Chapter 24: Rage
I returned to the castle with my mind set somewhat at ease. I suppose I needed to tell someone, just let it all out, and now that I had done it, they shared some of my burden.
I was tired as well, barely moving, but luck would not have it that I reached my dorms in peace.
Few people occupied the common room, and to my misfortune, one of them was Blaise Zabini. He jumped to his feet the moment he noticed me, striding towards me with those entirely too long legs of his. I turned away, walking to the staircase, hoping against hope that he was headed somewhere else.
"Rose!" I heard him call, and I stopped in my tracks, sighing, knowing full well that he would reach me before I could reach my dorm.
"Yes Zabini?" I asked, giving him a tired look. I really was in no mood for his foolishness.
"May I have a word?" asked he, and I got the sense that he would not be taking no for an answer.
"Is it urgent? I am rather tired and would simply like to…" I spoke, but he was rude enough to interrupt me mid-sentence.
"Most urgent." Responded he, towering over me "But we cannot talk here, come with me Rose."
I blinked up at him tiredly, and sighed, waving my hand to indicate for him to lead the way, ignoring the pure joy from Serpen at the sight of the boy.
I walked behind him, slowly following his large steps as he led me to the dungeons. He turned right two times and emerged in a corridor familiar to me as a dead end. It was once a classroom, but now hadn't been in use for centuries, even lacking any of the usual school supplies, being rendered to empty space.
He pulled out his wand and I watched disinterestedly as he cast the Muffilato charm on the hallway we had just come from.
"I really am most tired Zabini, I ask that you speak quickly and to the point." I spoke and he approached me, his eyes focusing on mine, somehow forcing me to look back.
"You asked me a question yesterday" spoke he, coming to a stop two to three steps away from me "and I have been looking for you for the whole day to give you my answer."
"No need." I responded, looking up at him "I am well aware of your answer."
I made to turn but his words stopped me "No!"
I turned back, arching an eyebrow at him "This one time, do not assume, do not guess, just listen to me. Can you do that Rose? Just, please , listen."
"If that is what it takes for you to leave me alone." I agreed, crossing my hands on my chest. I was rather cross with him at this point, most of my tiredness gone.
"You are not perfect, not by a long shot, but I've still fallen head over heels for you!" spoke he, not the least bit ashamed of what he was saying. Completely mental.
"If this is one of your games Zabini" I spoke and he stepped forward, but a breath away from me now.
"It's not Rose, I'm completely serious. I know you well, I know your vices, and I know your virtues. But just because you are flawed- for example, violent, somewhat bigoted, cruel, sadistic" spoke he and I was a moment away from hexing him "you are not a bad person. You have so many virtues, the only trouble is counting them."
"You're being ridiculous!" I snapped, now sure he was mocking me.
"Kind." Spoke he, raising his hand and counting "generous, protective, intelligent, extraordinarily talented, loyal, cunning, ambitious, responsible, strong, witty, selfless, I could keep talking forever."
I blinked up at him once more, the last word in his count ringing through my mind. Selfless.
"Zabini…" I spoke, ignoring our proximity, needing to know, needing to ask. "do you truly think of me as selfless?"
He narrowed his eyes at me in response, but answered none the less, seemingly not having expected this response "Melody. Family. Slytherin house and your friends, you. Is that not the order in your mind?"
How could he have known that? Legilimency was an explanation, but I pushed it aside, doubting he could be more skilled in that charm than I was.
"It is." I responded, rather confused at this point.
"Then tell me, with all this taken into account, how could you be anything than simply beautiful?" asked he and I could feel his breath at the tip of my nose.
I took a step back at that, giving him a small smile.
He did a double take as I spoke next "Thank you Zabini, I needed to hear that."
I spun on my heel, somehow feeling strong again. Like I could fix this, like this was not permanent, walking away and leaving one very confused boy behind me.
I raised my hand slowly, pressing the palm gently against the cold glass of the window in the hallway that led to the transfiguration classroom, located on the ground floor.
The heat of my palm created a small layer of mist around my fingers, and I watched as it slowly disappeared, revealing the snow covered middle courtyard. There was no one out there at the moment, which was understandable as thick snow flakes descended to the earth from the dark grey clouds that loomed high above the castle. Soon, there would be a storm, and once more, snow would reach up to my knees.
I huddled into my robes, feeling the cold seep into my bones.
Serpen had absolutely refused to leave my bed that morning, finding the cold by far too disagreeable.
So I was alone as I waited in front of the Transfiguration classroom, deciding to spend my free period thinking of all that I wished to say to my sister, who currently attended said class.
There was so much I wanted to say, to explain, but as I heard the doors open, only one thought remained. I'd say sorry.
I was not worried in the least as to how I would earn her attention, for, from the moment the first Hufflepuffs stepped out of the room, all eyes were on me. The students who were exiting the room created a wide arch around me, as if I were a troll that stunk to Merlin and back. It was that same fear that caused whispers to break out in the crowd, and carry news of my arrival to my sister's ears.
She emerged out of the crowd, tailed by her two friends. One was dark skinned, although her skin colour was lighter than Zabini's, and had hazel coloured eyes. She was rather tall as well, at least one head taller than me. The other was olive skinned, with dull grey eyes and a rather plain colour of brown to her hair, as opposed to the other girl's chocolate hair.
The dull haired one gave me a wary glance while the dark skinned one gave me a light glare, as malicious as could be expected from a Hufflepuff, and it took my sister several moments to persuade them to leave her alone with me, most likely reassuring them that she would not be duelling me today.
I had no intention of pulling out my wand today, even if she were to draw hers. If she wanted to, she could hurt me ,but I could never hurt her.
She watched as her friends left, Merlin landing lightly on her shoulder, him too narrowing his eyes at me. My, my, how protective they are.
I supposed it was a good thing to have someone care for her so much, and I observed her closely as she turned around, not having spent time with her in days. She had pulled her hair up in a pony tail, the golden curls left untamed while contained.
Seeing her friends turn behind a corner, she took in a visible breath, turning towards me slowly, her shoulders pulled back, tense, guarded. Her eyes were careful as she assessed me, her hands crossed on her chest, her fists clenching the fabric of her robes tightly, defensively.
I forced my palms to remain open, and as my stormy blue eyes met her azure ones, I spoke up, breaking the pregnant silence, once more caving in.
"Hello Melody." I spoke.
She did not reply immediately, merely looking at me with such foreign eyes.
"Hello Rosalind." She spoke, and the way she spoke my name, the fact that she chose to use it instead of my nickname, broke my heart.
"May I have a word?" I asked and she nodded lightly, once more voicing her reply a few seconds too late.
"You may." Responded she, and I felt a pang of pain in my chest. I knew the tone well, and she used it unconsciously with people she feared, people that were dangerous.
"I… "I spoke, but my voice broke. I cleared my throat lightly, feeling a burning sensation in the very back of it, guessing that I had caught a cold "I'm sorry. I wanted to say…. That I'm sorry."
Her eyes widened for a moment, and surprise was displayed clearly on her features for me to read, before she regained her composure, closing herself up once more, guarding herself. Against me.
"For what?" she asked carefully, not wishing to hope, Merlin soaring from her shoulder as I spoke next.
"Everything." I spoke "For hurting you, for making you suffer, for being too dismissive of your wants. For not being your sister."
Her eyes softened at this, and I could see her walls tumbling down before me, revealing the girl I used to know. But she never knew me.
"Linds I didn't.." she started but I interrupted her, not having said what I had wanted to say, what I had come here to say.
"Please." I spoke, and I could see that she was surprised, "I did not finish my train of thought. Please listen."
She nodded lightly and I continued "I think that this is because I forget sometimes. I forget how strong you have become, how much you've grown, how far you've come. I forget that you grew up, that you're not a little child anymore, that you're not my scared little sister who is in need of my guidance. I forget that you do not need me to be your mother. I forget that you have one in grandmother. And I forget, in all of the problems that I face, in all my duties, in all my wishes and desires, to be your sister, and for that, I am more sorry than you could ever imagine."
A single tear fell from her eyes, and I watched as more gathered in her large, beautiful eyes.
"That is all." I spoke, and she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly, as if I were her life line.
"I don't want to lose you sis." Whispered she, pressing me tightly to her. But these were not the hands that I once knew. They could not be. Something was broken between us, and her having called me her sister shed light on that fact.
I pushed myself gently away from her.
"I will always be your sister, but things cannot go back to the way they were." I spoke, raising a hand to her cheeks, wiping away the tears that were now falling freely.
"You are so pure, so young, so free." I spoke and she sniffed lightly, Merlin landing on her shoulders once more. "And I am old, chained and poisonous."
"No.." hiccoughed she through her tears, sensing the same broken strings between us.
"It would not do for the troll to destroy a veela, now would it?" I asked, and gave her a small, sad smile. "I will always watch over you, but I won't get too close. I won't hurt you again, because the truth is… I don't know how to be your sister."
"But I will try" I spoke, taking her hand and pulling her lightly, "so wipe away your tears. Come, let's have lunch together."
"Sure" hiccoughed she once more, but despite my offer, and despite how close I was to her now physically, I knew there were miles between us, pulling us apart.
I wish I could say that my relationship with my sister improved after these events, but sadly, this was not the case. Despite our newfound honesty, I found that she seemed to drift away from me, just close enough to see, and yet too far to reach. She did not trust me anymore, perhaps she never did, but now, I could not trust her.
Which did not lessen the fact that I lived for her. It only made me feel the loneliness that was always present somewhere in the back of my mind.
Days sped by me, at a pace by far too fast for me to follow, and I found that Christmas break was beginning, and with it all the customs and traditions my family would once more pay tribute to.
It was on this note that I was now making my way through the crowded carriages of Hogwarts Express, seeking out the compartment which my two cousins occupied.
Daphne had sent me a note, expressing urgent need to meet. Naturally, in all her hurry, she could not be bothered to seek me out, no, it was necessary for me to glare my way through halls simply bursting with excited little brats. Lovely.
I was grateful for Serpen, who was once more slithering in front of me, clearing the way rather nicely for me. A smirk played on my lips as I walked, the looks of pure terror on some faces an early gift as it seemed. For those foolish enough to glare at me, mostly felines, I had a special glare reserved, the kind that froze one's blood in one's veins.
I glanced shortly in every compartment we passed and as my eyes met horribly familiar black ones, I knew that there was no emergency. It was all a plan, all a set-up , an elaborate scheme to lure me in. I was going to curse Daphne into the next century.
I spun on my heel, angrily making my way back to the carriage where my compartment was.
"Are you looking for me Rose?" I heard him say, and I stopped in my tracks. I hated that nickname, it was so familiar, so close. And the fact that I could not get him out of my mind as of late, was not helping him at all in this case.
"Is the disgusted look on my face and the immediate departure upon seeing you not answer enough?" I hissed, spinning about, enraged that Daphne would trick me.
He was but a step away from me, and I noted that Serpen had curled up in a corner, observing the scene, amused.
He merely smiled at me, a smug expression on his face.
"How dare you trick me?" I demanded, somewhat relieved that there was no emergency, that my cousin was safe, yet also enraged that she had fooled me.
"Would you have come if I had asked?" asked he, stepping ever closer. If he thought that he could intimidate me, he was bloody wrong.
I stood my ground, lifting my chin up as he came to a stop a breath away from me.
"Not while I am still in my right mind." I hissed, looking up at him.
He was so close, he made me regret not dressing as the three girls in my compartment had. Jeans would be by far more practical for hitting the boy right where it hurt. I had never promised my cousin that I would not physically assault the boy, merely that I would not curse him.
Instead of jeans, I had chosen a tight skirt that reached to the middle of my thigh. It was a rather simple design, with lace on its rim. I combined this with a white wrap up blouse , black ankle high boots with a high heel, a diamond black and white ring and an amulet made of a black onyx wrapped in diamond chains.
A classier, but more inconvenient choice of clothing than converse sneakers, jeans and a long sleeved shirt my sister had chosen.
"I knew that you wouldn't, and I had to see you." Spoke he, leaning in, our faces inches apart. But I would not back down, I would not play his little game.
"Perhaps I should rid you of your eyes, you'll have no such desires in that case." I hissed, and he gave me a toothy smile in response, his eyes lingering on my lips.
"I have many desires" purred he, his breath tickling my nose. I was going to bite him, by Merlin, if he was going to get closer, I was going to bite his nose off. "but few of those you'd grant me."
"Could death be one of them, for you are extremely close to having that one granted?" I snapped, my lips curling into a snarl.
"No. But you can keep on guessing." Smirked he down at me.
"I should curse you for tricking me, for having the audacity to plot behind my back!" I hissed up at him, my palms itching for my wand.
"But you won't." smiled he, "Oh Rosey, the next semester will not come soon enough! What can I get you for Christmas?"
A poisonous smile found its way to my lips and I hissed out "Transfer to Durmstrang, or better yet, Salem, an ocean between us should be enough."
I spun on my heel, followed by laughter from the moron. I hated him, by Merlin, I did, but I also hated myself for not cursing the life out of him.
I put away my book as the train came to a stop, standing up slowly and putting on my coat.
I noticed from the corner of my eye that the hallway was already bustling with students collecting their bearings and rushing out to greet their parents.
"Ready?" asked my sister, and I turned around to see her already dressed, her falcon on her shoulders and a wide smile on her lips. "I don't want to keep grandmother waiting."
"Yes.." I spoke, looking down to see Serpen already moving out of the compartment.
We were amongst the last to have left the train, and I saw Arielle bounding off across the station, surprised yelps following her, along with the sight of people moving out of the way of the already quite grown panther.
Claudia waited for me and my sister, her marten dancing across her shoulders nervously. It seems that there were too many people there for her liking. Claudia smiled at us as we approached her, and as I looked away, I met Zabini's eyes across the station. He looked away first at that, something that surprised me quite a bit, but I had not time to debate his utterly odd behaviour as my sister took my hand, leading me across the station.
Serpen was once more most useful, parting the way before us, and anger bubbled inside me as I saw the company that awaited us.
There was an obviously muggle couple there, a tall, somewhat bulky man with light brown hair and bluish grey eyes, dressed in a white shirt, blue tie with silver stripes and a black suit and a rather short woman, albeit still taller than me, with black hair that was cut short, just to reach her jawline, framing her face as it curled inwards, small almond shaped eyes of a rather unimpressive brown colour, a tear mole under her right eye, and slightly asymmetrical lips, so that the lower lip was slightly larger than the upper one. She was fidgety, clearly uncomfortable with her surroundings, dressed in blue jeans, simple black shoes and a black short coat.
But Claudia's parents held no interest for me, and my eyes moved to a rather tall woman who now had an elegant smile on her lips, which were perfectly symmetrical, full. Her face was oval, with a thin nose and large, deep grey eyes that showed that she was once a beauty. Her hair was black, tinged with a couple of strands of grey and pulled up in a tight bun at the back of her head. As for her clothing, she wore a black coat with fur around the collar, reaching to her chest, and the coat itself reached a few inches past her knees. She had black velvet loafers with a golden snake on them and a black clutch bag with a golden buckle.
Yet it was neither my grandmother that provoked such unreasonable, all-consuming rage inside me.
No, it was a woman dressed in a black skirt that reached to her knees, a simple white blouse , an elegant coat that reached past her skirt and black leather gloves accompanied by black high heels. The woman had black hair that fell in waves down her back and almond shaped eyes of deep ocean blue colour. Her face too was rather long, with a rather well suited, long, thin nose. Her lips were full, and they were stretched into a smile in response to that of my grandmother. The woman was rather tall, and the resemblance to Arielle was striking.
I watched as Arielle threw herself in the woman's arms, chatting excitedly and pointing to her panther.
My eyes narrowed in anger, and my fingers curled into fists. I hated the woman for one reason. She survived.
I knew it was unreasonable, she had lost her child in the attack as well, suffered more than she showed, but still…
My parents were dead because they wanted to protect her, her unborn child and Arielle.
We came to a stop in front of the company, and Claudia proceeded to walk forward, hugging both of her parents and showing off her familiar, explaining what it was exactly.
My sister too walked forward, hugging my grandmother tightly.
"Hello Granny!" spoke she, pure delight in her voice and I watched as Merlin flew away from her, landing next to Serpen.
"Hello my love!" replied my grandmother, kissing the top of her head.
They separated, still holding hands, and I met the grey eyes of my grandmother.
"Hello Rosalind." Spoke she, offering me a stiff smile.
"Grandmother." I replied, curtseying. I could see that she was rather wary of me, but remained unable to read more into her thoughts, her walls high between us, mine raised higher.
She was a happy woman, a loving wife, but not a caring grandmother. Not towards me. And I did not need her to treat me as if I were her "lovely little granddaughter" as she calls me when she pretends to be close to me. She simply was not a part of my life.
I was only grateful that she was close to Melody, keeping her safe and sound, raising her to be healthy.
And as for me, I had my grandfather. I needed nothing else, no one else.
"I trust grandfather has informed you?" I spoke "This is Serpen, my familiar."
"He has." Answered my grandmother, looking over to my snake. "I am proud of you."
Liar.
"Thank you." I replied, lying as well. I did not feel thanks, I did not feel anything towards that woman.
But the woman on her right, she evoke my hatred easily, effortlessly, by merely being alive.
"Misses Hayes!" exclaimed my sister, and walked into a short hug from the woman, making my stomach twist in discomfort "It is lovely to see you."
She had said her greetings to the Beck couple, who seemed to like her, as people generally did, and be very apprehensive of me, seemingly unsure what to make of me.
"Melody" greeted the woman, wrapping her hands shortly around my sister "my, how beautiful you've gotten."
"Thank you" spoke my sister, giving the woman a beaming smile.
And then those ocean blue eyes met mine, and I could see the turmoil within.
"Rosalind…. Hello." Spoke she, her voice hesitant, giving me an almost shy smile.
My lips curled upwards in a disgusted sneer that seemed to shake the woman to the bone, and I turned away, just barely containing my anger.
"Rosalind!" hissed my grandmother, "mind your manners!"
I merely responded by raising an eyebrow lightly, questioning any authority she had to reprimand me.
"I am being as courteous as I can be…. Grandmother." I responded, sneering once more in the direction of that woman.
"Lynette, I am so sorry, she .." started my grandmother, but got interrupted by Arielle.
"You could have at least said "Good afternoon Mrs Hayes", the crown, I am sure, would not fall off that pretty little had of yours!" snapped she at me, anger bursting from every word.
"Shush Arielle dear" spoke her mother, her voice shaking, "it's alright."
Her eyes were glued to the ground and I could see tears welling up, and I knew Arielle could as well.
"You really do not want me to voice my opinion of your mother, and her kind!" I hissed right back, turning to Arielle, Serpen hissing as well, scaring the little falcon resting on him.
Shadow growled towards us, defensive of her mistress.
"Her kind?" snarled Arielle in turn, and I saw that my sister was fidgeting to the side "What in the name of Merlin do you mean by that?" she stepped one step closer to me at a time, looking as if she wanted to claw my eyes out. Hah, she could try. "My mother is a pure-blooded witch! Just. Like. You."
She spoke through her teeth and by the time she finished, she got into my face, bubbling over with rage. Her palms were rolled up in fists, clenched tightly in her attempt to stop herself from hitting me.
"Your mother can never be like me!" I hissed, looking around her, and focusing on her mother, watching with pleasure as every word cut through her like a knife. "And she knows well what she is. Traitor!"
Arielle's face morphed in her furry, assuming a feral expression, and I heard glass breaking as magic poured from us unstoppably, "If you call a woman who loved your parents so much that they are the only thing she talks about to me a traitor, well then, your sister is a traitor as well! Wanna see? Come take a peak!"
Before I had time to react, my vision swirled, and I was in a different room, my rage making the illusion shake, as if the earth itself was moving.
I saw a small read headed child sitting on her bed, her mother holding her in her lap, a photo album in their hands.
"She was so beautiful…" spoke the woman, gently tracing the picture and I strolled angrily towards them , only to see the picture, and have my vision turn a bloody shade of red, hatred ripping me apart. "like a porcelain doll."
The girl couldn't have been more than eight, and the couple in the photo more than twenty.
I saw my mother, the most beautiful woman in the world, laughing as she joined my father under the mistletoe. He smiled and leaned in, kissing her gently to the cheers of wizards and witches around them.
"And he was so kind…." She spoke, a single wet tear falling on the picture "we owe them everything you know…"
She closed her eyes tightly, stroking her daughter's head, pulling back her fiery red hair and planting a kiss on her forehead, sobbing, having the small child embrace her.
The room shook, pieces of ceiling falling down around me.
How dared she weep for them? How dared she?
My anger was such that I managed to force Arielle out of my mind, and in one swift motion, faster than she could, I pulled out my wand, pressing it to her neck sharply.
Silence ruled around us and I saw my hand shaking from pure rage. The words were on my lips already, a moment more, just one and I would say them, I'd kill her here and now.
And I didn't care that she was my best friend.
Suddenly, we were pushed apart, and instead in Arielle's neck, I was staring at a dark skinned neck, with a silver and green tie fastened around it.
I looked up, hissing at the boy.
"Get out of my way Zabini!" I hissed, my wand still aimed at Arielle.
"Rose…" spoke he and I snatched a fistful of his shirt, the fabric wrinkling in my fist. "what are you doing?"
He sounded so disappointed, so sad, so… worried.
"MOVE!" I hissed, wanting to move around him, but he took hold of my wand hand, aiming it away from Arielle.
"Don't do this Rose… please." Spoke he, and I took my other hand, curling it into a fist and slamming it into his chest with all my might.
He wouldn't move, so I hit him again.
"So this is what the great Slytherin Queen has fallen to, having to be saved by your boyfriend?" taunted she and I tried to snatch my hand away, but Zabini wouldn't let go. "Pathetic!"
His head turned and I hit him again, trying to take advantage of his distraction.
"Shut up!" growled he at her, his voice turning poisonous.
"Come on Ella" spoke the woman, pulling Arielle away, "please, let it go, for my sake, please."
I could barely see her around Zabini, but I noticed that Arielle was moving as her mother beckoned her.
But she did not leave before she hissed "You know, they say that you resemble your father, but that is a load of bullshit! You are his complete opposite! Desmond would never have raised his wand at a person he called his fucking friend!"
Another memory followed her words, and I watched as my father walked up to a read headed toddler, completely serious, crouching down beside her and then breaking out in a beautiful smile, patting her head as she flew around on her toy broomstick.
"Here is my beautiful cousin!" spoke he, his deep voice feeling like fire burning against my flesh "She takes after you Lynette!"
I screamed, I remember that, and had my eyes shut tightly, and as I broke through her memory once more, I found that the sound of my scream had been muffled by the fabric of Zabini's shirt, since he had pressed me close to him, and not one passer-by heard the desperate cry.
I pushed against him, and he let me go slowly, and as I stepped back from him Daphne and Astoria appeared next to me, both with grim looks on their faces, pulling me away from the scene, each taking one hand, and I saw them shaking uncontrollably.
I could not see anything as we walked, and I remember sitting down, two sets of arms wrapped around me, trying to stop me from shaking.
I was so angry, so very angry, and so sad. I glared at a spot opposite me, not seeing anything, hate consuming my heart, my very soul.
Astoria had her hands wrapped tightly around my shoulders, her small head resting against my shoulder, while Daphne took my right hand in both of hers and squeezed it, placing them in her lap.
But I could barely feel them, my eyes wide open, staring at nothing, glaring at everything, the tremors that shook my body now gone.
A hand appeared in my vision all of a sudden, and a palm covered my eyes, taking away my light.
"Breathe Rose" spoke Zabini, and rage consumed me once more, demanding to hurt him.
"Get off of me!" I hissed at everyone, but no one moved. And neither could I, my wand still in my hand, but casting spells by far too risky. I could end up hurting Daphne or Astoria.
"Just breathe." Repeated he, and I clenched my teeth in response, taking a deep breath through my nose. And then one more, feeling completely ridiculous.
His hand was gone in the next moment, and I saw him getting up, not looking at me.
"Look after her." Spoke he, addressing Daphne. How dared he? Was I a child?
But I could not voice my protests as he turned around and walked back to the station, making me realize that they had brought me into the waiting room. He never looked back once, angering me all the more.
"Linda…" spoke Astoria, and I felt something drop on my shoulder. Then once more.
It was hot, and wet… tears.
"Please calm down Linda…" whispered she, tears audible in her voice. I blinked once, rather surprised. I turned my head, and saw that she had huddled close to me, her black hair shielding her face, which was buried in my shoulder. "I don't want to see you hurt."
I was still angry, very much so, but this made me rethink my priorities.
Taking Zabini's advice, I took in a breath, once, twice, three times, clearing my head.
"Alright.." I spoke, a resigned tone to my voice, "alright."
She looked up at that, her big eyes glazing over with tears.
"I'm alright." I spoke, giving her a small smile.
"Promise?" asked she through tears.
"Yes." I spoke, and Daphne let go of my hand so that I could hug her sister, who welcomed the chance whole-heartedly. "I promise."
"Rosalind!" called my grandmother as I let go of her hand in the lobby of our manor, Serpen slithering to my legs.
The room was vast, perfectly capable of hosting three hundred people at once, with two large oak doors to my left and right, leading to the eastern and western wing of our manor. The room was dominated by a grand staircase, leading up to the first floor of the mansion, and I walked up to it immediately, disregarding my grandmother's voice.
"Rosalind come back here!" commanded the old woman, but I still walked forward, showing my snake the way.
"I swear, I don't know what to do with that child." Sighed the woman as I reached the family portrait that decorated the wall to of the western wing. It was made when we were ten, and I looked up, to meet my own cold eyes staring back at me. I had a smirk on my face, my chin raised proudly as grandfather placed his hand on my shoulder. I knew then who I was, and I was proud of my name. My sister stood to my left, the image of perfection, my grandmother's hands on her shoulders, a large smile on her face. It was an accurate representation of the relationships that governed this old manor.
Serpen hissed up at me as I approached the staircase, and I nodded to him, a silent reply to a silent question. I would get over this. I would survive.
I closed the doors of my room and clenched my fists tightly.
"Tolly!" I called, and in a second, I was greeted by a smiling elf, her pointy face morphed in an image of happiness.
"Welcome home mistress!" chirped the small creature, shining with delight. I could not help but smile as well at the old creature, my companion since childhood. She was the one to play with me as I grew up, Melody having very restricted contact with me. I suppose grandmother did not like my influence. She was the one to dress me up, she was my guest at every tea-party I hosted, she was my faithful servant, and a loyal friend.
"It's good to be back Tolly" I spoke, walking over to my bed, taking off my shoes and sitting down, swinging my bare feet, leaning back on my hands.
Serpen followed me and Tolly gave a surprised little cry, jumping back, her already large eyes growing to the size of a tea cup.
"Mistress, mistress Rosalind!" exclaimed the poor thing, retreating back to a corner and observing Serpen's every move.
"Not to worry." I spoke, my voice tired, so very tired "this is Serpen… my familiar."
She gaped at me for a moment or two, before breaking out in a wide, infectious smile.
"That is amazing mistress!" exclaimed she, happily tapping over to me and peering up at the bed, observing the snake.
"You can touch him, he won't bite." I spoke, encouraging her to get to know another close friend of mine.
Tolly gave me a smile, reaching out and petting Serpen with her bony fingers.
"Are you afraid?" I asked, my mind turning blank. I was so tired, I could barely think straight.
"No." replied Tolly, shaking her head vigorously "This is mistresses' familiar, he won't bite. He must be kind, mistress is kind, treats me well, yes she does, mistress is very kind, yes she is…"
She ranted for a while more, petting the snake, and the sound of her raspy voice somehow lulled me to sleep.
I recall having been levitated, and opening my eyes to see Tolly beside me, snapping her fingers and having the covers wrap around me.
"Sleep mistress, mistress is tired…" hummed Tolly and I fell asleep, observed by large, sincere green eyes.