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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 24, 2011 22:42:29 GMT -5
With a soft crck Curse and Alex Kameren appeared inbetween two shops in Knockturn Alley. Curse let go of his brother's arm. Treading with purpose out into the moonlight. The moment he'd had with Arianna had fallen by the wayside for now, replaced with his mission. He was going to get Max back. He would find Mosrael and make her pay for threatening his family.
But first, he needed to find Scarlet.
A woman without a real name, no history. She was another reluctant follower of the Masked Lady, following her because of the debt she owed. She was one of the rare people Curse liked while he was cursed, someone who looked out for him despite his imprisonment. Though Curse had found freedom, Scarlet still served their Mistress. She was one of the closer minions, she would know where Mosrael was.
"This way." Curse cocked his head in the direction of Borgin & Burke's, leading the way into the store. It was empty save for some noises in the back room, but they weren't there for the shopping. Curse climbed the stairs, up to the apartments above. He found the door, a dark purple with a brass letter B nailed to the center. He rapped hard on the door, hearing a soft humming from behind.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 27, 2011 21:55:55 GMT -5
Alex followed Curse like a shadow, his dark ministry robes billowing silently behind him. As they stepped into moonlight, a flash of light caught his eye. The ministry badge pinned to his chest, marking him as an auror, upholder of the law. He took it off, closing his fist around it. When he opened his hand again, sand trickled through his fingers.
They wound through the twisted streets of Knockturn Alley, their intended route taking only minutes. The brothers didn’t speak as they entered Borgin & Burkes, making straight for a narrow door set into one rickety wall. The climb wore on Alex’s sore and abused muscles, they protested by starting a cramp in his calf. He closed his eyes momentarily as a throb in his head flared as Curse knocked.
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Post by Scarlet on Aug 28, 2011 4:04:04 GMT -5
Scarlet's fingers stopped at the knock on her door, but her humming continued. She had been going through her many books. Piles and piles littered the apartment, burying furniture and in some places replacing it. Abel was asleep in his bathtub, so now it was time for Scarlet to play.
The book-keeper glanced over at the door again as another forceful round of knocking rattled the frame, but her soothing melody never ceased. It ran just as smoothly from her lips as it did in her mind, continuous and unchanging. A dirty hand picked up her precious stone, stowing it away from the eyes of whomever was knocking. The white object was difficult to hide, as it almost called attention to itself at times. She locked it away in a drawer, however, keeping it safe from prying eyes.
It was on the third round of pounding that the door's locks finally came open, and Scarlet cracked the door. Her black eyes fell on two tall, lank wizards. A wry smile grew across her face. "Krist -"
The wind was knocked out of her as the door was forced open, pushing her backwards against a table. She hacked, staring up at her gaunt attacker with curiosity and - was that a bit of fear?
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 29, 2011 1:48:06 GMT -5
"Hello old friend, I'm calling in a favor." The tall, lank form of Curse Kameren looked much stronger from the floor. Curse met Scarlet's black eyes, his emerald gaze deadened from emotion. He had once liked Scarlet. If she didn't give him what he wanted, how he wanted, now, however, that opinion could change. And tonight, it was important to be on his good side.
Curse looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Make sure no one's here. Scarlet likes to keep pets." He knew Alex wouldn't judge him, but that didn't mean he wanted him seeing what he was about to do anyway. And, if Cain had guessed correctly, the artifact responsible for the demon attacks might be in their midst.
"Now," Curse crouched to Scarlet's level, picking her up from where she lay by her long dark hair. His grip was strong, his fingers pulsing a dangerous green when she showed a bit of a struggle. A prickle of pain crawled up her spine from him, his wandless magic working for him without even an effort. "I know you're still in contact with Mosrael. She took something very important to me, and I'm going to get it back. Where is she?"
A musical laugh sounded from his captive, and his hand moved from her hair to her neck. He squeezed roughly; not enough to cut off airflow, but enough to scare her. He wasn't messing about. Her voice rasped as she spoke beneath his grip. "What's so important to the Great Curse Kameren? Did the Masked Lady find your fears when she was knocking about in your hea-- ach." Her voice cut off as Curse squeezed. Her hands went to his wrist, his wristwatch turning a white-hot on her skin as she tried to fight him, scalding her fingers. She yelped, but she wouldn't cave.
He knew Scarlet would be difficult, but she was the highest associate with Mosrael he could get his hands on. If he could have gotten his hands around Jack Harkness's neck without having a wand at his back, his would have gladly taken the opportunity. "Come on now Scarlet, we aren't playing games today. This isn't like before. Where is she?" Steam rose from his fingertips around his neck and the smell of burning flesh filled the room where his fingertips branded themselves into her skin.
Scarlet laughed, her humming rising in volume with the pain.
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Post by Emery Fletcher on Aug 29, 2011 20:28:10 GMT -5
Time was no longer relevant. It's passage was marked by the opening of the door and the sharp insistent need of the stone. Cares and worries no longer mattered either, except for those of the stone. It needed. Hungered after Emery's magic and he was to weak to struggle. So he gave freely. His power always leaching, reaching out to the stone, even when he did not hold it. He really didn't mind, he barely noticed it was happening. Except when he held it, blood seeping from his thumb. Then he did care before pain began numbing him to the deed. He was the creator of demons. And beyond caring.
Images swirled in Emery's head as he hovered between sleep and unconsciousness. He barely knew where he was let alone the sounds that began to erupt around him. Something was different, and yet he feared that it meant that she had come up with a different game. It wasn't fun.
A sizzling smell teased Emery's nose. It smelled like bacon and his stomach growled. Slowly, Emery was aware that he was hungry. Cold, numb, and sick. His lanky form was compressed into the tiny tub, chains long ago cut off circulation to his limbs. There was a grayish blue shiny parlor to his skin.
Her laughter caused his body to tremble. The chains rattled a little. Emery didn't care. He no longer dreamed of escape. He was a failure. Surely, a wizard of even a bit of talent could escape? She was insane and yet powerful.
Eden would be better off with out him. At first, he had thought she'd have seen him. Come to his rescue tell people where he was. It hadn't happened. He wasn't important enough to garner a vision.
Footsteps. She was coming. His tired brain froze. Those steps weren't hers. They were heavy and even.
"Help me..." he croaked against his better judgement. What if it was a trick? Or she sold him to another friend....well it really didn't matter. It worked or it didn't. He lived or he died. Oh well.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 29, 2011 21:42:47 GMT -5
Curse looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Make sure no one's here. Scarlet likes to keep pets."
Alex was already investigating the room. He ignored Curse and Scarlet as Curse started his interrogation. He knew who the woman was, from second-hand accounts on both Cain and Curse’s parts. He stalked through a doorway and into a dingy hall. Even here books littered the floor. He passed a kitchen, dirty but empty.
The next door was closed, and the room was far from unoccupied. First he spotted a head of tousled, dirty brown hair. Then when he stepped closer into the bathroom, he saw the rest of the boy as lay listlessly in the tub. His chains rattled, and Alex’s step became quicker, his shoes clacking against the tile. He reached for the boy’s neck, taking his vitals as he recognized him. This was the Fletcher boy, who had disappeared about a month ago. Dark magic was suspected to be at foul play.
The chains fell off Emery as Alex lifted him from the tub, feeling the boy’s cold skin and narrowing his eyes at the pallor in his skin. Cain had been nearly grey when he’d escaped. Emery was just in the first stages, but the auror had suspicions he was worse off than Cain had been after this amount of time. A brief check of the other rooms showed no more life in the flat. Carrying the unresponsive teenager, Alex returned to the living room.
“We need the stone.”
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Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 29, 2011 23:11:13 GMT -5
Scarlet's laughter only seemed to grow with Curse's efforts at prying information from her, and he was growing frustrated. "Scarlet. Where is she..." He trailed off; his hands glowed an angry red, and Scarlets cackle turned to a fit of giggles as she seized. Nothing was harming her, nothing was getting through. He needed to be more forceful.
Her sharpened fingernails sunk into Curse's wrist, and he suddenly pulled off as his veins stung. She smiled upwards at him, her black eyes glinting. "There is nothing you could do to me that Mosrael couldn't do ten times over. You'll have to get more creative, love." She tried to sit up, but Curse pushed her back down, straddling her and sitting on top of her.
Curse looked over his shoulder as he heard Alex coming back towards the door. His steps were heavier, slower. He was carrying something, heavy. Someone? He met his brother's eyes as he reappeared, keeping Scarlet tame beneath him as she fought. A young wizard was in his arms: Emery Fletcher. Well, they'd found him. Curse wasn't sure how much good it would do, after everything that boy must have been through these last few weeks. Curse set his jaw; what were they going to do now with the kid? He had killed people tonight, there was no going to St. Mungo's for him. Alex could, probably, but he couldn't.
“We need the stone.”
Curse turned back to Scarlet, catching her wrist as she moved to hit him. She wasn't pleased they'd found her captive, but there were more urgent things she should be worrying about. Curse arched a brow as he inspected her long, sharp fingernails. Scarlet looked at him uncertainly; he took her fingers in his hand, holding her index fingernail between his finger and thumb. He met Scarlet's eyes for a moment, just as his fingers turned a dark grey and he pulled.
Aaaaiagh!
That got her. A small glint of satisfaction went through Curse as he finally got her to scream. He laid her ripped-off venomous fingernail on the floorboard next to them, taking position with her next finger. It was more difficult to hold her with her struggles now; her fingers were slippery with blood. "Where's the stone, Scarlet."
Scarlet rocked as much as she could under Curse's grip, humming her miserable tune. The fear in her eyes had slightly grown, but not enough. So Curse pulled again.
She shrieked. "The stone, Scarlet." Still nothing. Just the humming. So he pulled again. Another scream. Tears were running down her face. She met Curse's eyes now, giving him the attention he demanded. He took position on her fourth finger, meeting her evenly. "Scarlet, where is the stone?"
She just whimpered. No song, just the pain in her fingers. The blood was running down Curse's arm now too, dripping from his elbow and soaking in his rolled-up sleeve. Scarlet didn't speak, but her black eyes darted towards a bookcase in the far corner. Curse examined her for a moment. His fingers tightened for a moment on Scarlet's fingernail, and she whimpered her soft tune. Curse looked at Alex over his shoulder and nodded.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Sept 1, 2011 23:33:03 GMT -5
Alex stood impassively as Curse interrogated the woman. He held no sympathy or empathy for her, he knew she had been the one to keep Cain captive, and now she was protecting the witch who had taken his nephew. No, Alex felt nothing but cold contempt for Scarlet, who had hurt his family. Anger flared from the bright, hot core inside him, she was hurting his family, by keeping information about Max. He shifted the unconscious boy to an easier position, one that didn’t strain so much on his sore muscles.
Crossing to the bookcase, he didn’t bother with the lock, instead he tapped the drawer with his wand, leaving only splintered remaints that he reached past and lifted the stone out.
It was a sight. Shining white, it seemed to both glow and draw in the light around in, creating a disorientating sinking feeling. He felt it call to the remains of his magic, a tugging that sang along his veins. He tore his gaze away, gripping it tightly. He looked at Curse, who was still holding Scarlet down.
“I’ll be back.” They couldn’t take Emery Fletcher with them, and he didn’t feel he could go to St Mungo’s at this time. If he saw Elle she might try to stop him, and Curse definitely couldn’t go at this point. He spun on his heel and disappeared.
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Twenty-six minutes later, Alex reappeared in the flat. Looking around the crowded and dishevelled room, he found his brother by Scarlet’s body. “Ready?” He asked.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Sept 2, 2011 0:40:29 GMT -5
As Alex tended to the stone and Emery, Curse got back to work. He turned back to Scarlet, his green eyes meeting hers flatly. She flinched under his gaze, trying to rip her bloody hand away from. He held it firm, ripping another fingernail from her fingers as punishment for struggling.
The screams from Borgin & Burke's upper flats left all of Knockturn Alley uneasy. It took much to make the hardened civilians of the Alley to quake, but Curse was well trained. Curse continued, torturing his captive to pry the information he needed from her. Minutes passed, but it felt like eternity. The screams continued, but the tormentor stayed silent. he didn't enjoy what he did, but it was necessary.
.. .. .. ..
Curse's head snapped up when Alex reappeared in the room. He stared off into nothing, sitting next to Scarlet's lifeless body. He was up to his elbows in blood, flecks of it peppering the rest of his body and pooling on the floor beneath Scarlet. He felt a bit odd; he had never killed someone so slowly before, never gone through the pain inch by inch with someone. It was odd, how he felt. He almost felt close to Scarlet, like now he knew her better. The only information he'd gotten from her was what he needed. And that dreadful song. He would never forget her humming.
Reaching into his pocket, Curse popped a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. "We're going to Scotland." He said simply, blowing smoke. "Castle Innvar. She tried to send me somewhere else, but the Sentinels are always instructed to a default location." He met his brother's gaze, his eyes dark and deadened. He would do any number of evil things to regain his son, but it did still wear on him. He looked tiredly up at his brother, seeing how he was fatigued as well.
Perhaps they should rest first, just for an hour or so? He wanted to go find Max immediately as much as he was sure Alex did, but if they took on Mosrael at anything less than their best, their resistance would be useless. He ran a hand through his hair, apparently forgetting the blood on his hands.
He looked his brother up and down, eyeing the fatigue in him. "I think we might need to stop at your apartment for an hour." He was loathe to say it, but there was nothing they could do in their current condition. He tapped his cigarette ashes onto the floorboards; he wasn't worried about getting caught. He knew Law Enforcement and he knew Scarlet's colleagues. Neither would be interested in avenging her death.
"We won't be able to kill her in this condition."
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