A/N: Can I just say how much I love you readers? Because I do. Very much. I was burnt out on this story, then I still kept getting reviews and story followers! And nothing motivates me more. So without further ado, the next chapter of Twisted Tragedies.
Chapter 33- As Long As It Takes:
I'd just finished replacing the spells around Severus' room so I walked down stairs and sat at one of the lab tables that was covered with our notes. It had been a complete waste of time searching his room, if he is hiding information, it isn't here. It was a long shot anyways, Severus is too smart to do something so stupid. I had just picked up my quill when I heard a 'pop' of apparation followed by loud swears. I turned around just in time to see Severus walk in with the most furious expression on his face.
Did I miss a spell and he knew I had snooped?
"Severus?" I said.
He turned quickly with a surprised look.
"Why are you still here?" He demanded.
"You haven't been gone very long. Is everything alright?" I asked innocently.
And like a light switch, his expressions were masked behind a blank face. But his eyes were still alight with fury.
"And why wouldn't it be?" He drawled.
"You were swearing rather loudly just a moment ago." I said.
He ignored me and walked past me to the supply closet, opening it up and taking inventory.
"Seeing as how the Ministry in Britain has put a ban on class D: dangerous, and class E: extremely dangerous, potion ingredients, they are rather hard to come by now. It's even harder to find a smuggler that isn't a complete scoundrel. That being the case, we regrettably must put a hold on brewing and work in theory alone." He said.
Ah. Sirius must have been the reason he was so mad. I had thought that something like this might happen. These two hate each other.
"I take it negotiations with your dealer didn't go very well?" I asked politely.
"Obviously." He drawled, shooting me a glare.
"Perhaps I could help? If your dealer is a woman she might negotiate more equal terms with another woman. And if it's a man, well, most men are easily persuaded by women." I said.
He turned to look at me.
"And why would you do that?" He asked.
He knew how much it bothered me watching those men die during our last trials.
"Because I suspect the Dark Lord won't be happy if we are not making progress. And I've heard what he does to those who disappoint him. I think after the first trials were a failure we should really be making progress in a new direction and you know as well as I do that we can't do that by working in theory. We need to brew." I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if he were measuring and weighing my words.
"This dealer is a scoundrel of the worst sort. He wouldn't care that you're a married woman" He warned.
"I'm pretty useful with my wand. He wouldn't be the first I've dealt with." I said.
He shut the supply closet door and strode toward me, robes billowing out behind him.
I took the offered parchment and the small drawstring bag that must have been for the payment.
"Be it on your head then." He said.
I swallowed as I looked down at the extensive list.
"I'll be back soon, then." I said.
He walked out of the room without a response.
I opened my eyes to see a sitting room with Victorian era furnishings and old wallpaper walls, some peeling at the top corners. The window curtains were from expensive material and extravagant, boasting of money even though they were covered with a thin veil of dust. I was facing the window, and more of the formal room came into view as I turned.
"Some might say it's rude to apparate into someone's home uninvited. But, personally, I don't mind when beautiful women show up unannounced."
I turned to the left to see Sirius Black, sitting in a wing back chair with a cigarette in hand.
"Sirius?" I whispered.
He looked so different from how I remembered him, and it had only been a few months. He was dressed so nicely in an expensive suit, though the jacket was draped across the back of his chair. The Sirius I knew was a slacks and leather jacket kind of guy.
And since when did he smoke?
The main difference I noticed was his demeanor. He had no more easy smiles and carefree happiness. His shoulders were hunched over, his gaze calculating and distrusting, his features set in an arrogant sneer.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at me.
"And exactly how do you know me? How did you know my wards would be down at this time?" He asked.
"Severus Snape sent me." I said.
Sirius took a drag and slowly exhaled a purple cloud of smoke. Obviously some type of magic cigarette of some sort.
"I find it hard to believe he knows any witches. Much less one like you." He said
It was my turn to knit my brows in confusion.
"Please, have a seat." He gestured to the stiff looking couch in front of him and I walked around to sit.
"So tell me, what's a pretty thing like you messing around with a bloke like Snape?" He asked.
He took another slow drag of his cigarette and exhaled a blue puff of smoke that swirled into the air in front of him.
"I'm here for a business transaction and nothing more. You will give me what I want and I will pay you handsomely in return for your service and discretion." I said.
He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, but otherwise he didn't seem surprised. He stretched out his long legs and cracked his neck as he lounged back in his chair. He took his time responding as he took another long slow drag on his cigarette. I could hear the paper crinkling as it burned.
"Straight to the point I see. And what do you need these dangerous ingredients for? I'd hate for anything to happen to that pretty face." He said.
"You know who we work for. Stop meddling around and causing us trouble or something might happen to your pretty face." I said.
He hand his wand in my face before I could even blink, his other hand grabbing my collar and pulling me towards him.
"Don't you dare threaten me, do you know what I could do to you? I don't give a damn about who you work for, he doesn't scare me. In fact, I might just end your life now and be done with it. One less Death Eater to worry about, if you ask me." He snarled.
This was not the Sirius I remembered. This close, I could smell the alcohol on him. I glanced back to the table next to him and saw the many empty bottles of evidence.
"Now, tell me something, Pretty, do you know where Regulus Black is? He's a bit overdue for a beating from his older brother." He said.
I glared at him.
"Let go of me or I'm not telling you anything." I said.
He carelessly shoved me back.
"Now talk." He grumbled as he pulled out another cigarette and lit it with his wand.
I noticed he didn't put his wand away either.
"I don't know who he is." I said.
"That's bullshit. He was always following Snape around. If you're working with Snape then you're bound to have seen him." He said.
Why wasn't Regulus in school?
"Why didn't you just ask Snape instead of pissing him off?" I asked.
"Well, that was fun. And besides, I wouldn't have seen your pretty face if I hadn't of, and what a shame that would have been." He said with fake charm.
"I don't know him." I said.
"Well, I guess you're of no use to me then." He said, twirling his wand threateningly.
I didn't like this new, dark Sirius.
There were loud voices coming from downstairs along with the sound of things smashing. Sirius turned towards the door and back at me with a glare.
"You brought reinforcements? That's not nice."
He shot a spell at me and I quickly ducked, barely avoiding it.
"I didn't bring anyone! They're not with me, I swear!" I said.
"You Death Eaters are all scum. Now tell me where he is!" He said.
He lunged at me and we toppled over the back of the couch and on the ground. Just in time, too, because the door burst open and the masked Death Eaters flooded in, wands out. I rolled with Sirius, trying to get myself on top, but he didn't let go. He threw a hand over my mouth, keeping me from making any noise. From where we were behind the couch, the Death Eaters couldn't see us.
"He's supposed to be here. Snape said to come here and kill him." A rough voice said.
"Guess he's already hightailed it out. Come on, let's go." Another voice said.
"Shouldn't we check the place out? He could be hiding somewhere." One said.
"Who cares? I don't take orders from Snape."
"What if he tells the Dark Lord and this really was orders from him? Let's just check the bedrooms."
And they walked out of the room still arguing.
I elbowed Sirius in his stomach and pushed away from him.
"Now you've gotten yourself in trouble. I told you I didn't send them." I whispered.
Sirius looked at me with confusion, wondering why I wasn't shouting for the Death Eaters to come back.
"What kind of Death Eater are you?" He asked.
I sighed. I really suck at being a spy.
I grabbed Sirius and turned my ring, apparating us away to safety. We landed in the woods behind Donovan's house, though far from view of it.
"What the hell? How did you break through the anti-Apparation wards?" Sirius said.
It was a classic Death Eater move to put up anti-apparition wards when they attacked. That way, their victims are trapped inside with nowhere to go.
He turned his wand on me.
"Because of this." I held up my hand showing him the ring.
His face darkened.
"Where the hell did you get that?" He jabbed his wand in my throat.
I glanced down and saw the matching band on Sirius' hand.
"From my brother. It's me, Sirius. Its Lily Evans." I whispered.
I could see the shock on his face as he stumbled back. The spell on my disguise must have lifted because he was now looking me over.
"What did you do the first time I pulled you in a broom cupboard?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"I slapped you the first time you TRIED to pull me in one." I said.
He gasped.
"Fucking hell! Lily!" He rushed forward and hugged me.
"What in the name of Merlin do you think you're fucking doing?! Where the hell have you been?" He swore as he stepped away holding me at arm's length, none too gently either.
I cringed as his grip on my arms bruised.
"Being a terrible spy, obviously. What are you doing in Germany?" I said.
"I'm looking for Regulus. I started dealing and smuggling potions with the Death Eaters to try to gain some information." He said.
I nodded.
"I really don't know anything about him. Why isn't he at Hogwarts?" I said.
Sirius shook his head.
"What the hell are you doing, Lily? You're a Death Eater now?" He asked.
"No! I'm not. I'm just working for them... With potions. I'm working for Dumbledore. He put me up to it." I said.
Sirius sighed.
"James has looked everywhere for you! What the hell is your problem just up and leaving like that?!" He shouted.
Birds took flight in fear at the loud racket he was making and I looked around the dark forest, a little afraid myself. I wrapped my arms around me.
"I, I don't know. I'm sorry, ok?" I said.
"Oh, you're sorry? You think you can just say you're sorry?! I have half a mind to hex the living daylights out of you!" He shouted.
"Will you keep it down?" I glanced around.
"No, I will bloody not keep it down!" He looked around as if he just now noticed we were in the middle of a forest.
"Where the bloody hell did you bring us?" He demanded loudly.
"It doesn't matter. We're... Relatively safe here." I said.
"I'm taking you back to England." He said.
I shook my head and stepped away from him.
"No! You don't even know what I'm doing! This is important! Why else would Dumbledore assign me here?" I said.
"I don't bloody well care. And don't think I don't plan to have words with Dumbledore. He's going to have hell to pay from me, and especially James, when we get back. That old codger lied to us." He said.
"You're going to do no such thing, lives are at stake here!" I said.
"Like yours? And mine?" He said.
I shrugged.
"Mine isn't important if I die doing what's right. And the right thing to do is to stay here." I said.
"What is so fucking important that you have to ruin all our lives?" He demanded to know.
I sighed.
"Voldemort is trying to develop a potion to control the werewolves, and possibly the vampires. At least, that's what I know so far. I don't go to any meetings or anything. Snape and I are working in a protected and secret place." I said.
"Fucking hell!" Sirius ran a hand through his hair.
"The registration act, that's what this is all about isn't it?" He asked.
I didn't ask how he knew about it when it still had yet to be announced.
"Well, I definitely think Voldemort is behind it. I don't know. That's what I'm doing here." I said.
"Does Dumbledore know? About the potions?" He asked, ignoring my last question.
I nodded.
"If we accomplish this, I have to sabbotage it." I said.
Sirius nodded.
"So you see why I have to stay?" I asked.
"You don't realize how dangerous this is. The Death Eaters, they don't know you, do they?" He asked.
"Not really. I only work with Snape, and he doesn't know who I really am. I don't have the mark or anything." I said.
A partial truth, he didn't need to know about my vampire associates.
"Fuck! If James finds out I know where you are... But dammit, you can't create that potion." Sirius was having a dilemma with himself.
"I know, Sirius. But, James can hate us both later. This is more important." I said.
He shook his head.
"He already hates me." He muttered.
"Me too." I whispered.
Sirius didn't deny it.
"So, fuck, now what do we do?" He asked.
"We?" I asked.
"Yes, WE! I'm not letting you get into any more of this shit alone. James might forgive me one day if he at least knows I'm trying to keep you safe." He said.
"Sirius, Death Eaters just tried to kill you. What do you think you're going to do?" I said.
"It's not like it's the first time. It'll blow over. Their need for my services will outweigh Snape's desires to have me killed." He waved off.
"So you're really here to look for your brother? I thought you hated him?" I said.
Sirius didn't answer.
I sighed.
"Can you even get the ingredients for me?" I asked.
He snorted.
"Of course I can." He said.
"Then do it. I'll tell Snape, so he will call off the hunt for you. Hopefully." I said.
"Do you think it's actually possible to make such a potion?" He asked.
I shrugged.
"Possibly. Severus, he's brilliant. If anyone could do it, it's probably him." I said.
"And why would Voldemort want to control the Vampires? They don't do anything that's not for their own gain." He said.
"Well, we have some theories. But I don't know for sure." I said.
"We? Bloody hell, Evans! You're not seriously consorting with Vampires are you?" He accused.
"No!" I lied.
"Dammit. You're in this so fucking deep. Do you even realize?" He said.
"I know what I'm doing, Sirius. And what about you? What are you doing here? You hate your brother, why would you be here looking for him? And why did you drop out of the auror program?" I said.
He scowled.
"You have no idea what you are doing. I was raised around this pure blood nonsense. My family is as black as our name. My cousins are Death Eaters, you don't really know how sick and twisted they are. The things I could tell you would give you nightmares for weeks. And that's where I come from. And why do you think I dropped out? Because I'm a Black and nobody will ever see me as anything different." He said.
"That's a load of rubbish and you know it. Since when did you start caring what people thought about you? You're a Gryffindor, a Marauder!" I said.
"I was. But being a Black gives me an easy in that you'll never have. I'm automatically trusted when it comes to that sort." He said.
"So Dumbledore put you up to this too?" I asked.
He didn't deny it.
"Lily, go home. Before you get killed." He said.
"I told you, I'm not leaving! This is important!" I said.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn? Don't you know it's dangerous to work around werewolves, vampires, and Death Eaters? You're not normal." He said.
I rolled my eyes.
"I don't care. I'm not afraid!" I said.
"And that's exactly the problem. I'm afraid. I grew up like this, and I'm still afraid. But you, what you're doing is reckless." He said.
"Oh that's rich, Sirius Black telling me I'm reckless. And you just said you're not even concerned that there is a manhunt going on for you." I said.
He glared.
"I mean it, Lily. I can handle this. All I have to do is pull a few strings, I have family connections to keep me safe. You don't. You really don't understand how easily you could be killed. And what did you think would happen when you finished? That he would just let you go? The Dark Lord would sooner kill you." He said.
"Listen, Dumbledore asked me to do this. He put me here. I check in with him and he knows what's going on. He has people looking out for me as well. I do know what I'm doing. And I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." I said.
"And that's not reckless? " He asked.
"Drop it Sirius, I said I'm not leaving!" I yelled.
"Fine! If you are so set on getting yourself killed, then go for it." He said.
"I'll be fine. I had training." I said.
He sighed.
"At least Voldemort's not in Germany at the moment. Perchance, do you know why he was to begin with?" He said.
"Um, I assumed it was for the potions. My alia is German, and I studied under a famous German potioneer." I said.
He shook his head.
"No, it has to be more than that. He was rumored to be in Albania a month ago. Why the hell would he go there?" He scratched his chin.
"I don't know. I can try to find out. Like I said, I'm pretty secluded to just working on the potion." I said.
"Absolutely not! If you go asking questions about Voldemort's whereabouts then you'll definitely be taken as a spy. Just keep your mouth shut and your head down!" He yelled.
I would talk to my new little vampire contact and see what I can get from him. But Sirius doesn't need to know that.
"Fine." I agreed.
He rolled his eyes at me.
"How do I get in contact with you?" He asked.
I hesitated.
"Cassandra Mihalov. Send me an owl when you have the ingredients I need." I handed him the list and he grabbed my hand.
"Donovan's wife?!" He said angrily.
"How do you know Donovan?" I asked.
He didn't seem to hear me.
"You married him?!" He said dangerously quiet.
"Sirius, let go! I did no such! He's working with Dumbledore too! He knows who I am. It's just a farce." I said.
He let go but kept glaring.
"It better fucking be. And that bastard better hope he doesn't come across me." He said.
"How do you even know him?" I asked.
He ignored me.
"If that bastard lays a finger on you, I will kill him myself!" He fumed.
His fists were clenching, his jaw tight as he ground his teeth to stop himself from exploding.
"Donovan's not a bad guy. He's a spy for us." I said.
Sirius said nothing, but I could read the look on his face: 'Shows what you know'.
"I'll be in touch with you soon... Mihalov." He said.
"Sirius!"
He turned.
"Stop drinking. You're a mean drunk." I said rubbing my now bruised arms.
He said nothing as he apparated away with the turn of his ring.
Why was Sirius so upset over Donovan?
"How is he handling everything?" I asked.
I was in Charlie's head again, always seeing things through his eyes as if they were happening to me.
James turned to look at me and motioned for the back door of the cottage. We walked out into the night and away from the house.
James sat down and leaned back against a tree. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"He's shattered. He hasn't, I mean, I haven't seen him like this since sixth year when Sirius pulled this awful prank and... I just... Dammit, this isn't fair!" He said.
He took his glasses off and leaned his head over on his knees.
"Where did you find this place anyways?" I asked looking back at it.
It was dark but I could still see the old small cottage. We were surrounded by the woods.
"My parents told me about. I've never been here, but it's kilometers away from any civilization. There's not even a road to it, you have to apparate." He said.
"It's perfect then. Why didn't they come?" I asked.
James raised his head and looked up at me.
"I obliviated them." He said.
"What?!" I asked.
He nodded.
"Dad told me to. The Ministry knows the Potters are against Voldemort. And seeing as we are an old family, we have a seat on the Wizengammot. Dad's going to call them into session over this law. He's going to fight it. But in the chance it goes wrong, well, the Wizengammot could find a reason to question him under veritiserum. Dad didn't want to take that chance. Besides, the fewer people who know about this place, the better." He said.
"Merlin.. This really is going to get messy. What are the odds the Wizengammot will overturn it?" I asked.
James looked toward the cottage and back at me. He shook his head.
"There's Dumbledore. And then a couple of dad's friends. But the seat of the house of Artemis will be empty. Reginald Artemis is in hiding. He's very influential, and his son was best friends with dad. They're good people, really, but dad said Death Eaters are converting seat holders or trying to Imperious them. Then there's also the House of Black." James trailed off.
"Black, as in Sirius? Does he have a seat?" I asked.
"Yes, he's the oldest surviving male of the Black family." He said.
"Well that's good! That's another vote in our favor, right?" I said.
James shrugged.
"James, you know he would do what he could for Remus." I said.
James said nothing, looking past me at the cottage.
"So where's Ashley? Is she coming later?" I asked.
James shook his head.
"No. She doesn't know where we are." He said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"The sod called it quits. But this is what Remus does. He starts closing himself off from everyone." James said sadly.
We stayed silent for a while.
"Have you, I mean, is she ok?" James asked.
I knew immediately he was asking about me. And I hated this. Every time I was mentioned, the look on his face... It was terrible and heart breaking to see that I was causing him so much pain.
"Who? Oh, Lily, right?" I said.
James didn't or couldn't respond.
"I don't know. Honestly, I'm worried about her. I haven't had contact with her. It's like she has completely shut me out or something. I've usually had a feel of her presence in my mind. But she's gone, just like when she was unconscious at Hogwarts." I said.
And it was hard to know that Charlie worried too. I told him I'd be fine! Why did everyone think I couldn't do this?
James stared up at the pinkish orange sky for a while before he got to his feet quietly.
"We better get back inside." He said.
I followed him silently as the suns rays were starting to break the horizon.
I woke up and sat up in bed. I hated seeing James' face like that. While I loved seeing Charlie and knowing that everyone was safe, it was getting harder and harder to see James. I missed him so much. And I knew that soon, he wouldn't even ask about me anymore. And I don't know if I could handle that. I know that him moving on would be for the best, but I selfishly want to keep him. I guess a part of me thought I'd come back to him after a few months and things would go back to normal. But it's been months. And I don't know how long I'm going I be here. And James deserves to move on and be happy. I just can't watch it anymore.
I pulled myself out of bed and grabbed my robe. Donovan had a huge library here. Maybe he has some books on Occlumency. I know how to do it, but maybe there's something I missed that could help me block my connection I make with Charlie almost every time I go to sleep.
"What are you doing in here?"
I looked up.
"Just reading." I said.
Donovan strolled forward and took the chair across from me.
I wanted to ask him about Cassandra, the real Cassandra. But then he would want to know how I knew she was real. And I couldn't talk about my conversation with Barnabus.
Donovan stretched out his legs and folded his hands over his stomach as he watched me.
I looked at him and shut my book.
"Donovan, can Vampires not use magic?" I asked.
"No, not really. Though vampires can only be made from people who are magical. Why do you ask?" He said.
"Well, that day at the dress shop, Victoria used her assistants wand. I thought it was peculiar at first why she didn't use her own. Now I'm wondering how she used it at all." I said.
Donovan shook his head.
"She shouldn't have done that in front of you." He said.
"Why? And how did she do it?" I asked.
He sighed.
"She stole a magical persons blood. Her assistants, actually." He said.
"What? She lets her bite her?" I asked.
He nodded.
"It's not painful. They're.. Well, sort of lovers I guess. Except Victoria would never have only one." He said looking away.
"So..."
"She bites her, and she can use magic for a short period. But not all vampires can do that." He said.
"Well that's a relief." I said.
He didn't say anything else, just stared off at the fireplace I was sitting next to.
"I wonder why they accepted me so easily?" I said.
Donovan looked up at me with a small smile.
"I guess your acting isn't too bad." He said.
"Well, I mean, they all seem to have known you for a while. They didn't think it was odd that you suddenly had a wife?" I said.
Donovan's eyes shifted toward me and he squinted as if he was trying to detect anything but the innocence I was portraying. I knew it was risky to ask. But this was driving me crazy. I had to know the truth.
"No." He said.
"No? That would be strange to anybody." I said.
"I planted your name long before Dumbledore picked you. Having a wife that had fallen ill allowed me to disappear for long periods of time without arising suspicion. That's how I left to train you." He said.
Well Donovan has clearly thought this through. So is Cassandra real or was Barnabus making that up?
Donovan stood up.
"I was looking for you to tell you that I need to leave for a week or so." He said.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"If anyone inquires, tell them I'm on business in France. My family does own a bank there. And I want to know who asks. Be safe." He said.
He walked out of the room. But I knew he wasn't going to France and that he wouldn't tell me the truth anyways.
It seems like all I have are questions and no answers. Maybe I would have to pay a visit to Barnabus after all. He seems to be the only one offering any answers to me.
Although I still don't know if I can trust him at all. But I'm stuck if I don't try. I can't just sit around brewing and acting oblivious to everything around me.
"Didn't I expressly tell you not to contact me?"
I was sitting across the desk from Barnabus in his office at his manor.
"Well, I didn't contact you. I just showed up." I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Maybe next time I'll let the guards have you." He said.
I didn't see any guards. Unless they were vampire guards.. Oh. I swallowed tightly.
"Listen, I have some questions and you're going to give me answers." I said.
He ignored me.
"Fortunately for you, your unannounced arrival has come at a most opportune moment." He said.
This time I rolled my eyes.
"You said you wanted answers. Well, so do I. My guards have captured someone who is patiently awaiting my arrival. You see, I intend to find out exactly who and what is being dealt around me." He said.
I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
We walked down into the basement. It was more like an old cellar, really.
There was a man bound and gagged, tied to a chair and being guarded by two vampires that worked for Barnabus.
"Ah, here we are." Barnabus said announcing his entrance.
I stayed back, out-of-the-way.
"Tell me, do you know who that woman is?" Barnabus pointed at me.
The man looked at me and nodded.
Barnabus snapped his fingers and the guards took off the gag.
"Well?" He prompted.
"She's your new toy." The man spat.
Barnabus frowned.
"Now now, let's not have any name calling. Tell me the truth." He said.
The man looked at me again.
"She's on the list." He said to Barnabus.
Barnabus nodded.
"Explain what that is so she is not confused." Barnabus said.
"I'm an assassin. The list pertains to those I've been paid to kill." He said looking at me.
I gasped.
"Me?" I asked.
"Donovan Mihalov and his wife." The man said.
"And who made your list?" Barnabus asked, his head tilted as he watched the assassin.
"You will tell me, rogue." Barnabus said.
The man suddenly bared his fangs at Barnabus in a hiss as the guards tightened their holds on his bonds.
The assassin was a vampire?!
I suppose it did make sense. They were able to track by sense and be eerily quiet and unseen when they wanted to be. It made me feel completely unsafe.
Barnabus laughed loudly. He yanked the assassin by the hair as he leaned over him.
"Tell me now, or I'll drain you in the slowest most torturing way possible and you will be begging me to end you." He said.
A hint of fear crossed the assassin's eyes as he glanced at me and back to Barnabus.
"Now, who made your list?" Barnabus asked.
"Went by the name of Eluite. That's all I know." The assassin said.
"And who else was on this list?" Barnabus asked.
"You. And your sister." He said.
Barabus chuckled.
"Eluite's becoming desperate I see." Barnabus said.
Before I could ask why, Barnabus sliced the man's head off with the sword that was hanging at his side just moments ago.
I screamed.
"You killed him! Why?! How could you just, just?..."
Barnabus handed his sword to one of the guards to be cleaned of the blood.
He raised an eyebrow at me like I was being hysterical for no reason.
"He's of no consequence. A rogue vampire. I was merciful, which is more than he deserved. Now, let's go back to my study." Barnabus said.
He stepped over the reddish-black blood that was pooling on the floor and took my arm, pulling me away as his guards were told to 'dispose of the corpse'.
"Who is Eluite and why does he want me dead?" I asked.
"He's a vampire."
"Of course he is." I muttered.
"He has wanted to take over my coven for as long as I've known him, but he hasn't the strength to beat me. I've heard rumours he's been trying to recruit vampires to turn against me for years, but more recently that he's been associating with Death Eaters." Barnabus said as he stared out the window in thought.
"But how does he know me?" I asked.
Barnabus turned towards me.
"That is puzzling." He said.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Is it? Or are you withholding information from me?" I asked.
He smirked at me.
"All in due time, Lily. Seeing as I've saved your life for today, you're now indebted to me." He said.
"Indebted to you? You're probably the reason my life was endangered in the first place." I said.
He actually laughed.
"Oh yes, I do see why Victoria likes you so. Absolutely no fear." He said.
I rolled my eyes.
"You wouldn't happen to know why the Dark Lord was in Albania, would you?" I asked.
That sobered him.
"How do you know about that?" He asked.
"You're not my only source." I said vaguely.
He regarded me with interest for a moment.
"No, just whispered rumours of his presence. Whatever he was doing there he clearly intended for it to be kept secret." He said.
I was surprised he even told me as much.
"Are you any closer to a bonding potion?" He asked.
"Bonding potion?" I asked.
"Isn't that essentially what you are trying to do? Create a potion to bond the werewolves to the Dark Lord?" He asked.
It was like a light bulb clicked on. I started thinking about bonding properties of elements and I knew what we had done wrong.
"I sense an epiphany." He said as he watched my expressions.
"Yes, you're bloody brilliant." I said.
He arched an eyebrow at me.
"Also, where is Donovan? I know you have tabs on him. And I want to know more about Cassandra." I said.
"Of course I do." He said.
"Well?" I asked.
"How did you disappear with that potions supplier?" He asked.
"What? How did, were you there?" I asked.
He smirked again.
"For someone who is opposed to joining Voldemort you sure do pose as one of his followers often enough." I said.
"You don't survive as long as I have without being intelligent and cunning." He said.
"I can't tell you." I said, answering his question.
"I shall kill your supplier then." He said.
My eyes widened in fear and he grinned.
"Ah, so he's a part of your secret organisation then?" Barnabus said, clearly pleased with himself.
I sighed.
"I need him. Don't kill him." I demanded.
Barnabus walked around to sit on the desk in front of me, arms crossed as he smiled down at me.
"And what would you do for me, Lily?" He asked.
His smooth voice was charming but I knew that past that handsome face he was a ruthless killer, a predator, and I didn't like how he was looking at me. I leaned back into my chair as he leaned closer to me.
"What do you want?" I asked.
He smirked.
"You're too easy. You're giving me everything I'm looking for. It's so easy to manipulate you." He said as he pulled away.
"Manipulate me? I'm not trying to hide anything from you." I said.
"But you should. Never trust anyone fully, ever." He said.
My heart skipped a beat as he reached out and touched my hair, pushing it behind my shoulder.
"You don't know how important you are to me." He muttered.
His eyes were locking into mine in the dazing sort of way and I was immobile as he leaned in close, his breath caressing the side of my neck as he whispered in my ear.
"I need you to stay alive."
His lips brushed my neck, over my pulse point before he pulled away.
The hold over me broke and I swayed back dizzily.
"You need to be careful, Lily. Donovan is making enemies faster than you can make allies. I don't want you to end up like the real Cassandra." He said.
I blinked but didn't meet his eyes.
"Didn't you kill her?" I asked.
"She betrayed me." He said.
I looked up but he turned away from me.
"How did she betray you?" I asked.
He didn't answer, just turned to look at me as if he were studying me.
"How did you break past the anti-apparation wards?" He asked.
I sighed.
"An ancient magical transporting object that can't be stopped by magical barriers." I said.
"Can I see it?" He asked.
I hesitated before holding up my hand for him to see the ring.
"Can I try it?" He asked.
I handed it to him and he slipped it on his finger.
"How does it work?" He asked.
"You think of where you want to go and turn the ring to the left." I said.
"Can you take someone with you? Like side-along-apparation?" He said.
"Yes." I said.
And before I could blink, he'd grabbed my arm and we were transporting.
I landed on the ground in a heap.
"Fascinating." Barnabus mumbled as he looked down at his hand, admiring the ring.
"What the hell? Where are we?" I asked.
Barnabus extended his hand to me and helped me to my feet.
"You wanted to know why Eluite wants to kill you." He said.
He gestured to the old mansion in front of him.
"He lives here?" I asked, surprised.
Why would he bring us here when this vampire wants us dead?
Barnabus dropped my hand and stepped forward in a blur, dispatching two vampires that had attacked so fast I didn't even see them until they were on the ground.
"Let's go inside." He said.
He grabbed my hand again and pulled me towards the old house.
"Are you insane?" I hissed.
He smirked and waltzed through the door like he owned the place.
"Barnabus, must you kill my guards?" An older looking man asked as he walked into the entryway.
"Eluite. I thought I would pop in for a visit." Barnabus said.
This was Eluite? He looked so old! I couldn't believe this man was a vampire.
"Hm, come, let's sit." Eluite said.
He led us into a huge formal living room and sat in a large wingback chair, gesturing for us to sit.
"Would you and your guest care for refreshments?" He asked.
I cringed thinking of blood being served and Barnabus waved off the manservant who had walked over with a tray.
"What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Eluite asked.
"I just dispatched your assassin." Barnabus said.
"Which one?" Eluite asked as he sipped some type of liquid from a tea-cup.
He looked rather bored.
"You know, I never asked his name." Barnabus said as he tilted his head in thought.
They were both crazy!
"Pity. Anyways, I've heard nasty little rumours you've tried to kill me for new reasons." Barnabus said.
Eluite raised a gray brow.
"Really? How dreadful, I shall attempt to be more covert in the future." Eluite said.
"Well, since I travelled all this way, would you care to explain why you are siding with the Dark Lord?" Barnabus asked.
"Surely you've heard of the British coven joining?" Eluite asked.
"That piece of news did happen to reach me, yes." Barnabus nodded.
"Then it should be quite clear to you. The Dark Lord promises much, and whether those promises are fulfilled means nothing compared to his wrath if he doesn't get his way." Eluite said.
"Surely a vampire such as yourself wouldn't be threatened by him?" Barnabus asked.
"immeasurably so, I'm afraid." Eluite said.
"And what does he ask of you?" Barnabus said.
"Our blood. And our assassins." Eluite said.
Why would he want their blood? Is he experimenting with it?
Barnabus sighed.
"Eluite, you must understand that this will do the coven more harm than good? He intends to bond the dark creatures to his will." Barnabus said.
"How interesting. Do you think it will work?" He asked curiously.
How are these two so civil to each other when they want the other one dead?
"Yes. Eventually. And I see no point in doing grunt work for the Dark Lord. Surely you agree that is beneath us." Barnabus said.
Eluite nodded.
"I suppose it would be tiresome." He said.
"Why are you after Donovan this time?" Barnabus asked.
This time?
"Ah, yes, Donovan. He's snooping again." Eluite said.
"Curious little thing, isn't he? I'd be much obliged if you'd recall the hit on his wife though." Barnabus asked.
Eluite looked at me searchingly before looking back at Barnabus with a smirk.
"She always was your weakness, you know. Such a shame." Eluite said.
Barnabus narrowed his eyes at him.
"Regardless of our, disputes, we've reconciled." Barnabus said.
"It shall be done. I promise nothing of her husband, or for you." Eluite said.
"Naturally." Barnabus smirked.
He stood up and pulled me to my feet.
"It's been a pleasure, Eluite." Barnabus said.
Eluite glared at him but said nothing more.
We walked outside and Barnabus transported us again, at least he caught me this time so I didn't fall face first. We were back in his study.
"Ok, what was that? Are you two friends?" I asked.
"No. Weren't you listening?" He asked.
"Well you both sounded rather cordial for enemies." I said.
"Of course. We're Vampires, not barbarians. Why wouldn't we be cordial?" He asked.
"But you want each other dead!" I said.
"Yes. But that doesn't mean we are undignified." He said.
I just stared at him disbelieving. And he smirked at me.
"Why did he say Cassandra was always your weakness?" I asked.
He looked at me and stepped closer.
"Because of a lot of reasons." He said.
"You said I would trust you eventually. This isn't helping." I said.
"I did say that. And I won't lie to you." He said.
"Then tell me. Please." I said.
"Are you sure you want to know?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Cassandra was a vampire." He said.
"What? Donovan married a vampire?" I asked.
"He didn't know that's what she was. They had an arranged marriage. She turned just before he met her." He said.
"Did he ever find out?" I asked.
"Yes. He did. And he wasn't happy about it." Barnabus said.
"Why?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"I didn't care, she belonged to me." Barnabus said.
And it dawned on me.
"You were lovers?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Donovan never knew. Not many even knew she was a vampire, just Donovan and myself. When you're first changed you still keep a lot of your human essence. It's a slow process for you to lose it, that's why Vampires age so slowly. We will eventually die, so we aren't really immortal. And we can be killed, of course." He said.
"If you loved her, why did you kill her?" I asked.
"She betrayed me." He said.
He wouldn't say anything more.
"Does Donovan know?" I asked.
"That I killed her? No." He said.
"But, why would she betray you? Didn't she love you?" I asked.
He let out a sigh and glanced at my face before turning back to the window.
"She married Donovan, for her family, she said. It was considered an advantageous marriage for her. She studied as an apprentice under his godfather. That was how I met her. And she was too curious for her own good and got herself almost killed. I changed her to save her. And she resented me for it. I knew she did. She couldn't do magic anymore and she was such a talented witch. We were lovers before she was changed, you see. And she never forgave me for changing her. She married Donovan after that and I didn't see her for almost a year after. And then one day she contacted me and wanted to meet with me. When I showed up at the arranged place, it was an ambush. Eluite had sent assassins to kill me. I went to her house after, but when I got there, she was dead." He said.
"I thought you killed her?" I asked.
He looked at me.
"She killed herself, because of me." He said.
I gasped. Barnabus looked at me and shook his head. I sat there not knowing what to say. It was awful.
"She couldn't handle this way of living. She was too full of life for this kind of cursed existence. So she ended it. A lot of Vampires do, eventually." He said.
She killed herself because she was so miserable. I couldn't imagine the despair she felt, how awful it must have been to have felt the way she must have, that death was the only freedom for her. It made me want to cry.
"You remind me of her, too stupid and curious for your own good" He said.
"I am not stupid." I muttered indignantly.
He smiled.
"But you are reckless. And I need you to be more careful, Lily. You heard what Eluite said. He was after you because of Donovan." Barnabus said.
"What is Donovan really up to? And why do you need me so bad? It can't be all about a possible potion." I said.
He smiled.
"In due time, Lily. You wouldn't understand now. And you should go, it's not safe for you here." He said.
"I need my ring back." I said.
He looked at it wistfully before slowly sliding it off and reaching for my hand. He slid the ring onto my finger and held my hand as he looked at me.
"I'll contact you soon. Just wait for me this time." He said.
He leaned in and inhaled deeply.
"Your blood smells magnificent, by the way. I would be lying if I said I haven't craved it." He whispered.
He let go and stood back giving me a smirk and walking out of the room. I blinked a few times and quickly turned my ring to leave. Barnabus confused me. In more ways than I was ready to admit.
That night I thought about the story Barnabus told me about him and Cassandra. I wondered if it was really true? He looked sad as he told me, and it had felt sincere. But it broke my heart to think about what had happened between them.
I wondered if James and I were going to have a story like that. A love story turned tragedy? My heart ached at the thought and not for the first time did I regret leaving him. I wondered if my broken heart would ever be whole again, or if I even deserved for it to be. Would I ever see James again? Or would I die here without him ever knowing I still loved him. That I had only ever loved him.
I closed my eyes and sensed Charlie, searching for his mind. I'd never attempted to reach him at this distance with any success.
"Charlie?" My minds voice reached out to him.
...
"Charlie, can you hear me?" I asked again.
"Lily?! Lily is that you?" Charlie's minds voice rang through.
"Hey Charlie. I've missed you." I said.
"Lily, are you ok? I've been so worried about you!" He said.
"I'm fine." I said.
"Where are you Lily? A lot has been going on, we need you here. Come home!" He said.
"I can't. Not yet. I'm working on a lot of stuff now. I'm needed here too." I said.
"Lily, it's been months. And you're about to miss your friend's wedding." He said.
"Sarah is getting married?!" I asked.
"Yes. And I know she wants you there. It's this Saturday." He said.
"Give her my best." I said sadly.
"Lily, how much longer are you going to do this?" He asked, I sensed his exasperation and frustration.
I gave him the only honest answer I could.
"As long as it takes."
A/N: Be so kind as to review? Thank you!