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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 20, 2011 23:33:03 GMT -5
[[Posting both Mosrael and Ralin]]
"Let Ralin go! No!"
Despite his battered condition, Ralin fought to stand upright and glare at the men holding Max. His voice was deadly calm. “If you hurt him, I will find you. Count on it.” His expression softened as he met the boy’s eyes. “Hang in there lad, we’ll get out of this.” If he could just keep Mosrael distracted long enough for someone to break through the enemy’s line and rescue them, maybe if Curse was on his way…
At Kim’s remark, the werewolf’s face darkened and he started forward, but Mosrael stopped him. “Behave you two. We’ve got other matters to deal with. Hold the boy still and if you let him escape again. I’ll replace you.”
Ralin took a deep breath, putting a wall against the pain and reached for his last reserves of strength. Ralin would not let them take Max. He’d made a promise.
Pretending to sag wearily in the hands of the men holding him, Ralin bent his knees and pushed off the floor with all his might. He broke free of their grasp and tumbled backwards, throwing them off balance. Grabbing a broken table leg, he threw it in Mosrael’s direction and ducked just as a spell shot past him. Something slammed into him from the side and he found himself wrestling with the werewolf that had bitten him. Ralin yelled, pouring all of his rage into fighting the man who had cursed him. Locked together in a deadly embrace, they rolled around on the floor, Ralin’s anger lending him strength. He finally managed to kick the werewolf away and reached for a spar of splintered wood, swinging it at the man’s head. Ralin tried to get to his feet, but something smashed into his back, dropping him to the ground. Gasping for breath, Ralin rolled onto his side, feeling his strength start to drain away.
They felt the house shake and the sounds of battle outside changed, as though something had shifted the power of the struggle. He knew that someone had arrived, hopefully reinforcements. Please let it be Curse! Ralin begged inwardly, knowing he couldn’t distract Mosrael for much longer.
Then Ralin’s eyes met Max’s terrified gaze, and he remembered again the promise he’d made. Summoning the remaining strength he had, Ralin rolled to his feet and charged at Mosrael. His sudden movement caught them all by surprise, as they thought he’d been defeated. But just before Ralin reached the masked woman, the werewolf stepped in front of him and sudden agony exploded in his chest. Gasping, the young man staggered back, staring at the hilt protruding from just below his ribs.
“Fool!” Mosrael’s wand shot out and a jet of green light hit the werewolf. “I told you I wanted one left alive!”
Ralin fell to his knees, all of his strength fading away in a rush. His shaking fingers brushed against the knife hilt in disbelief. “Max…I…I’m sorry…” Seeing the young boy’s courage as he tried to remain strong, it felt as though Ralin’s heart was shattering into razor-sharp pieces. He’d failed Max, and he’d failed Curse. The pain was overwhelming, and Ralin gasped as he attempted to pull the knife out. But he cried out when he tried to grasp it and couldn't do it.
Mosrael lifted Ralin’s chin. “If you manage to live, which I doubt, since that man’s blade was spelled to resist any magical healing, give this message to Curse Kameren.” She whispered a few words in his ear, and then turned to signal her followers.
Outside, the anti-apparition spell faded, and the men holding Max vanished, taking him with them. The masked witch raised her wand and her black mark, a mask with twisting shadows, soared over the house. Then she turned and left the room, making her way to the front door on the other side of the house. Just before she disapparated, Curse appeared in the doorway, and their eyes locked, black against green. Then she was gone.
Ralin slumped to the floor, failure overwhelming him with grief. “Max…” he whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks. His hand grasped something familiar. The two pieces of his wand, still joined at the middle by splinters and the raven feather core. He didn't know how soon someone would get to the house, so he had to let them know what had happened. Fighting to stay conscious, Ralin held the pieces together, a last desperate spell forming on his lips.
“Expecto….patronum…” To his relief a faint silver raven burst into life, and he whispered a message to it. Then the pieces fell from his fingers. Ralin’s last thought before darkness swallowed him echoed in his mind. What am I going to tell Curse?
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Winging its way to anyone that it could find who knew Ralin, the raven patronus delivered its message.
“Mosrael came, she took Max. Tell Curse-“
But before the message could finish, the raven faded from sight.
[[Don't worry, he's not dead. Just having a really bad day.]]
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Post by Reckony Pike on Aug 21, 2011 20:16:08 GMT -5
2 patronuses. And he was missing in action for both of them. Reckony catapulted himself in to the very last moments of chaos in the fight at Godric's Hollow, using physical force on any dark wizard he could still find amongst the ruins of Curse's yard. For the most part, they were gone. Eerie streaks of light vanished from the property en masse, and the barkeep could do little more than stand and stare, wondering how he might have been of service if only he had arrived sooner. There was no excuse for his absence. The measures Mosrael had taken to shield their access was difficult for even an accomplished wizard; with his handicap, Pike's arrival was a modern miracle.
Reckony caught sight of Reece and Nuri, placing sturdy hands on their shoulders before looking at the house and wondering what he'd find inside. Or what he wouldn't find. He received only a partial message from Ralin about Max's kidnapping and he feared what that meant.
"I'm sorry, I have to check on Ralin. Find Curse..." Reckony looked at the mother and daughter sympathetically, seeing through their condition that the Elswyths had fought valiantly. Soot and ash covered both women and he made a silent promise to return to them once he knew the fate of his other friends. Pike's heavy boots sank in the scorched earth. The rancid smell of burnt flesh and spell fire caused his stomach to rise.
So many were fallen. It was Hogsmeade all over again; their small army of unlikely heroes was nearly spent.
"RALIN!" Reckony charged up the front steps, finding the front door already open. "CURSE!" He at first failed to spot either man but that suddenly changed as he neared Kameren's study, finding at first the slain pieces of Curse's beloved snake and then the ghostly shell of what was his young friend O'Faerlun. "Ralin..." Reckony stumbled to his knees, his hands absently reaching for the hilt of the blade that gutted the boy before he came to his senses. His legs rocked with adrenaline. "Ralin, speak to me."
Large, rough hands found their way to Ralin's face, the icy skin almost biting him back, Empty, noiseless gasps seemed to evaporate from the boys lips and heavy lids sat at half mast over dull and lifeless eyes.
Reckony stifled a cry. He had seen Maebh in a similar state but through some odd sense of invincibility was left with a glint of hope for her revival. With Ralin, there was an immediate sense that all possibilities were lost. Reckony knew the boy was weakened to begin with: he had seen it in Ralin's soul in the weeks leading up to Hogsmeade and although he never asked the traitorous Theo Bowre whether his Irish brother was in a funk, he suspected that that much was true. He doubted Ralin had the might to recover and the sense of loss was overwhelming.
"You've all I got, boy. Damn you. Don't you dare leave me here alone."
Pike called over his shoulder.
"I NEED SOME HELP HERE!"
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 21, 2011 21:51:00 GMT -5
A slight panic gripped Curse as Mosrael disappeared, his eyes meeting his son's. He looked into Max's young, tear-streaked face and vowed this would not be the last time. "I'll find you!" He yelled, but it was too late. They were gone.
A sort of numbness fell over Curse as he entered his house, panic and anger boiling just below the surface, waiting for an excuse to explode. He wanted to destroy things, to kill the people sent here to take his son from him. He was going to kill Mosrael, when he found her. He knew her name, she was just a witch, like everyone else. He would kill her like the others, and anyone else who might stand in his way.
The plan for finding the boy was already in motion as he crossed into the kitchen. He took out the potion he usually used to dull his genius and set it on the counter, along with a carton of milk. He mixed the two together; a rather strange antidote, mixing milk with the potion reversed it, brought him back to full mental capacity. If he wanted to take down the Dark Lady, he would have to be a step ahead of her. "Lusssscy." He hissed, throwing back the concoction. There was no answer. A pang of fear went through him as he looked up. "Lussscy?" He called again, his parseltongue growing a bit frantic. The study. The Death Eaters had been exiting the study, that's where she would be. Safe and sound.
Curse's study was a wreck. The shelves and his desk were in ruins from the spells that were thrown, books and papers strewn all over. A dead Death Eater laid next to his desk, a broken neck that Curse recognized as a Lucy casualty. He hardly noticed the body of the wizard, though, when the green body of Lucy was strewn in three parts alongside. His composure faltered and he fell to his knees, shaking fingers picking up her pieces and laying them gently back together. Tears found their way to his eyes, but didn't fall before he saw another form in the room, slumped along the opposite wall.
Ralin O'Faerlun, a knife embedded in his torso. Curse got closer to the unconscious wizard, examining the wound. A crooked smirk tweaking at his lips. "There's a reason we call you Lucky, boy. Didn't hit any major arteries..." Curse pushed himself up, heading upstairs to find bandages for the blood.
It was odd, how the second floor of his home was totally untouched. He almost expected Max's light to turn on at the end of the hall, like it did when Curse came home late and Max was already in bed. He'd poke his head around the doorframe and ask cheekily: 'where were you?' The memory only fueled the fire in him now. He opened Max's door and peeked inside; the toys were a mess, his bed sheets still torn apart as if he'd just gotten up. Curse took a shaky breath, sitting on his son's bed and holding his head in his hands. How could he have let this happen? Why was this happening? If Mosrael wanted to silence him, why not kill him? He would have gladly let her; death would have been far better than this. Did she mean to scare him? Scaring Curse Kameren was a dangerous move, one he would make sure she regretted.
He heard the hallway doors open and close and realized it was his doing. He was upset, and in his home his power would leech out and affect his surroundings. He stood, opening his son's door and lingering with one last glance.
Wait. The mirror wasn't here. Max, you brilliant, brilliant child.
Curse hurried back downstairs, stopping in the bathroom for a moment and grabbing some towels before heading back down to the study.
"I NEED SOME HELP HERE!"
The booming voice of Reckony Pike made Curse wince slightly, but he kept his mouth shut. He couldn't speak, afraid of what might come out of his mouth. He was afraid to let his temper slip, for fear of hurting those who fought for him and his family. He was dangerously close. He hoped they had captured some of the Dark Lady's minions alive, the better for him to take his anger out on. He handed Reckony the towels for Ralin, forcing his eyes on the boy and not on Lucy. Ralin, the one miracle in this mess of darkness. He would live.
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Post by Echo Ashaelyr on Aug 21, 2011 22:36:42 GMT -5
Echo stood in the eerie calm after the remaining dark wizards and witches vanished suddenly, as if from some signal by their leader. Then she saw the witch's dark mark hovering over the house. Memories of Voldemort's reign came to mind, when people would come home and find the Dark Mark over their house, and know with dread what they would find inside.
Her heart seemed to freeze for a moment. She didn't know who was supposed to be guarding Max, but the young boy's face hovered in her mind and she felt panic start up her shuddering heart again.
Max... She knew the boy from her odd friendship with Curse, and he had grown on her from the visits she made to the Kamerens from time to time.
Realizing that she'd been standing stock still in the battlefield, embers smoldering at her feet, the woman sheathed her sword and started running towards the house. Stepping over what was left of the front door, she saw an older woman's body sprawled on the floor, her eyes glazed over in death. Echo knelt and gently closed her eyes, then resumed her search.
"MAX? CURSE?" Finally she arrived at the study, hearing a frantic voice inside. She rushed in and halted suddenly at the sight of the dear old snake's body, the protector of the Kameren family. Then her eyes found Reckony's form bent over a crumpled figure, and when she moved closer, a gasp escaped her.
The young man looked still and fragile, and there was so much blood...she feared the worst. But Curse came into the room and handed Reckony some towels, and Echo wondered if the boy was still alive.
"Curse...where's Max." She had only to search his face to confirm her fears. Max was gone. There was rage in his eyes, panic, and a dark determination that told Echo he was on the edge.
"Curse. We'll get him back. Max is a tough kid." Her words felt lame and unconvincing to the worried father, but she didn't know what else to do. Maybe she could be some use to Reckony though.
"Hey, Reckony," she said softly, kneeling beside him. "What...can I do?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 21, 2011 23:37:59 GMT -5
Alex stopped suddenly, almost running into Curse. His eyes flashed up, over his brother’s shoulder. Dried blood on his face cracked as his face set into harsh lines, his gaze focusing on Mosrael. She was the cause of all this, and so much more. He promised her he wouldn’t stop until she was hunted down. It was all over in an instant, the group was gone. Max was gone. He closed his eyes in defeat, clenching his fist and pounding it against his thigh as Curse ran into the house.
He’d failed.
It was only a moment before he opened his eyes, stepping into the house that only months ago he’d mocked for its pink color. Reckony ran past him as he headed for the study. Time seemed to be moving slowly as the fire inside him grew before a voice brought him back.
"Curse. We'll get him back. Max is a tough kid."
“Don’t.” He said quietly, laying his hand on the woman’s shoulder. He watched as Curse moved about. The fire that threatened to engulf Alex shrank into a bright, hot core as the fog lifted from his mind and his thoughts cleared. He’d never seen Curse like this before and recognized the danger. His brother was on a brink, a fine razor’s edge that could tilt him either way.
He would do anything to retrieve his son.
--
“Mosrael came, she took Max. Tell Curse-“
The raven spoke once more in Ralin's faltering voice, but Nuriko hadn't moved. She felt frozen, leaning against her mother as the message replayed above her cupped hands. Around them, whatever attackers remained were being spellcuffed, and triage was starting as the law enforcement mediwizards arrived.
"I'm sorry, I have to check on Ralin. Find Curse..."
Reece shook her daughter, they separated, no longer touching but still side by side. They approached the house, Reece going to the kitchen and Nuri following the people and running to the study. She knelt next to Reckony, afraid to touch Ralin, she picked up the pieces of his wand and held them in her hand.
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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Aug 21, 2011 23:42:48 GMT -5
It was silent. Ralin walked down a winding path, the view obscured by grey fog all around him. All he could see were leafless trees bordering the road, still and unmoving sentinels. Everything was calm but lifeless. Ralin found himself wondering where he was. Where was everyone else? He couldn’t remember anything, except for a moment of pain. Then he was here.
Something pulled at him, like an invisible hand gripping his shoulder, halting him. Ralin looked behind him, but there was no one there. Again, the feeling came, something tugging him back. Back to…
FLASH
Max crying. Veronica’s empty, lifeless eyes. A blood-red mask. Chaos.
The deluge of remembering brought Ralin to his knees and when he felt the pull again, he shouted in frustration. “Leave me alone! I’m tired! I just need to rest for a bit!” He was afraid of what was behind him, where the path led back to. All he knew was that it hurt, so much. There was fear there, pain, sorrow, so many bad things.
Ralin…
“Go away! Let me rest!” Ralin shouted through his tears. But deep inside burned a spark, and even though it was just embers glowing dimly for now, Ralin knew he couldn’t go on down the grey path. He was never one to give up, no matter the odds. And that voice…he knew that voice. It was filled with love, reminding Ralin of something he’d forgotten on the grey path. There was more back there than just pain and darkness. There was light for him too. And he had people he couldn’t abandon. Standing up, Ralin took one last glance at the road ahead, and then looked down. The fear of what he would find became tempered by grim determination. Turning around, Ralin started walking back.
Climbing out of unconsciousness was like trying to stand on water, and Ralin was instantly consumed with agony. He was far from awake, barely keeping his head above the waters that tried to pull him back down. Everything around him, even his body, seemed far away. Dimly he was aware of someone kneeling over him.
"You've all I got, boy. Damn you. Don't you dare leave me here alone."
Reckony. Ralin wanted to open his eyes, to tell Reck it was okay. But Ralin could barely hang on through the waves of pain battering his body and mind. All he could manage was to move his fingers slightly. A faint sigh escaped his lips as darkness pulled him under.
“Reck…”
Then Ralin was still, but deep inside, he was fighting again.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 22, 2011 1:11:36 GMT -5
"Curse...where's Max."
The windows on the first floor of the Kameren home suddenly broke as Curse bristled from Echo's sympathy. The pressure in the room felt heavier from his presence, his inner fight to keep himself under control. He wanted to hit something, to hurt something as badly as he was hurting, as his son was. He wanted to scream like his insides commanded him to. But what good would it do? The trouble with wandless magic was it was so closely linked to his emotions; if he wasn't in control, his power wasn't in control. His son had just been taken, many would tell him it was alright for him to lose control, to break down. It was expected of a loss so heavy. No, he couldn't. He needed to keep a clear head, for if he made a misstep in his rage, Mosrael would defeat him. Defeat wasn't an option. They couldn't fail Max.
He felt Alex's presence backing him up, and the gears in his head started speeding. He wanted Alex behind him when he went after Ranna Nienmorhai. He taught Alex how to be an auror, he knew his brother's dueling style better than other wizards. He was powerful, quick, and he would be ruthless. Curse needed someone who wasn't going to judge him for what he was going to do.
"Curse. We'll get him back. Max is a tough kid."
“Don’t.”
"I'm going to kill her." Curse said it simply, his voice low with a rough, forced calm. His hands were in clenched fists. His sharp green eyes met Alex; they were dead inside, but not like when he was in his bad days. He was numb to emotion, sympathy or compassion. There was no cost too great for retrieving his son. If Mosrael was going to play the fear game, he could too. He wanted to make every Death Eater in London fear the sound of his name.
"Alex, we need to find Arianna and retrieve a two-way mirror from her. I think Max might have it's mate with him."
He looked down at Reckony, his orders coming out rough in his voice. "Reckony, Echo, take care of the Watch and clear out any bodies on the premises. Leave Lucy," His voice cracked slightly at his snake's mention, but he didn't stop, "but take the rest. Pull their masks and ask Jack Harkness if they're any of his friends." He turned, heading towards the door and pausing, "When you've done that, take the bronze globe off of my desk and turn the third book in on the fourth shelf backwards. Take the globe with you when you leave, and that will lock up my house."
Curse left the study in a hurry, heading back out towards the front lawn. He ran into the Elswyths as they were headed inside. "Reece," he caught her by the shoulders, his grip still gentle besides the dead anger in his demeanor. "I need to know if there are any captured Death Eaters still here. Alive. I need to see one if there is."
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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Aug 22, 2011 5:52:18 GMT -5
"Reece," he caught her by the shoulders, his grip still gentle besides the dead anger in his demeanor. "I need to know if there are any captured Death Eaters still here. Alive. I need to see one if there is."
Reece steadied the mug in her hands, cupping a palm over it to keep the steam out of her face. She broke Curse’s grip, moving to the doorway. She motioned him over, still covering the mug. The lawn outside was not very crowded.
“All the conscious ones are gone.” She motioned to one side, where a mediwizard was working over a groaning witch. “Except that one. They can’t move her.” The reason was obvious. She was missing both legs at the knee. As Curse moved to confront the woman, Reece held out the tea.
“Don’t breathe it in, or drink it.” She warned. “Unless you wish to spill all your secrets. Give it to her, and you won’t even have to ask. And all her answers will be true.” It was something stronger than veritserum, a controversial potion that had fallen out of use in the early years after the war. What once was deemed necessary had grown to be condemned as unethical. Officially.
“And Curse?” Reece’s voice was hard, “No need to be gentle. I remember her from the War. She tortured whole families.” Reece turned her back on the outside, walking deeper into the house, she found the study and her daughter. She sat crossed legged against the wall, watching Ralin and the two who worked on him with compassionate eyes.
“Mum.” Nuriko moved closer to her mother, her eyes on her friend as she lay her head on her chest. She still held his wand in her hand. Reece smoothed her daughter’s black streaked hair. She knew Nuriko wasn’t a stranger to battle, but even still, it was a harsh reality for someone so young. Reece had been nearly a decade older during her War.
“I know.” She put a cool hand on Ralin's forehead, moving his sweaty hair off his face. "Do you two need anything?" She asked Echo and Reck.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 22, 2011 11:53:21 GMT -5
“No need to be gentle. I remember her from the War. She tortured whole families.”
Curse's eyes looked past the Elswyth's and over at the Death Eater He was about to question. "I wasn't planning to." He gingerly took the potion from Reece, moving past the woman and her daughter out into the yard.
The woman's screaming started immediately. Curse wasn't careful with the woman, nudging her newly shortened legs with his foot to get her attention. As she screamed he poured the potion down her throat, kneeling over her and holding her head in his hand. A dark grimace formed on his face as he forced her, her screams and fighting growing futile as no one moved to stop him. This woman was responsible for Mosrael's taking his son. Since he didn't have her superiors to punish, she would take his temper for now. He let the potion sink in, vines reaching up from the ground to bind her hands and stump-legs.
Pale, strong fingers forced her eyes to face his. His emerald green eyes were hard on her, his expression ruthless. He was going to be just as honest as she was forced to be: This woman would not survive this questioning. He didn't care, and to be honest a part of him got pleasure in that idea. "Where is Mosrael?" His voice was low, but there was a fierce growl behind it. He wasn't playing with this woman. Her lips fought to move, but she kept her mouth shut, icy blue eyes wide up at him in terror. A pulse of red went through her veins and she screamed; Curse knew much more advanced forms of torture, more elegant than simply the unspeakable curses. He knew a body and what it did, how to make it hurt. He knew how to make it slow, deliberate. unbearable.
The center of his right palm turned to a sizzle, his curse breaking through in his temper. "I can do much worse than kill you tonight, Rosier." Her name came to him, he recognized her as a Ministry member. Emily Rosier, Department of Transportation. She wouldn't be making it back to work. His fingers gripped her jaw harder, urging her to speak as his face darkened. "Where is she? Where did she take my son?"
"I-d-d-on't -- AAH!"
Her shrieking continued as he tortured her again, his emotions unmoving by her pleads for mercy. He had no mercy, not when his son was in danger. They used his child to get to him, that merited no sympathy. He would not be kind. He was not a good man, as much as the rest of the Watch wanted to make him out that way. It did not take much to push him over the edge. A black fire broke out on his palm, the small black flame giving off snowy white sparks instead of smoke. He pushed his thumb down onto her throat, the pulse of red going through her again as she screamed. "Where is she?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I don't know I'm only a minion... please..." Her words were rough as her voice broke between screams. "Kameren..."
"Don't you dare say my name." He pushed harder into her throat, the red pulse getting more intense as he put her through more pain. Tears streamed down her face and she paled. The blood loss from her legs was going to take her soon, and he had learned nothing from her. "Why did she take him?"
"To keep you under control..." He croaked under his grip, her blue eyes closing. She was trying to block out the pain, but Curse wouldn't have it. He laid the spell on more intensely, her body seizing with the pain.
"She doesn't control me." He pressed the black fire to the woman's chest and a shock went through her. Her last breath was stolen, caught in her throat. There were not burn marks on her from the fire, as the fire didn't physically burn. It was a fate worse than a Dementor's kiss; Curse's accursed abilities gave him the power to burn another wizard's soul. There would be no death for Emily Rosier. Her soul was burn up, like a candle. Her body fell still, cold. Her blue eyes looked upwards into nothingness, and Curse didn't bother to close them as he extinguished his palm, getting back on his feet and leaving her body where it was. He needed to find Arianna and Alex. He had another idea for who to ask about Mosrael, someone easier to find. It was time to go.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Aug 22, 2011 18:01:35 GMT -5
"Arianna, I'm going to let you go just before we get there. Arresto Momentum just before the ground and you'll be fine." Despite the use of Dark Magic and fear coursing through her veins the flight had been rather pleasant. Then Arianna landed across the street from Curse’s house and straight into hell. A battle was still occurring, Ari knew some of the people…from both sides? What in merlin was going on. Ignroing her fear, or the fact that she had never dueled outside of Hogwarts, Ari dashed across the street her mind intent on finding Max. Where was Curse? He’d dropped her off… A whistling sound caused her to pause just before she reached the sidewalk framing the acid burned lawn. An explosion of energy emerged from the center of lawn, the backwash warming her face. Curse appeared in the middle with people surrounding him, almost frozen. The man had separated the dueling fractions. Oh, she knew he was brilliant, and powerful but never had Ari seen him this way. She was stunned, in awe and slightly afraid. If something happened to Max…she wasn’t sure Curse would lose it…the last time he nearly did. It would not compare. Would he be able to return? She just didn’t know.
Suddenly everyone came back to reality having finished being stunned by the all powerful Curse Kameren. A death eater or what ever they were had landed in front of Arianna. The masked creature laughed, apparently recognizing Arianna and her status as the target’s lover. Panicked, Arianna acted instinctively drawing the runic symbol for cut with her wand with a little more fever than she normally would have. The wizard screamed as a large x appeared across their upper body, blood spraying outwards as major arteries were severed.
Blood. There was so much blood. Blood. It was all Arianna could think about. She’d read about war, a lot. Battles and killings were very popular in history but never had she experienced anything so gruesome. It was in her hair, on her clothes, her face, arms. Startled she jumped when the witch fell to the ground, a pool of blood forming beneath her. She, Arianna Blackthorn had killed someone. Taken a life in anger and well terror. She’d been scared and then someone was dead. Bile rose in Ari’s throat, burning her. The stench clawed at her nose, seeping inside. She couldn’t handle it and she lurched to the side, hunching over as she vomited. Chucks of her dinner mixed with the blood on her clothes. When her stomach was empty, she wiped her mouth and quickly continued on, trying to avoid the carnage. Curse needed her. She needed to find him and Max and Alex. They were her family and thus more important than her being weak. Killing was horrible…but that woman would have hurt her. When she fell the mask had fallen revealing the face of a co-worker. That woman could have hurt Max…what if he was d---best not to think of it.
Curse was lost in the chaos and then she spotted him by the front door…he was next to a crumpled Alex…Something was in the doorway. Max, a terrified look on his face as a woman clutched him tightly. Arianna froze, not noticing that she was standing in a pool of blood, a severed leg nearly touching her designer heels. Just as she saw Max he was gone and Curse was yelling.
"I'll find you!"
They were too late. Max had been taken. Instinctively Ari’s hands cupped her mouth and nose. Her chest restricted forcing her breathing to become shallow and rapid. Why was she just standing there like an idiot? But Max had been kidnapped. If---no they were going to find them they had to. It wouldn’t do to panic. Curse would need her. She had to be strong for him and…Oh my god, Amelia. She’d be furious and terrified and a thousand other things and more. Nothing Ari was feeling could compare. This could destroy Curse.
Shaken from her panic attack, Ari realized that Curse was no longer in the doorway. Quickly, she moved to enter the house but she was stopped by yet another person. This time it was someone from the Black Watch. Someone who had first arrived when the alarm was sounded. They were hurt and needed help. Torn, Ari paused. For now Curse needed to mourn, then collect his thoughts and plan. He would find her when he needed her. She was best out here for the moment. As she did what was necessary, anger began to course through Ari, spurring her into action. A thousand questions warred in her brain, thinking about what could have been done to prevent this, who was at blame, why it had happened, what could be done. This would never happen again. Moseral would pay.
Things were winding down, law enforcement had arrived, and Ari was just about to go into the house when Curse and Nuri’s mum walked outside. Worriedly she glanced at Curse’s eyes almost afraid at what she would see. They were dark, nearly as black as her own and dead…Did he… was he? No. the madness hadn’t taken over him. Curse had just shut down his emotions. She knew it intuitively.
Ari strode forward, just as Curse and Reece stalked towards a woman with no legs. Ari paused, belatedly realizing she had nearly tripped over that woman’s limb. All the anger in the world couldn’t stop her from flinching. Squaring her shoulders, this would all be over soon enough people did need her, Ari moved closer. She paused a couple of feet away, ready when needed. The screams startled Arianna but she did little more than blink. Where were they coming from? Who was causing—Curse. How what spell was he using? Would this help? The research part of Ari’s brain was taking notes, analyzing the details, the depth of the sound, the changes in pitch that had to coalate with increase pain. It was her coping mechanism. When things became stressful or scary she took notes, read books, or researched.
The woman voice was hoarse now. Her pleas were more intense, yet she still protested her innocence. It rang flase in Ari’s mind. Surely the statics would point that the woman had at least suspicion as to where her mistress had fled? Gossip ran amuck even among the evil.
Curse tried a different question with a better result. "Why did she take him?"
"To keep you under control..." "She doesn't control me." A red light blazed from Curse’s palm. The woman’s body fell…He killed her. And Arianna was glad. Happy, giddy even but most of all relieved. Someone who had stolen her nephew had suffered. A part of her though, was revolted that another life had been taken. Still, Ari wondered about Curse’s last comment. Was he truly free of Moseral’s control? While technically Morsel no longer physically /mentally controlled Curse he was playing right into her hand and thus she was controlling his actions. A toddler could have guessed that Curse Kameren would do anything to get his son back. Arianna would bet her life that Morsel was counting on the fact that Curse would jump off the deep end in emotional terror and perhaps go completely insane in the process. It would finish things nicely for her.
But it would not happen. She would not let it. Moseral would not win. Max would be rescued, Curse would be mentally stable, and they would have that very long vacation. No one would stop her or they’d learn that even a parchment and ink person could be scary.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 22, 2011 21:32:00 GMT -5
Alex paced a short path, sorting through his thoughts and memories of the past hour. What had started as a mere inconvenience had devolved very rapidly into a nightmare. He avoided eye contact as he thought. Mosrael hadn’t been surprised to see him, she had almost seemed to have expected him. Alex remembered her words, her actions. He dissected how she had fought, storing it away for future use. Knowledge was power, it was always so. If he knew how his enemy fought, he could bring her down, find a weakness and exploit it.
Daniel.
Alecsander lifted his head, meeting his brother’s sharp green gaze with his own. They collided and communicated silently. Whatever it took. “Daniel.” He spoke, narrowing his eyes as he looked into the recent past. “What did you find about him?”
"I'm going to kill her."
He met his brother’s gaze again, jerking his chin in a short nod of agreement with whatever he found there. “Whatever it takes.” He said simply as his brother left the room. As the screams started up outside, Alex went in search of Arianna. He finally found her watching Curse interrogate the woman.
“Arianna.” He motioned for her to move away, so they could talk at a more normal volume. “Max’s mirror. Where is its mate?”
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Aug 23, 2011 21:14:59 GMT -5
Anger coursed through Arianna, yet a part of her still viewed this as a dream. Nightmare really. It was so surreal. Why did everything have to happen to Curse and his family? This was just too much. Max didn't deserve it, no one did really. He was just a child. Couldn't evil play fair? then it wouldn't be evil now would it.
“Arianna.”
who was calling her name? Ari glaced to the side, where the voice was coming from. Alex. He rarely spoke to her. Not that he was a very talkative person but he didn't like her and she couldn't blame. Sometimes she didn't like herself for leaving Curse in such a state.
“Max’s mirror. Where is its mate?”
Ari's brows knitted together slightly as she puzzled out what Alex was getting at. Why did he want to know about a gift? Wait. Max's mirror. If they wanted to know something so trivial at this point in time it must mean the boy took it. Merlin, Max was smart. Ari didn't even bother uttering a response, she quickly spun on her heels disappeared to land in front of her apartment. Not caring about the muggle secrecy act she quickly burst into her apartment summoned her own mirror and apprated back. It took her less than three minutes.
"Here," She said slightly out of breath. She was slightly afraid to look at it unsure if she would see Max dead or hurt or crying. He was just a little boy.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 24, 2011 11:25:45 GMT -5
It even surprised Curse, how quickly he could go from ferocious to compassionate. As he walked away from the Death Eater's tortured body, a Watch member accosted him. Some of the others who had fought for him were injured and in need of help, but her wand had been snapped in the battle. Curse nodded, going with her - he think he recognized her as a waitress at the Three Broomsticks, but he wasn't sure. He mended wounds and helped see to some of the more severe cursings, but he quickly told his fellow Watch members he needed to find Alex, sending them to another auror with a healing specialty who could help.
He finally found Alex a ways away from the tortured body, talking to Arianna. He had the mirror in his hand, good. If Max really did take it with him, that form of communication could mean life or - he didn't want to think about it. Curse met Alex eyes evenly for a moment, silently asking him for a moment alone with his love. As soon as they were alone, Curse embraced her, burying his head in the nape of her neck. "I'm sorry," He murmured, though he wasn't sure what he was apologizing to her for. He had lost his son, was about to go out and do terrible things to get him back. Even if he didn't die in the process, Curse wasn't sure if he would come back the same man. Nothing was certain with Mosrael.
"I can't take you with me," He said, pulling back slightly so he could see into her eyes. He hoped she would understand; she didn't know how to fight like he and Alex could, though her problem-solving skills often made up for it, in this situation they needed the training of an auror. He couldn't have the distraction of trying to protect her, it would put both of them in danger. And he couldn't lose her again. It would break him. He wasn't strong enough to lose her as well.
Something occurred to him, though. He knew how he felt about her, what he wanted. He wasn't sure if she would agree, but it was something he felt. If he wasn't coming back again, he knew he would regret not telling her. Curse got down on his knee, taking Arianna's hands in his. "If I come back from this and you're still here, I want to be with you. I'm sick of waiting it out, fighting against what we both want. I don't want a vacation, I want a honeymoon." He stood, kissing her again as if it may be the last time. This proposal was just as uncertain as everything else, but one thing stayed concrete: Curse loved her. He always would. "If I come back, I'm going to marry you." He kissed her hand, his green gaze lingering on her black for just a moment before he walked away.
Curse caught up with Alex, his harsh demeanor falling again as they walked. "We need to go to Knockturn Alley. I know someone who will know where Mosrael is." He glanced down at the mirror, saw movement, but no Max. Someone had it, at least. It might be forgotten in Max's pocket for all they knew, but if the mirror wasn't here, it was going to help them get Max home. Curse grabbed Alex's forearm, spun on his heel, and the two disappeared.
ooc: Exit Curse/Alex. Alex. if you're not okay with my moving you, give me a shout and I'll edit to your liking.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Aug 24, 2011 13:34:16 GMT -5
Even in the middle of chaos, Ari was aware when Curse came close. She didn't even have to turn around to know that he was behind her. She'd just given Alex the mirror and she watched anxiously as the auror checked it before silently leaving. Really, in another life Alex Kameren probably had been a wraith. One of these day's she'd ask him to teach her how to walk quietly and brood. Always best to learn from a pro. Skin tingling and emotions churning, Ari spun around practically throwing herself into Curse's arms as he embraced her. She bit her lip as a sob caught in her throat. This was not the time to turn into an over emotional ninny, or Amelia. Max was gone but not dead. He would be back, healthy and strong. Curse needed Arianna to be strong, if she cried...well it might make him feel helpless or overemotional or something and that could hurt things. Ari gently rubbed Curse's back in soothing circles as he rested his head in the crook of her neck. If only she could hold him like this forever and just have Max interrupt them again. She wouldn't even get embarrassed if Max asked if this was a part of love making.
"I'm sorry,"
"Shhh, We'll get him back, Curse," She said softly her voice slightly hoarse but firm. They just had to. there was no way he was going to fail...and she wouldn't even think about it. Moseral would be regretting the day she stumbled onto Curse and decided to use him and his family.
"I can't take you with me,"
Ari smiled sadly up at Curse, giving him a slight one shoulder shrug. "I know." And she did, not that she liked it. A few minutes ago, Ari had been ready to fly off in perusit of the devil, wand flying, eyes blazing. But who was she kidding? Until today, Ari had never killed anyone, barely even knew how to duel. Battles were different than school, no one paid attention to rules. There was no turn taking. She was better here doing what ever was needed. See to the house. Comfort Amelia. The woman would be frantic and angry. But who could blame her? Her eldest child had been kidnapped by someone from a world she didn't understand. Her concept of magic was that nothing could trump it. That Max should have been in a protected bubble where nothing would ever harm him.
"I'll tell Amelia....if you want," She said softly just as Curse fell to the ground. Was he hurt? Ari's eyes widened and she feared that Curse had been injured, she bent to check his body when she noticed he was on one knee. Ari froze as her mind worked through all that one knee could mean. Did he...was he? Here? Hope flared scattering her thoughts in the process. Warm bony hands took her small ones.
"If I come back from this and you're still here, I want to be with you. I'm sick of waiting it out, fighting against what we both want. I don't want a vacation, I want a honeymoon."
Despite everything, a dopey grin formed on Ari's face and her eyes darkened even further, shining with love and un shed tears. He really did ask her. After everything he wanted to MARRY HER. The dinner where they talked about dating again seemed like a life time ago after the events of the day. She'd wondered, hoped but had never really believed he'd trust her enough to ask her again. Before she could respond his lips were on hers and she put all of her feelings into the kiss. This might be the last time. She wasn't going anywhere but the future was never certain. Tonight proved that.
"If I come back, I'm going to marry you."
"When you come back. No chickening out this time. " She said with a wry smile. She wasn't going to leave this time. Ari met his gaze, a few tears falling down her face as he walked away. He would be back with their son and she'd be waiting.
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