Chapter 19
Awaken
Lyra stood there for minutes, multiple scenarios flew through her head. She tried to place things together, but there were too many pieces missing. The only one with the answers, was standing in front of her, with a shaky hand and a wand pointed at her.
"Get in my office, immediately!" Lyra barked, bringing Sarah back to reality. The girl began hyperventilating. She quickly pocketed her wand and did what she was told.
Lyra waved her wand, clearing any trace of either of them from there. She then slammed opened the door to her office. Sarah walked into it sheepishly, followed by a furious Lyra. She waved her wand, over the door, placing multiple spells to ward the room.
Sarah, only looked at her aunt's ministrations. Panic still on her face, she couldn't breathe!
"Breathe!" Barked Lyra angrily. Sarah, once again, did what she was told. Tears fell from her face and Lyra softened instantly, but she didn't say anything. She went over to the fireplace and fidgeted with her ring. With just a simple motion of her hand, a roaring curtain of fire came to life.
"Lyra?" Tessra could be seen on the other side. Her eyes darted over to a guilty looking Sarah, sitting in one of the chairs.
"Tess, we will have to reschedule our meeting. I have an official matter at hand." She whispered into the fire.
Tessra studied the situation and nodded in acknowledgement. The curtain of fire disappeared, with another wave of Lyra's hand.
Lyra turned to Sarah, who was sitting there taking in what had just happened. She seemed to have regained her defiant nature and built up some last-minute courage.
"So…the ring gives you a fancy fireplace, does it?" She said flippantly.
The cheek on this girl, didn't phase Lyra. She was rather thick, if she thought her little comment was going to change the subject.
Lyra opened a window and then sat down on her seat opposite, Sarah. She snapped her fingers, as a small flame danced on her index finger. She lit the cigarette hanging on her lips.
"You know, that shit is toxic for you! And you can't smoke in a hospital!" Sarah said dramatically, once again trying weakly to divert the tension.
"Shut up!" Lyra said shortly. She took several drags and flicked the ash into the dustbin next to her.
Sarah huffed indignantly.
"What were you doing?" Lyra asked simply.
Sarah said nothing.
"I will ask you once again, Sarah. What the fuck were you doing to that man?"
Sarah gritted her teeth. Lyra took another long drag, blowing smoke in Sarah's face, trying to push her, to the point of blurting out the truth.
"If you don't speak now, Sarah. This will be the end of your healing career. I will make sure, you are on the next floo port to America! You and I, both know that's not what you want. So, SPEAK!"
Sarah scoffed at the empty threat.
"Oh! You think, I won't do it? Because, that would be a mistake." Lyra stated dipping a quill into the inkwell as she began writing something down quickly.
This grabbed Sarah's attention. If there was one thing, she knew about her aunt. It was that, she hated being lied to. She knew, Lyra would go to lengths to know the truth. Sarah watched her write the letter to the International Society of Healing, asking them to blacklist her. She took a few minutes, to think of a way out, but there wasn't one in sight. Lyra was almost done with the letter. She was signing it, at the bottom. Sarah contemplated upon, what she was about to say. She finally, decided to tell Lyra, some portion of the truth, but not before spewing, what was in her mind at first.
"I don't know, what you and my father, are trying to accomplish by this! But it's not going to work. I am not going back to America! This is my life, and only I, will make the decisions…it is my choice!" She snarled. Her magic flared, as the candles in the room flickered angrily.
"Control your emotions!" Lyra spat disgustedly at her niece. Sarah flinched and fell silent.
"You're of age, and you still can't hold your magic in! You really believe, you are capable of making life altering decisions?!" Lyra snarled looking at Sarah who glared at her angrily.
"You think, I'm here for you? Well, get that thought out of your head! I have been trying to reach you, ever since, I got here, Sarah. To explain, to tell you exactly this! The Book of Destiny is not something to be tampered with! I wasn't given much of a choice, but to be here. If I am to have any direction in my life, then I have to go along with whatever shit life is currently, flinging at me!"
"No, Sarah, your father did not send me here to spy on you. He did not send me here to convince you to return to America. I am not here on orders from my brother! In fact, you should be thanking me, that he's stopped demanding your return. Because, I was the one to convince him, to let you be. To let you make your own decisions. To let you breathe, and be an adult, on your own merit! Clearly, I was wrong…seeing you're still a fucking child! Who thinks only about herself! Do you even know, what the hell is going on in this country? How fucking dangerous it is for you to be here? Of course, you don't, because I caught you red-handed, just making yourself an open fucking target. To elements, you have no idea, how to deal with!"
"You think last term was dangerous? Well, open your eyes to the real-world, Sarah! People are disappearing. People are dying. People are being murdered. While the ministry here, turns a blind eye towards everything!" Ranted Lyra as she stubbed her cigarette.
Sarah gulped. How could she have been so stupid? Lyra had never been one for glory, money or power. She was one of the 27. They had only one mission, and that was to maintain peace, and strive for what was right, what was good. Regardless, of where they were! When Lyra, mentioned the Book of Destiny. Sarah understood, that her aunt hadn't come here for her. She had come here for herself. The book had written its prediction and it was up to, Lyra, to find a way through. Unlike Sarah, Lyra, did not have a choice, to pack up her things and run back to America. Which was clearly, where she wanted to be! This was, what was written for her future, and she had to see it through! That meant, the book had sent Lyra here, her destiny was intertwined with England's future and no one knew, just how, yet.
Sarah broke, her tears flowed freely, as she cried into her hands. Lyra sighed and gave her a few minutes to calm down. Then, in-between the hiccups, the truth came flooding out.
"I…I…was…I was, just trying to revive him! He's Zeus's brother…Aries. He has just been lying there, Lyra, for years! Any senior healer, could just work on him for a few days and revive him. But they refuse to do it! No one, goes near his bed. We're not even allowed, to stand near the curtains! Every month…every month, some fraud comes from outside. He's the only one, who's allowed behind those curtains. He's the only one, who performs elaborate petrification spells, on that man and leaves him like that…to die…to die!"
"We're healers! We're supposed to be helping him. But no one, will do anything! So, I take up every graveyard shift, I can manage. In the hope, that I can revive him, somehow. Give him an actual chance to fight! To give, Zeus, a chance to have his brother back! You'd do it if it were, Dad! You know what it's like to have a brother. Zeus, deserves to have him by his side! Not…not lying here, like he's nothing!" Sarah said through her tears.
Lyra listened to her assiduously. She then, stood and gave her niece a tight hug. Hoping to soothe her the best way, she could. Sarah slowly calmed down, as Lyra wiped her face with her hands.
"Sarah…"
"Sarah…I will help you." Lyra said decisively. Sarah looked at her, blinking her tears away. She couldn't believe her aunt had melted so easily.
"I will help you. If you tell me how. Tell me everything you know, about Aries Shorthorn." Lyra said earnestly. And that was it, Sarah rattled off all the information she had on the boy. Everything she knew, about how he got there, about his girlfriend, about the experiments she had been trying for months.
"And Minerva McGonagall?" Lyra asked point blank.
Sarah suddenly froze. How? How in the world could Lyra possibly know about Minerva? There was no way! Did Lyra know, about the Order too? Did she know, Sarah was a part of the Order? Had Moody, actually gone above, Dumbledore's head and secretly met with Lyra? Was Lyra involved, more than Sarah knew, she was? How could she possibly know, Minerva, was helping Sarah smuggle potions in through Snape? There was no possible way, unless Lyra could read minds? Could Lyra read minds? Sarah wouldn't put anything past her aunt.
"Minerva?" Sarah stammered feigning ignorance.
"I walked into her at the stairwell…smart woman…using the stairs. She knew very well, no one would be there at this hour. Is she helping you? Did you reach out to her?" Lyra asked Sarah. That was her way out, Sarah replied quickly.
"Yes, she was the one, who told me about, Aries, last term. I reached out to her for help. I convinced her to help me get the potions. Zeus doesn't know anything about this. So, I needed to get the potions from another…source." Said Sarah trying her best to look earnest.
Lyra nodded. This was enough information for now. She knew there was more to what Sarah had just said. But she did not press. She had just got the girl to open up. She was not going to pry more out of her.
"We will begin reviving him, tomorrow. I promise you; Zeus will get his brother back!"
"But Lyra…we're not allowed…"
"Aries Shorthorn, is occupying a bed in my ward. He is my patient. And it is my duty, to help him." Lyra stated raising her hand to silence her niece.
"Now, go home to, Zeus. Get some sleep. I'll cover your shift."
"There's something else…" Sarah said pausing, before opening the door.
"What is it?" Lyra asked frowning
"The man…he…he's due, next week." Sarah said shakily.
"Well then, we best get to it then." Lyra stated smirking.
Sarah nodded, with a genuine smile on her relaxed face. She then left Lyra, in the office alone, shutting the door behind her.
True to her word, Lyra, had a closed-door meeting with Kranston and Torres, about the man, behind the curtained bed.
"Last night, I happened to glance upon the elephant in our ward. No, I don't mean the man, with the elephant trunk. I mean the man behind those curtains. Why has he still not been treated? His case, seems quite simple, really. Can none of you solve, for a petrified individual?" Lyra asked the two senior healers. They shuffled their feet silently, but didn't say anything.
"Well, are you going to spit it out?"
"He's Aries Shorthorn, ma'am. He's a Touch-Me-Not." Said Kranston
"A what?" Lyra spat angrily.
"What he means ma'am, is that he's been here, for the past 3 years. We had instructions, from the previous head of department, not to go anywhere near his bed. Healer Myers had questioned this status. But he was silenced, as well, by your predecessor. Stating the case, was unfixable and the man's parents were paying a hefty sum to keep him here. So, we just did, what we were told." Said Torres, clearing the air.
Lyra studied her two subordinates. They must have been, at least a good 10 years older, than her. Yet, they were more spineless than her, simple 17-year-old niece. Lyra didn't blame them though, both seemed ambitious and willing to please. They just seemed to be victims of circumstance, following orders, without questioning much. Probably, out of the fear that they'd lose their jobs.
"Well, I have new orders. I will be personally, looking into his case. I want him out of my ward, by the end of this week. I want one of you, monitoring him, all day long. Every itch, twitch, movement…I want a constant update. That man, needs to be brought back to life! Get one of the interns to help you out…Lincolns, perhaps?" Lyra instructed.
The two senior healers, looked at her a little uneasily. But they simply nodded and followed her orders.
The healers began working on reviving Aries Shorthorn, the minute they stepped out. Kranston ordered, the interns on the new instructions. Sarah was put on the case immediately, as the 24hr on-call intern for Shorthorn, and the curtains around his bed were removed.
Three days later, the first update was arrived. Kranston barged into Lyra's office, stating Aries Shorthorn's body was finally relaxing. Lyra dashed out to see the patient. She could tell a substantial difference, from what she had witnessed, at the beginning of the week. He finally, looked like he was not made of stone, and more like just another man resting. His eyes were closed, and his body was responding to touch. He even shivered slightly, when they performed a test by running a long feather down his spine.
It was only a matter of a day or so, before the young man, would regain some consciousness.
But the week passed quickly. Aries Shorthorn had made enough progress, but not all of it.
True to his timing like, Sarah, had mentioned. The man who came on his monthly visits, to check on, Aries, arrived. He created a loud commotion outside Lyra's office. Enough, for her to leave consultation and step into the ward. She wasn't surprised. She had expected him to be livid. After all, keeping someone in a constant petrified state, was not easy. It took time, practice, expensive potions and exotic ingredients.
"Sir, please maintain some decorum. This is a hospital…not your personal bar!" She snapped at him.
Lyra quickly studied the man. He had sharp features, but rather terrible yellow teeth. His robes, spoke very highly of him and so did his well-kept hair. He was evidently, going to grow violent, if Lyra did not contain the situation, immediately. He could easily, hurt her colleagues. Or worse, her patients, who already seemed disturbed by his outbreak.
"You! You! Do you have any idea, what you've done?!" He snarled at Lyra.
"I don't know, what you're talking about sir? And may I know, what the hell you're doing to my patient? If you're not family, or come to visit him, I would kindly, ask you to lower your wand and LEAVE!" She replied sternly.
"Who?! Who?! Touched Aries Shorthorn? It's against his guardians wishes! He was not meant to be revived. Only I, his family's healer am allowed to work on his case. Tell me, who gave you the orders to touch him?" The man snarled brandishing his wand, at Sarah who had been tending to Aries.
"St. Mungo's, does not allow private healers, and this man is of age. He doesn't have, any need for legal guardianship, to receive the urgent medical attention, he requires. Now, I don't know, who gave you the authority previously. But as the new head of this ward, I certainly will not allow it." Snapped Lyra.
She stepped in front of Sarah and finally the man looked at her fully. Lyra's wand, was in her hand and she was unafraid to use it on this maniac.
"I gave the order! Mr. Shorthorn, is under my care, and it is my duty, to offer him the help, he needs. Now, I suggest you leave silently, before I have you kicked out." Snapped Lyra.
The man, sized Lyra up and down. He then spat in her face.
"Wretched bitch! I put in years of work, on that piece of shit in that bed. Now, you've ruined everything! This is going to his parents…they will know what you've done and once they do…you're finished. Your little cushy job, will be no more! You think you're out to save the world, aren't you? You'll pay the price…you and that little intern of yours. Mark my words, this will not end well, for either of you!"
Lyra gripped her wand tightly. She wiped the spit off her face and calmly cleaned her hand on the man's robes. He looked affronted by her behaviour. He watched her clean her hand on his robes. Lyra then swiftly raised her wand and poked it into his neck.
"Go tell, whoever the fuck you want. Mr. Shorthorn, is leaving my ward soon and you can't do a single thing about it. It's best, if you leave now and save your face and your healing license, before I get it revoked. Because, without that pretty license, you're not going to be worth shit, to any your unsavoury clients or their pretty galleons. It would be, in your best interests to turn and run. Otherwise, I'll make sure, there's a bed in this ward with your name on it!" Lyra snarled, meeting his glare with an equally threatening one.
"LEAVE!" She snarled, bobbing her head towards the door.
The man gathered his wand and his open briefcase of potions and quickly dashed towards the door.
"You'll regret this!" He snarled.
"Come back with something better!" Lyra snarled back at him.
With that the man left. The ward fell silent, for a few seconds. And then suddenly, there was a raspy and hoarse whisper that came from behind.
"Wa…ter"
Lyra and Sarah, whipped around together and so did the rest of the staff in the ward. They all looked at Aries Shorthorn, as he was reaching his limp hand out for water.
"Pump him with strengthening draughts. I want him awake and ready to walk by tomorrow." Lyra yelled. Directing her instructions at her staff, who rushed to follow the order.
That night, Lyra, dropped Sarah home. She was pleased by the area, that her niece had picked to live in…far from the reach of dark elements, hidden cleverly in muggle London. She was making sure, that Sarah was safe that night. She knew, at least, Zeus, would be with her.
"Kid, be safe, alright! If you need anything…this is my address. Come straight to me! In fact, I feel like, you should just come stay with me for a few days…just to you know…be safe…until this blows over." Lyra said handing, Sarah, a note with her address on it.
"I'll be fine, Ly! I know a spell or two, to get out of tough situations too!" Sarah chucked. Lyra looked at her, a small proud smile rested on her face.
Sarah hugged her aunt and asked her not to worry. She stepped out of the car and waved goodbye to Lyra. Her aunt obviously, waited until she went to her doorstep and fiddled with the keys.
Once Lyra's car was out of view, Sarah, walked to the road parallel, to the one she was dropped at. She then entered, 12 Grimmauld Place, excited to reveal to Dumbledore that her mission was a success. That to, without Lyra, knowing much about anything. She needed to now know, what the next steps would be. There was a small smile plastered on Sarah's face. The first time in months, she felt like she had achieved something.
Sarah entered the kitchen and her smile vanished. She saw an extremely angry, Zeus, sitting at the table. With Minerva, Snape and Dumbledore trying to calm him down.
When Zeus saw her, his anger grew wild.
"Do you have any idea, what you've done?!" He snarled at Sarah.
"You…stupid…stupid…stupid girl! And you got the Order involved in this! You have just put yourself, on the Dark Lord's hitlist! Aries was supposed to just be there. He was safe there, far away from those fucking assholes. And now, you've gone and woken him up! You've gone and ruined my life! I have enough to worry about…and now I have to worry, about you?! How could you have been so selfish?! How could you have not said anything to me?"
"You seem to think like you know everything, don't you, Sarah? You think you're clever and smart and tactful? You think you can get shit done…with the help of your special aunt! Well, life is a lot harder for the most of us! But not like you care! You can go running to your family, whenever you fucking like! Fuck you, Sarah! Fuck you, for being so selfish! I wish, I wish…I had never met you!" Zeus snarled angrily at her.
Sarah just stood there, taking in every nasty word that he said without much thought. She knew, he was upset, but she couldn't get a word in edgeways. She just stood there heartbroken, as he said those cruel things to her. Tears streamed down her face. He was pushing her away, because he thought she was now a burden on him.
She had never asked him, to take care of her. She had never asked him, to worry about her. All she wanted, was for him to be happy. She thought, he'd be happy, that his brother was finally going to return. That, Aries, could have a happy life…a normal life! Hadn't he told her, so many times...how he had wished his brother could have had a life?!
Sarah couldn't take it. She felt humiliated, in front of all those people. She dashed to the door and out of it. She could hear, Minerva and Dumbledore, call out to her, as they followed her hurriedly. But once she was out the door, she disapparated and that was that.
"Where do you think she must have gone?" Albus asked Minerva worriedly.
"It's not safe for her out there…alone…not tonight. We must find her, Minerva." He added urgently.
"I don't think, she's alone, Albus." Minerva said handing him the note, that had fallen out of Sarah's hand before she apparated.
"I'll arrange for Remus, Tonks and Kingsley to get her back…" Albus said urgently.
"I'll join them. She might listen to me." Minerva motioned. Albus nodded in agreement.
"I will speak to, Zeus, in the meantime, explain what has transpired." Albus said, as the pair walked back into the house.
"I don't think that will be necessary, Albus. The moron, is already feeling horrible about it. I've explained the situation to him." Snape said tersely. The three of them looked at the defeated boy sitting at the table. He looked completely broken.
"Sir, I must go after her. I have to fix this!" Zeus begged Dumbledore. He seemed to have realized his mistake. After seeing the whole picture, Zeus, demanded they let him leave.
"We will get her back, Mr. Shorthorn. But, you, best have a very good apology ready." Said Minerva sternly. She excused herself, to go gather the rest. They needed to find Sarah, and fast!
AN/- Took a short break. Too many things happening this week. Don't worry, though, will keep posting as soon as I have chapters ready. Promise, not to be gone for too many days though. Hope you keep enjoying the story and reviewing! Thanks :)
