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Post by Curse Kameren on Jul 16, 2011 21:13:48 GMT -5
Behind his eyes, Curse was enduring a silent mental torture. The pain of the curse pulsed through him and his memories flashed through his closed mind, fear and paranoia growing in him. She was back. How could she be back? He had been healing, he was getting better. Now what? She wasn't in his mind, not yet. She hadn't seen him, hadn't found him again and renewed her grip on him. He couldn't let that happen. It would kill him if it happened again.
His eyes didn't open when he felt someone move the falling debris away from him. He didn't acknowledge the presence of whoever was speaking to him, he was too far gone. He couldn't hear them, he was lost in his own mind, furiously trying to force himself back to the surface. tremors overtook him, his eyes closing tighter as he tried to force himself out of it.
"No, no..." Curse struggled, trying to fight the man who was moving him, but he was too weak. He was slow and sluggish, trying to fight the man off between two worlds. He gave in quickly, though, too weak to carry on. The pain was too strong, his shattered consciousness overwhelming him. He fell limp, giving in as the man carried him to safety.
"...You're just going to have to stay with me for a bit longer. Okay, Curse?"
The ex-auror tensed, cold sweat running down his forehead. He was desperate to re-join the outside world, escape the iron bars the curse put around his mind. They couldn't mend, he couldn't let them. He couldn't let himself be taken again. As time passed he sank deeper, until he couldn't even hear the outside world. He was trapped, deep inside his mind. He shook with the effort of trying to fight, but the pain didn't fade. He sank into the darkness, waiting out the episode.
It felt like an eternity he had been trapped, but a warm hand touched him and suddenly brought him to the surface. "Shhh, Curse it's Ari. Everything is alright. Max is safe, you're safe."
Emerald eyes slowly opened, but they were empty. The man behind them was spent, too preoccupied with his delusions to register the people around him. He couldn't speak to them, afraid what he might say if he did. Part of him recognized Arianna as someone important to him. He took her hand, squeezing it as he tried to use her touch to pull him up out of the darkness. "I can't..." He whispered, his voice a dull rasp. He closed his eyes as the pain came throbbing back, recoiling from it as if it were from an outside source. "I..."
His eyes opened and he forced the words out of his mouth. If he couldn't tell them, they couldn't help him. His hands gripped Arianna's shoulders, his fingers grazing the scar on her neck he had given her the last time he was this way. "She's back." He put his hands to his temples, curling up tight again as he tried to escape the punishment for rebelling. He couldn't let Mosrael win again. He couldn't.
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Post by Theo Bowre on Jul 16, 2011 22:36:08 GMT -5
Thank God. She's here.
Theo gratefully acknowledged Arianna's arrival, remaining quiet as the handsome witch crossed the room and knelt down to tend to the fallen Potions Master. The beater did not know Arianna well, but he had seen enough in her interactions with Curse to understand that love existed between the two of them. Even if it was awkward. Curse hadn't said anything but then again he didn't need to.
"Shhh, Curse it's Ari. Everything is alright. Max is safe, you're safe."
Max. Shite. With everything that had happened that morning, he had completely forgot about Curse's boy. He didn't even know if it was such a good idea to tell Max about his dad. And what about Alex? Neither of them really cared for Theo much and he wondered who best to deliver the news without inviting the world to observe the crumpled form of Curse Kameren. He prayed that Arianna would offer. She seemed to get on well with Max. He had no idea if she even knew Alex. Curse's body surged forward, causing Bowre to gently but firmly grab his shoulders. He was alarmed when he went for Arianna's neck but he remained in wait...he wasn't yet attacking her.
"She's back."
Theo cast a worried glance at Arianna over Curse's shoulder.
"Who's she," he asked her. "That masked wench?" His attention returned to his writhing friend. "Curse? What's - what's happening to him?"
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Post by Reckony Pike on Jul 16, 2011 22:54:27 GMT -5
Reckony rushed through the doors of Hogwarts, gratefully accepting the assistance of House Elves and resident professors in getting Maebh safely to the Hospital Wing. He found it difficult to let her go and two nurses had to hold the man back so that others could attend to the fallen witch. She was ghostly pale, even against the white linens, and her blood flowed a crimson river upon the sheets.
Pike's hands shook uncontrollably. There was nothing more he could do for her, except to spread the word. She would want Conan. That was not negotiable, no matter how much he and the squib warred.
Reckony grabbed his wand, sending a patronus to Maebh's brother...
Conan ~ Maebh gravely injured in Hogsmeade. I'm taking her for medical attention at Hogwarts. Avoid Hogsmeade at all costs. Village is destroyed. Reckony.
The hooded crow wasted no time in taking flight.
{{Reckony and Maebh continue in Light Be Upon You}}
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Jul 17, 2011 12:26:20 GMT -5
Fear coursed through Ari at the sight of Curse. This couldn't be happening again. Tears formed in her eyes, welling up but she refused to shed them. Curse might be trapped inside his own mind but he was not gone yet. Neither would she run this time. No matter what, Arianna would help him through this. People can change. Curse had proven that he wanted to heal, he just needs a bit of help.
Hunched over him oblivious about anything except Curse, Ari wanted him. Her heart sped as his eyes fluttered open but her hope was diminished when she saw his eyes. Dead. Memories tore through Ari's mind pushing to remind her what it had been like the first time. His haunted eyes were so familiar. But the curse had been broken. He was supposed to be safe! She clutched at his offered touch, gripping his hand with all the force she thought he could handle. He looked so lost, his pain ripping at her heart. She had to be strong for him and for Max. Who was going to tell Max? Either her or Alex but neither seemed a good option. The last time she tried to cheer Max up she told him about torture. Then there was Alex...he wasn't much of a conversationalist either. But someone had to tell him...
"I can't..." the words seemed to be a struggle, consuming his strength and Curse closed his eyes.
"It's alright right. I can..." She reassured, wondering what in the world Curse couldn't do. Wait...did he mean he couldn't fight it?
"Don't you dare give up Kristopher Curse Kameren or I will kill you myself!" She said as her fear and anger beat her common sense.
Ari bit her lip as she deliberated on what to do. Curse needed to be moved. He was vulnerable out here in the open but she didn't want to take him to the castle. To many people. He had to go to St. Mungo's there was no other way.
Curse forced his eyes open and swiftly grabbed her shoulders pulling her closer. Ari tensed, afraid that Curse would attack her again. He had been in a similar state the last time and she wasn't entirely sure he knew who she was. But Curse didn't hurt her. His fingers brushed gently against her scar and she reminded herself that he wouldn't do that to her again. He was a different person, more in control. Then even that bit of comfort vanished.
"She's back."
A gasp escaped Ari as coldness flooded through her. Only one woman could reduce Curse in such a away. The confirmation came from Theo when he asked who it was. Masked Lady. Several tears escaped, rolling down Ari's cheeks as she faced Theo.
"He thinks he's being punished for rebelling. He was her captive and barely escaped." She said softly.
"We need to get him to St. Mungos, quickly before he retreats farther into his mind." If he got so far, she feared he would never come back to her and Max. Ari turned back to Curse as he writhed on the floor. Ari hugged him hard, half pulling him onto her lap.
"You did nothing wrong, nothing," She whispered in his ear, trying to prevent him from reliving the punishments. Why did this have to happen to him? why couldn't life be fair?
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Post by Curse Kameren on Jul 17, 2011 15:38:31 GMT -5
Everything was dark. Tears flowed out of his closed eyes as the pain grew heavier, pushing him down further into the darkness. Deeper into his own mind. It was cornering him, trapping him. He wanted to lash out, fight back against it before it could take him. But what could he do? If he fought back, the pain would get worse. It was either let his mind be locked away and keep it safe, or let the torture from rebellion drive him mad. Either way, he wouldn't be able to see his son again.
"P-please..." Curse gripped Arianna's hand, shaking uncontrollably as he tried to fight his inner demons off, but there were too many. He needed help, and he needed it now. If there was any hope of him getting out of this, he needed someone to help him up out of the darkness. "Please..."
"We need to get him to St. Mungos, quickly before he retreats farther into his mind."
"Please... PLEASE. NO." Curse was screaming, pulling his hair to try to relieve the pressure on his mind. He bit his tongue and his mouth started to fill with his pink blood and he couldn't speak any longer, couldn't open his mouth for the safety of the two who were helping him. His hands now covered his mouth to try to stop any blood from escaping. He needed St. Mungo's; they were the ones who pulled him out of the shadows. He needed them to help him again. Please, Arianna, take him to Mungo's. Don't leave again, help. Please.
"You did nothing wrong, nothing"
Curse's breathing evened as he grew weak from the struggle, succumbing into the shadows for now. He was too tired. It was too easy for him to give in, he could save his strength and come back to fight later. As long as the bars didn't mend themselves, he was still free. There was still hope. He couldn't lose hope.
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Post by Theo Bowre on Jul 17, 2011 17:15:06 GMT -5
"We need to get him to St. Mungos, quickly before he retreats farther into his mind."
"Please... PLEASE. NO."
Curse's hands flew to his mouth and Theo wondered whether the man was going to be sick. He carefully pitched the lanky man on his side, supporting his head and shoulder with a large but gentle grip. Nothing came out. Curse had clamped his mouth shut as though its contents were pure poison. Theo released the breath he had been holding when the man's body went limp.
"We can do that. My broom was destroyed in the fire at the Apothecary but we're close to a private Floo. I know the owner; he's out of town so we should be able to get him out of here without anyone noticing. Can you run cover if I carry him?" Theo slowly moved his limbs from beneath Curse's form. For someone so tall, the Potions Master was unusually light. It was nothing for Theo to lift him in a fireman's carry.
"What about Max and Alex? We should get word to them only I don't know who's best to deliver the news. What if we send a patronus to Alex and have him bring Max to the hospital?"
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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Jul 20, 2011 23:56:10 GMT -5
[[ Sorry, I know this is a bit late, but I'll catch up with this post! ]]
Ralin heard the warning from Theo just as Krellith charged him. But as the big wolf dodged out of the way, he knew that he may not have enough speed to avoid the inhumanly fast creature. But then things blurred together as Theo rammed his shoulder into the creature, deflecting Krellith into the side of a building. Both man and creature vanished in a cloud of dust and shards of wood.
With a howl of dismay, Ralin threw himself at the pile, pushing aside boards with his front paws and nose. He breathed a sigh of relief as his big brother emerged and stepped forward with a growl, looking to see if the metal monster was following Theo's emergence. With all of his attention focused on the pile, he at first did not notice that Theo was no longer nearby, but across the square talking to Reckony.
Shouted words from a throat raw with emotion brought Ralin's furry head around sharply. He could see pain and fear in Reck's eyes, but anger too, directed at Theo.
Oh no... Ralin's heart sank. He could hear Maebh's heartbeat whispering in her chest, so he knew she lived still. But his own heart sank within him. I was selfish, too needy, having Theo fight with me. I should've been able to handle that metal thing all by myself. I'm a werewolf after all. It's not his fault...
Ralin took a couple steps in Reckony's direction, hoping he could somehow apologize and explain that it wasn't Theo's fault.
"She's our friend. SHE'S OUR FRIEND! You swore to me, you swore to me that if I couldn't be there that you'd protect her. You swore, Theo. And the first chance you get, you run off to help the werewolf and you forget where your ties are. We're family first."
The werewolf.
Not Ralin, just...'the werewolf'. Ralin's ears flattened to his skull, his tail drooped. Reck's words pierced him, leaving a hollow ache inside. In the way he had said them, it was as though Ralin was a stranger.
But he understood, the man was distraught with fear and pain from Maebh. Yet Ralin couldn't bear to shift back to human form, instead he hid inside the form he was in. He gazed regretfully at the man for a brief moment, then, head hanging tiredly, the massive wolf turned and walked off, breaking into a trot until he was clear of the debris and on the outskirts of town.
His heart went out to Theo, who had just been doing the best he could, and yet had borne the brunt of Reckony's pain-laced anger. Once again guilt seeped into him, guilt over keeping Theo from Maebh, and from not being better at fighting Krellith so his brother always had to save him from trouble.
Ralin's big paws faltered to a stop. All he wanted to do was run into the woods, and leave the destruction, fear, and pain of the burning village and the attack far behind. And to run away from the look in Reckony's eyes as he yelled about Theo and Ralin.
But he couldn't leave his brother. He had to make sure he was okay. Had to apologize.
Ralin picked his way through the debris-littered streets, following the scent of Theo. Normally he would be in the midst of the mess, trying to do all he could to help. But now, worn out from his fight with the masked monster, heartsore, and afraid of what the shadows held, it was all Ralin could do to remain. The last time Ralin had been in a battle this big, was when he'd been mauled by a werewolf. That fear and self-loathing still hovered around him, as he'd not yet come to terms with his curse.
There. Ralin spotted Theo kneeling beside Curse. To his relief, the potions master was still breathing. Yet Ralin hung back, uncertain if he was welcome near the injured man yet. Dimly Ralin knew he was being a bit unreasonable in his fear and trepidation, but after the events of the attack, he wasn't thinking clearly.
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Post by Mosrael//Ranna on Jul 21, 2011 23:47:35 GMT -5
Mosrael could see that the cavalry had arrived, witches and wizards fought back the fires and chaos that had spread like an infection through the village. As she dueled with the yellow-eyed witch, Mosrael saw that even Krellith was disabled. It was time to withdraw.
For now.
Her plan had gone mostly as planned, and Mosrael had made the first move, like the initiating movement on a chess board. Now she would wait and study how the enemy reacted, how they would retaliate.
It was their move now, in this game of shadows.
"Relashio!" Mosrael hissed, sending an angry red jet of light at her opponent. Within a wink, she had reapparated to Krellith's location. One blast from her wand destroyed the pole he was stuck to.
The masked woman turned her unseen face to the three people against the wall in front of her. One of them was the man she had marked.
Mosrael made a mocking bow in their direction and then turned on her heel. A cold chuckle, like ice pouring down their spines, hung in the air.
[[ Exit Mosrael&Krellith ]]
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