Eau de Adela's-Been-Stuck-Here-Far-Too-Bloody-Long
Thick, yellow-blue ice hugged the stone floor of the small cave, announcing my every moment with loud protests. I stared angrily at the massive (three meters tall) boulder at the opposite end of the small hollow. That was the only way out of this blasted place, but, although I'd tried to will it away multiple times over the past few days/weeks/however bloody long they'd kept us in this claustrophobic hole, it seemed I was still incapable of telekinesis. Which, you know, made sense, considering that power was ludicrously impossible, but still - it was highly unfortunate.
I settled for a mature gesture of my frustration: I shook my fist at the wall and silently promised to a) find a way to clone Vane b) unleash both Vanes on Xavier and Luke.
After being knocked unconscious (that was probably Xavier's doing, as the lack of excessive bruising on my head suggested the use of magic), I'd woken to find myself in a small hollow carved from rock. The space was just large enough to fit one shorter-than-average witch and one taller-than-average wizard, but I was growing almost frantic at the lack of movement. Still, I supposed even if the room were larger, I wouldn't be able to move. I glared at the iron chains binding my wrists and ankles to the wall. The rusted metal gleamed dully in the darkness of the cave, and I shook my hands, knowing that the movement would do no good.
The metal rasped angrily against the jagged stone, and the loud noise made me wince. I looked to my right, where Al hung, motionless, by his wrists. For some unknown reason, they'd labeled him as the greater threat and, while they'd allowed me to remain conscious, kept him drifting in and out with vials of sleeping draught. This in itself was worrisome - where had Luke and Xavier - and, by extension, the goblins - gotten hold of such a large quantity of potions? Goblins weren't known for their potion brewing abilities, which meant that they had to have a wizard supplier. Diagon's Alley was out of the question - we'd all seen the rampant destruction, and I doubted anything was salvageable - which led Numberita to a horrifying conclusion: the goblins might have raided St. Mungo's. This, of course, was highly frightening, considering the fact that there were hundreds of wounded families and, you know, a dangerously unstable Bulgarian capable of wiping out most of London. But, you know, those were minor details.
...can you tell I'm still bitter about the Aleksandra thing?
I looked again in Al's direction, trying to make out some of his features. His body, however, was lost in the shadows of the cave, and I sighed, feeling the breath rattle against my dry throat. Only the soft sounds of his breathing kept me from entering full on panic mode.
"I wish you were awake," I whispered, my lips cracking from the strain.
The taste of blood proved the last proverbial straw, and I let out a hoarse yell, rattling my chains uselessly. White spots began to appear, fuzzy and dazzlingly bright, at the edges of my vision, and I relented, letting my head sag down as I caught my breath. Merlin, I felt so useless. I was tired of needing to be saved. I was Adela Lancaster, witch extraordinaire (okay, perhaps that was a stretch, but still - this was getting bloody ridiculous).
I thought back to the first time - this year, anyway - that I'd been kidnapped...at least then the Bulgarian siblings had provided me with, you know, basic toiletries. I felt disgusting, really. The boulder blocking the exit slid back once a day (or, at least, what I assumed was a day), and each time the clarity of the air rushing in reminded me of the stench I was producing. And, trust me, when the air from a giant's cave is preferable, you know something is wrong. I chanced another glance at the Auror. Perhaps it was a good thing that he couldn't experience Eau de Adela's-Been-Stuck-Here-Far-Too-Bloody-Long.
There was a slight scraping noise, and my head whipped towards the boulder, my neck protesting loudly at the sudden movement. Without a wand and with my limbs bound tight, I couldn't do much to apprehend the giant hand that normally appeared with a bowl of water and some slop that tasted faintly of feet, but that didn't mean I couldn't try.
To my utter surprise, however, the boulder rolled back to reveal not a large, misshapen hand but a decidedly human-shaped man. I squinted, wishing I could shield my eyes against the sudden onslaught of sunlight. I spotted a mass of dark, wavy hair, and my stomach soured. Xavier.
"Xavier," I croaked, my voice brittle. "Why are you doing this?"
Xavier edged closer, his face screwed up in disgust. "Merlin, Adela," he said, ignoring my question. "You smell awful."
Unbelievable. "Yeah, that's what happens when you shut someone up in a tiny room for months."
"Weeks," he corrected automatically, and I seized on the scrap of knowledge. Weeks. I let out a silent breath. We'd been here in weeks. That was better than months, but it was still more than enough time for the world to change drastically in our absence. How much had changed? What was the Ministry doing? Surely they must have noticed our absence by now…
A sudden, horrifying thought hit Numberita. What if there was no longer a Ministry?
I had to know more, and for that I needed to keep Xavier talking. "Does Kate know you're helping murderers?"
Xavier tensed, his hands gripping the water bowl tightly. "No," he said, glancing over his shoulder. He lowered his voice, stepping forward. Seventeen more centimeters and I would be able to grab his torso with my legs. I wasn't sure what exactly that would accomplish, but I was sure Numberita would come up with something.
"Look, you don't understand. There's no fighting them. This is the only way I can hope to stay alive long enough to help Kate."
That made no bloody sense. "You're helping Kate...by fighting everything she stands for?"
He made another frustrated noise, edging forward seven centimeters.
"Yes, Adela. You're too bloody close-minded. Let's say I fight with the Ministry," he said, and I felt another weight lift from my shoulders - the Ministry still lived.
"That means I have two, maybe three battles before I die. Then I'm dead, and all the wizards are dead, and, well, that's bloody great. At least this way, if I gain enough favor, I might be able to pull in a favor and save Kate. Don't you see, Adela? You're all dead men walking."
His words sent a chill down my spine. Xavier wasn't gloating. No, he sounded utterly serious. He truly believed that the wizards posed no threat against the goblins.
"I don't believe you," I said, for what else could I say? Hope was all I had. I couldn't relinquish it, and I was determined to keep fighting to the end. I wasn't about to go down without a fight, futile or not.
Xavier let out a disbelieving snort. He looked over his shoulder again and, his jaw pulsing angrily, flung the water bowl to the ground. The porcelain shattered against the rock, and I stared at the pooling water mournfully. Merlin, I was so thirsty. If I could just kneel down, I might be able to salvage some of it…
Xavier marched forward and, before I could think to kick him, he used his wand to release my shackles with four resounding snaps.
Without the iron to hold me up, I crumpled to the ground, eyes wide and breath shuddering. What -?
A thick, pulsing blue rope appeared around my wrists, yanking my arms in front of me. I followed its length to Xavier's wand, and I glared at my captor.
"You need to see something," he said, tone cold. "Then maybe you won't act so high and mighty."
He dragged me, protesting, from Al's unconscious body, and I watched as the boulder swung shut in front of my former prison. As he yanked me forward, I struggled to remain standing, my bare feet slipping on the frost-bitten ground. He led me down a rocky tunnel lined with torches, and I took note of our surroundings, trying to memorize as much as I could. Surprisingly, there were no giant guards posted in the tunnel, but I could see piles of bones - some still stained red - where the guards must normally be posted. Where were they now?
Xavier yanked me out of the tunnel's mouth and, pressing a warning finger against my lips, tugged me towards the edge of the precipice. He crouched down against the cliff's lip, yanking me down beside him. Weakened from my confinement, I collided heavily against the edge, and, to my utter horror, felt my legs swing over the cliff's edge.
A half-strangled scream began to bud in my throat as I began to fall, my bound hands scrabbling useless for purchase -
Two strong hands caught my forearms, and I caught a glimpse of Xavier's wide eyes. Was that terror I saw in those dark depths?
Xavier pulled me up, his arms straining, and I swung my legs over the cliff's edge with the last vestiges of strength I had. I lay, motionless and breathing heavily, for eighteen seconds, my heart still racing. Merlin. Merlin.
I didn't have much time to collect my thoughts, forever, for Xavier soon yanked me forward again. "Look," he hissed, gesturing at the ground far, far below us. "Look, and be careful."
I glared at him but obeyed, creeping forward carefully to peer over the cliff's edge.
The sight below was enough to paralyse my body with panic.
Row after row of towering giants marched in the valley below, each armed with clubs glistening with metal spikes or massive axes. Plumes of bone white dust filtered between their legs, kicked up by the force of hundreds of feet pounding against the mountainside. I'd never seen so many giants together. Usually they roamed in smaller packs, for large gatherings often resulted in inter-fighting and bloodshed. These forces, however, were terrifyingly organized. I scanned up and down the valley's length, my heart sinking when I saw only endless lines of forces. There was no break, no gap.
"Merlin's beard," I breathed.
Before I could try to work out how many giants there were exactly, Xavier yanked me back from the edge, his eyes still slightly wild with adrenaline. "Now do you see?" he hissed, gesturing blindly towards the edge. "Nothing - nothing - can withstand that many giants, and that's not even counting the werewolves and goblins who, by the way, now have enough wands to supply five armies, thanks to the successful capture of the phoenix and all those thestrals."
Well, that made me want to pee my pants, but I wasn't going to let him see my terror. Hope. I just needed hope.
I looked back towards the giants, a sudden, terrible thought appearing in Numberita. Did the Ministry know that the giants were marching forward? Were they prepared for that attack? Xavier had said the Ministry lived...but for how long?
I needed to escape. I needed to warn them. I turned to Xavier, Numberita whirring frantically, and said slowly, "Alright. So you might have a point there."
He blinked, clearly surprised, before nodding, something like relief shining in his eyes. I got the sense that he thought that if he could just convince me to understand his actions, maybe Kate would forgive him as well. The thought triggered a pang of pity, but I squashed the emotion down hurriedly. For my plan to work, I couldn't risk feeling sorry for him.
Xavier's eyes soon narrowed with suspicion. "The Adela I know would never admit that," he said and looked down just as my hand was mere centimeters from his wand.
I smiled sheepishly. "Worth a shot?"
From his glare, he was thoroughly unamused. "Come on," he muttered. "It's time for you to go back."
He pushed me roughly through the tunnel, yelling if I stumbled or hesitated for even the slightest second. I had all but given up hope of ever seeing the kind(er) Xavier when, upon reaching the giant boulder guarding my prison, he hesitated, something odd flashing in his eyes.
He tapped me with his wand, muttering something under his breath, and I felt a wash of cleansing magic spill over my body, scrubbing weeks' worth of dust and sweat from my skin. Without the grime, I felt human again, and I could have wept for joy. I probably would have, too, if Xavier hadn't coupled that surprising favor with shoving me back into the prison.
As the iron latches clamped shut on my wrists and ankles, I watched, fighting despair, as the boulder rolled slowly back into place, shutting me in darkness once more. At least I wasn't alone. I looked at Al, but the Auror was still slumped over.
I thought again of the hordes of giants marching, feeling their steps echo in my bones. I thought of Seth, of Rose, of Scorpius, of Vane, even…
I swallowed thickly, fighting back tears.
"I'll get us out of this," I whispered, looking at Al. "I promise."
The Auror didn't respond.
AN: y'all are wonderful, wonderful human beings. Reading (and replying to) your comments reminded me why I wrote fan fiction in the first place. Thank you all so much :) All guest review replies are on my tumblr: quillstrike