choked through sobs. "My brother's dead because of you."
"I'm sorry," Leolin repeated sorrowfully. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
"You promised no harm would come to him!" Effie snarled. "You promise to protect him, but you lied! He trusted you, and you failed him."
"I'm sorry," Leolin said a third time.
"You're poison," Effie concluded, wiping her eyes with the back of her left hand while still clutching Sweeney's blood-stained jacket with her right. "Everything you touch sickens and dies."
Her words cut Leolin to the quick, and she shrank away from the dark truth of them.
"I hate you," Effie whispered quietly, stroking Sweeney's waxy cheek. "I hate you."
"Effie—"
"Go away!" Effie snarled again. "Leave us alone!"
"Eff—"
"I said go," Effie whispered, defeated. "Get out of my sight."
Reluctantly Leolin stood, backing away in agony as Effie began to cry again, rocking Sweeney like a babe in arms. Finally she drew an apparation stone from her cache, squeezed it tightly in her palm, and disappeared.
She was numb by the time she arrived back at her flat, and she came in to find Draco waiting for her, eyes keen. He drank in her bleary expression and blood-soaked shirt. She rushed to hug him, but his touch was stiff. Soon after, he peeled her off of him, retreating to the bar and taking a swallow of his drink.
"What happened?" he said quietly, his back partially to her.
"Sweeney's dead," Leolin said flatly. "And Adrian has the coins."
She ran a hand through her hair, tipping her head back in a vain attempt to staunch more tears. Finally, she looked at Draco again.
"We aren't safe here," she said. "We have to go now. They could be summoning Bones as we speak. We have to get out of London while we still can."
He didn't move.
"Drake," she said, a small panic growing. "Did you hear me? We have to go." He watched her but said nothing.
"Drake!" she said again, more insistently. Effie's harsh words were still echoing in her mind, and she just wanted to get away from the whole night. "We need to leave. Please!"
She tugged at his hand but he let his fingers fall from her grasp.
"What the fuck is wrong with you!" she demanded, feeling manic. "We have to go!"
"No," he said finally. "Wait."
"Drake—"
"How did you get to Geneva?" he interrupted.
His voice was stony.
"What?" she said, taken aback.
"The day of the wedding, how did you get to Geneva?"
"Please," she said, unsure where he was going with this but feeling sick all the same. "If this is about that photo, I swear—"
"I still had your passport," he continued, almost as if he hadn't heard her. "So how is it that you managed to get Switzerland without anyone noticing?"
"I—" she stammered.
Suddenly a realisation began to form in her mind, and on top of everything else she'd endured in the last several hours, she felt the dam of pain she'd built in her mind about to burst.
"Was it be because you had someone with you? Someone who was accustomed to circumventing International Travel strictures?"
"Drake," she begged. "Please, I—"
He advanced on her, diamond eyes full of blazing light.
"Look me in the eye, Leolin—love of my life—and tell me that on the day you were meant to marry me, you didn't go to your cousin and beg him to take you to Geneva instead."
"Draco," she said, and she could feel herself starting to cry again. The pain was straining against confinement now, and it was giving her a pounding headache. "Please—"
"Cristian came here earlier," Draco explained, voice cold and strained. "Slithered out of his hole to come looking for you. He told me everything."
"And you believed him?" she sobbed sadly.
"Can you tell me it's not true?" Draco burst. "That he's not the one who helped you sneak into Switzerland?"
"No," she said through tears. "But please, let me explain—"
She said the words even knowing she had no means of telling him the truth.
"Did you sleep with him?" Draco said in a deadly voice.
"What?" she croaked.
"You heard me. After he helped you get out of England, did you pay him back by spreading your thighs and finally letting him fuck you?"
"Draco!" she sobbed. "Please stop!"
"I know you did!" he roared. "I can see it in your eyes!"
"Please, you have to understand—" she cried, but not knowing how to go on she fell silent.
When she finally managed the courage to look back up at him, there were tears in his eyes.
"Why?" he begged softly. She'd never seen him look so helpless. A tear skidded down his cheek, but he made no move to wipe it away. "What did I do? What did I do to make you hate me that much? What did I do that made you want to run away with that fucking creep?"
He looked so pitiful standing before her, and seeing him so disarmed ached in a place she hadn't even known existed.
"Nothing," she bit out honestly. The dam had been breached, and sadness and bad memories were seeping through. "Please, I love you—"
"No," he, finding his anger again. "You don't. You obviously don't! I kept telling myself that you had a good reason for leaving and that it didn't matter because we loved each other, but this—this I can't excuse. Of all the people in the world you could have run to in that moment, you chose him. Not only that, but while I was tearing Europe apart on our wedding night looking for you, you were in his bed, giving him what was supposed to be only mine!"
"Draco," she implored a final time, even knowing it was over. "Please."
"I told you earlier tonight that I would never stop loving you, and that's true," he said in anguish, once again unable to mask his unadulterated grief. "I will love you until the day I die. But I never want to see your face again. You're dead to me, Leolin, and if you ever come back here I will make you wish you were never born."
No longer able to keep herself composed, Leolin stumbled sideways clutching at him for support. He shook off her touch.
"Draco!" she cried.
"Goodbye Leolin."
He was gone with a pop.
It was just as Ginny had always warned her; Draco departure had finally broken the walls she'd built to keep the swelling tide of her grief at bay, and she collapsed onto her back, heaving as the undertow dragged her down, and down, and down, and—finally—under.
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