Set Fire to the Bleeding Moon
Chapter 6: The Demons that Roam the Night
Come find me darkness
Come feel my soul
Come feed on my happiness
Come.
I beckon you.
A storm was brewing. The wind howled for its lover who would never return. The night was dark and the sky was black. Not a single star peered through the clouds. Gushes of hail and snow came pounding from the sky.
But inside a small café, where the fire cackled and the room was warm, Alethea and Sirius took no notice of the freezing outdoors. They sat sipping on their hot chocolates, murmuring in low voices. Sirius whispered a joke in Alethea's ear. She slapped him on the arm.
"Sirius you're vile!" she scolded.
"And you love me for it," he teased, smirking.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night Sirius. Whatever helps you sleep at night,"
Sirius' voice dipped dangerously low. "What did you say now?"
"Nothing," Alethea replied coyly.
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I'll let it slide this time sweetheart, you know, since I'm such a gentleman,"
Alethea burst out into a fit of laughter, almost to the point of tears. Sirius looked at her in mock indignation but eventually, he too succumbed to the irresistibility of her laugh. And soon, the quaint café was enveloped in a comfortable cloak of contentment and joy.
It was the perfect partner to the condemnable storm roaring outside.
That night, Sirius couldn't sleep. Instead, he sat by the windowsill, looking at Alethea as she danced around dreamland.
The past few months had been such a whirl for him. And it all revolved around her.
Sirius was quite the player at Hogwarts. He messed around with a variety of girls. He enjoyed doing that- flirting, kissing, having fun. Hogwarts had been an escape from his problems at home. He would play pranks on people, sleep around with girls, get drunk on the weekends, and play Quidditch. He had convinced himself that he was happy, but every growing day with her convinced him that he was not truly happy.
Perhaps he was content with life, despite its shallowness. It was not so hard to be content in life, he mused. He supposed that being content meant that you accepted the things that you had, even though you want so much more. But to be happy, to be truly happy in life was much harder.
The more that Sirius thought about it, the more he realized that happiness took a hell of a lot of courage, and faith. Being truly happy meant that you had to realize all of the great and wonderful things out there, but that you wouldn't want anything more than what you have.
Sirius wondered if he would ever experience happiness. Happiness in its richest, deepest, most fulfilling form.
Alethea. Sirius found it shocking how fast he fell for her, and how hard he was still falling. For the first time in his entire life, Sirius allowed himself to open up to someone. And for the first time in his life, someone actually stayed with him. Alethea was complex, and the more he thought about it, the more Sirius discovered that he knew absolutely nothing about her. He didn't know when her birthday was or what her parents did for a living. He didn't know where he lived or what her favorite book was.
But, he supposed it didn't quite matter.
He knew that she loved midnight and never woke up before noon if she could help it. He knew that your nose crinkled when something displeased her. He knew that she drooled over sausages and lamb chops but hated sweets. He knew that her eyes twinkled when she laughed. He knew that her laugh was the sweetest thing he had ever heard. He knew that he loved her.
And on that dreary winter night, amongst the falling snow and piercing storm, he knew that he had her arms to keep him warm. And that was enough. Sirius stared, looking into the realms of darkness through a dirty window. He could make out the blurry imprints of cars rushing through, the snow piling onto the ground like heaps of fallen angels, the flickering street lamp struggling to stay awake. With the darkness impending and with no moon to break the night, Sirius turned away and climbed into bed, asleep within moments.
On the outskirts of London, an army of silver-masked figures hovered in a mass, their jet-black cloaks swirling with the wind. With each a mask over their face, they became a fortress, a single unit of deadly curses and unforgiveable spells. Together, their arsenal made up of only a single piece of wood each, would maim, destroy, threaten, would bring bloodshed and horror, would commit sins of irrefutable evil, to be entertained by the Devil himself. Leading them was a most forbidding opponent, with a bald head and snake slits instead of a nose. He, Lord Voldemort, would destroy as he saw fit. He would rip, break, tear, murder, kill. And the world would be powerless to stop him.
The hoard of darkness floated through the night, disappearing into thin air before reappearing a thousand miles away. The group travelled as one, manic grins concealed behind their silver masks. They were soundless against the howling wind, invisible amongst the bitter black.
Voldemort and his death eaters gathered silently on the outskirts of Maywood, a small town outside London. He turned to address his followers.
"My dear, loyal followers, tonight we shall begin the strike against filth. Tonight we shall inject terror, breed fear. We shall draw blood and breathe death. Tonight, the world is ours!"
The silver masks let out a wave of excitement. Their eyes twinkled with glee at ridding the world of its impurities, of cleansing the earth of filth. They were giddy with the thought of restoring honour to the Wizarding World. They would avenge their ancestors; bring glory back to the name of wizard. The only female deatheater, with wild hair and piercing eyes, stood by Voldemort's side. Underneath her mask, a wide grin spread across her face.
A soft 'pop' sounded further along the ranks, signaling an arrival.
"Where were you? You're lucky we're kept to the back, if the Dark Lord knew of your tardiness-" a low voice whispered angrily to the masked figure.
"Don't get your knickers in a bunch Severus, our Lord has better things to worry about than the arrivals of low ranking Death Eaters such as myself,"
"You're playing with fire, don't say I didn't warn you,"
"My mother was having a fit again alright? I could get away from her,"
"I don't know Regulus, your family proclaims their love for the Dark Lord and his ideals and then your mother kicks up a fuss when you actually become a death eater,"
Regulus Black made no reply, instead allowing his mind to wander back to the growing tension back in the Black Family home.
"Regulus! Don't! You mustn't go!"
"Let go of me mother! The Dark Lord will be angry if I am late!"
"No! Regulus it isn't safe! Please, please,"
"I have no choice. I have to go,"
He apparated swiftly after that, leaving his mother to burst into tears and shut herself in her bedroom for the rest of the night. Regulus sighed. He did not want to see his mother so worked up, especially after her heart was already so shaken by Sirius' departure.
In some ways, Regulus envied Sirius. The Black family was not one that could be considered close or loving. There were limits that could not be breached, appearances that must be kept. Everyday Regulus dreamt of living his older brother's life, one with strong friendships and an independent mind. Deep down however, he knew that he would never break free from his family, would never follow in his brother's footsteps. Blood was thicker than water, and Regulus would be the son his parents wanted him to be. That was just the way family worked.
Regulus was shaken out of his thoughts when the field of black began surging forward. He took out his wand. The raid had started.
"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special…"
'Damn she looked good', he thought, prancing around in one of his old t-shirts and a pair of skimpy red panties. Sirius let out a low growl.
Alethea stuck her derriere out and waggled her eyebrows. "Too bad you gave my heart away,"
"And here I thought I was your someone special,"
"Why my someone special is much more handsome than you, Sirius Black,"
There was a pregnant pause. He couldn't believe the tease in front of her, wearing that cherry lipstick that she knew made him go crazy. And then she had the audacity to smirk! Sirius made a leap and walked towards her dangerously.
"Now what did you say?"
Alethea let out a gulp, "Nothing!"
One step closer, two steps. She let out a squeal.
"What did you say?"
"You're piss ugly!"
Sirius' eyes darkened as she stuck a pretty pink tongue out at him. How he would ravish her after this, make her beg for him, how sweet his name would sound coming from those scarlet lips. Three steps closer.
"You'll pay for that you little bint,"
He grabbed her into his arms and made a poke, here, there, and before long Sirius launched a full tickle attack on her slim frame.
"Sirius Black! Stop! Stop!"
By now she was rolling on the floor and he was unrelentless. Her spiced perfume taunted his senses. His eyes darkened another shade.
"Take it back!"
"Never!"
He paused momentarily and raised an eyebrow before leaning down and whispering into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.
"There is a reason tickling used to be a form of torture. And you've been a very, very bad girl,"
And the tickle war continued.
"Stop! Stop!"
"Do you take it back?"
Alethea hesitated. Her pride would not let her succumb.
"In your dreams Black,"
"You play with fire little one. I like that,"
Her breathless laughter rang through the darkness, his unrelenting fingers running up and down her sides. And then suddenly, her face became stoic, the laughter stopped. He froze.
"Sirius,"
She raised a hand to caress his face.
"Sirius kiss me,"
How could he say no to those eyes, those lips. How could he say no to her?
"You're going to be the death of me, you know that don't you?"
Alethea smiled in response. And then his lips crashed onto hers.
But at least he'd die a happy man.
That night, on Christmas Eve, they burnt the village down. Flames danced scarlet and amber, licking the houses and swallowing them one by one. The last scream was heard hours before. Now it was over, now it was done. The dead lay still and the falling snow buried their bodies. Voldemort surveyed the scene as a slow smirk stretched out on his face. This was the beginning of a new era, where blood would conquer water and those that had tortured him would be tortured in return.
"Bellatrix raise the anti-appraition wards. The Aurors should be coming soon, make sure everyone disapparates before then,"
"At once, my Lord," Bellatrix replied, bowing lowly.
Voldemort reached out and smoothed her curled mane. In the darkness, her black hair and sharp features reminded him of someone.
'I'll have to, pay her a visit, soon,' he thought. 'I've left her alone far too long.' He sent the dark mark into the sky and then vanished into the midnight air.
Alethea tossed for the hundredth time that night. She sighed; sleep had never been a friend. Christmas was never a joyous time for her, not since that night. After that night there was no more warmth, no more love. After that night there was little to nothing.
Except for him. He was like a beacon, an angel. Feeling the warmth of his skin beside hers made the dark night a little brighter, a little less lonely. She snuggled closer to him, burying her head into the nook of his shoulder.
"What's wrong darling?" Sirius muttered sleepily. "Can't sleep?"
Alethea grunted in agreement. "Do you want to go somewhere?"
He let out a throaty laugh, rubbing his eyes as he felt for the light switch. Muggle technology, honestly! Sometimes he couldn't believe what they had come up with. It was amazing to experience it. Although his mother would be slapping his face if she found out that he was staying at a dingy motel in the middle of Muggle London. 'Well, she's not here is she?' he thought contentedly, if a little sadly. Christmas was always a… pleasant enough time. Yule, as his parents insisted on calling it, meant hot chocolate by the fireplace and presents. And games. Even his parents would occasionally be persuaded to join in on a game of exploding snap. But they were his past now, and she was his future.
"Bloody hell Alethea, it's two in the morning,"
She flashed him a smile before getting out of the bed.
"Oi! What are you doing?"
"You'll see! Get dressed, we're going out,"
"You're fucking crazy! It's two in the morning!"
"Just fucking do it Sirius. Please,"
Ah that word, please. He grunted but made for his pants. What the hell, it was Christmas. And in any case, he couldn't sleep either.
Regulus felt his dinner rise up his throat.
All of the lives were now dead to the world. He glanced down and saw the unmoving body of an young girl, perhaps five years old. Her glassy eyes bore into his soul. She told him that he was a sinner, that he was a beast. She wore a red coat that matched the blood on the ground. The death eaters were not known for making clean kills. He turned away in disgust.
His closed his eyes and his thoughts wandered back to the comforts of home, of the parlor. He remembered the silver decorations, the cackling fire. He remembered his mother's smile, his father's embrace. Even Sirius laughed occasionally. There were no arguments, no rows. His parents forgot Sirius was a Gryffindor and Sirius controlled his temper.
A snowflake landed on the tip of his nose, bringing him back to reality. Instead of cinnamon he smelt death. Instead of his mother's soft voice his ears rang with the echoes of the dead. In the distance he saw a burst of green light that separated into the skull and the snake. The Dark Lord's sign. The raid was over. He could go home.
Their feet crunched in the snow as they walked through the abandoned streets. She led him down a series of brick alleyways, weaving through dark passages and silent shops. Evidently, she knew the place by heart and was used to maneuvering through it at night.
"Are you taking me to my death, dear one?" he teased as they walked down yet another set of dimly lit staircases.
"You're the one that's following," she shot back. He could see her sticking her tongue out at him.
"What a fool I am,"
Sirius let out a yelp as she punched his arm.
"Fuck off you tosser, we're almost there. Don't you hear it?"
He looked at her like she was off her rocker. "I don't hear nothing,"
"Well listen then!"
And then he heard it. A guitar strumming, then he heard the drums, and then a wailing voice. The music came closer with every footstep, louder with every passing moment.
She led him through the doors, waving to someone as they entered- a doorman presumably.
"Welcome to the Crooked Teeth. I used to come here all the time, even snuck away from Hogwarts occasionally,"
His eyes widened at the new information. A marauderess! Could this woman get any better?
A fat, burly man interrupted Sirius' awe.
"Alethea! Now your face is one I haven't seen in a while. Who's this lad you're with huh? Haven't seen this one before, although to be fair, you never bring the same one twice!" he joked in a booming voice. She blushed. He raised an eyebrow.
"Don't be ridiculous Alan. This is Sirius, my boyfriend,"
"A boyfriend eh? We'll see how long that lasts,"
Sirius felt a bubbling dislike for the bearded man and a wave of jealousy as well. She'd brought other guys here before? A waitress with a glass of whisky came right in time. The liquid burned his throat but soothed his blood.
"So are you going to sing tonight?" Alan asked. "Some of the regulars have been asking about you. I told them that you come and leave on your own accord and that no one could ever track you down for more than a fortnight,"
Alethea darkened another shade of red. "Not tonight Alan, I just brought Sirius over for a drink or two to celebrate Christmas,"
"You sing? I'd love to hear you," Sirius piped in.
"Atta boy! See Alethea? Even your man wants to hear your voice. I've missed it too you know,"
Alethea shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She cursed Alan. He was one of her closest friends, but he truly had the worst timing.
"Come on Alethea, you owe me for all the drinks you've guzzled through the years," Alan pressed. She sighed. She knew that she'd been slacking on her end of the deal. He would provide her with all the alcohol she wanted as long as she would perform once in a while. And she'd been shooting a lot more vodka than she'd been singing songs.
"One song Alan. Just one,"
Alan let out a gleeful noise and he went at once to shoo the current band off the stage.
"I didn't know you sang," Sirius said, waggling his eyebrows. "Did you serenade all of your previous, how did he put it, boy-toys?"
"Bugger off Sirius. I only brought my dates here because the drinks are free. And besides, I didn't keep any of them around, or feel anything for them. It was just… casual sex. Most of the times it wasn't even good," She stood up and made her way to the stage without waiting for a reply. Sirius just sat there gob smacked.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, you're in for a real treat tonight. Some of you may remember her from before, it's Alethea Winters!"
The crowd broke out in polite applause, with a few of the 'regulars' letting out sharp whistles and cheers. She smiled at them.
"I'd like to dedicate this one to my other half," She stared straight at him.
"Let's get out of this town, baby we're on fire
Everyone around here seems to be going down, down, down
If you stick with me I can take you higher, higher.
It feels like all of our friends are lost, nobody's found, found, found.
I got so scared, I felt no one could save me
But you came along, scooped me up like a baby," She sang to him.
Sirius felt the room melt away and soon it was just the two of them. The light shone down on her like an angel. She sang like an angel. She looked like an angel. Her voice was low but sweet, filling the room like a lover's caress. Her raspy chords touched his heart. She was his angel.
"Every now and then the stars align
Boy and girl meet by the great design
Could it be that you and me are the lucky ones?"
Her voice melted like honey, nectar and ambrosia. He couldn't get enough. She crooned and he was ready to give up heaven and earth to be with her. He thanked all of the stars he never once cared about, he praised the skies he used to curse, he kissed the fates that brought her to him.
"Everybody told me love was blind
Then I saw your face and you blew my mind
Finally
You and me, are the lucky ones, this time,"
Yes. The lucky ones. They were the lucky ones.
I'm so sorry for the ridiculous break I took from this story. I was in a rut with this story but I think I've broken through with it. There was supposed to be some more drama in this chapter but I thought I'd leave it on a high note as it is Christmas. The song is The Lucky Ones by Lana del Ray. Happy holidays!
xxx