#don’t ask me how hunting Adeline is simple

[yesitsmewhataboutit]

It’s 4:30am I just finished reading a book and I’m devastated 🫶🏾

[the-shadow-of-atlantis]

All the Stars Pt 6

Tagging: @melyaliz @thespacebuns @coffee-randomness @the-sun-and-their-moon

Summary: Nova goes down memory lane as she heads out for the holidays

A/N Pam belongs to @thespacebuns

Read Earlier Parts Here

By the time Christmas arrived Nova found herself not wanting to leave Hogwarts. The temptation to further explore the castle while hardly anyone was there was too great to resist. But also most of her friends were going home for the holidays and it just wouldn't be the same.

"What are you going to do as soon as you get home?" Nova asked as she finished settling Apollo's cage in place.

"Oh I do hope my parents have set up the tree I really want to decorate it." Adeline said as she took a seat with her brother and Jamie sat beside them.

"I'll probably have to help my parents at the shop, believe it or not it gets crazy around Christmas time." Pam sighed as she took a seat beside Nova making Cedric take her other side.

Nova smiled, pleased that Pam was starting to become more open about her parents profession. She remembered how that conversation went down shortly after they became friends.

"You know if you shine them under a red light it'll give you tips on how to do certain tricks." Pam said as she saw Nova begin to play with her cards one day as they opted to spend their time in the dormitory.

"Really?" Nova asked, suddenly looking at the backs of the card.

She had had this deck for the longest time and was always curious about the strange markings on the back of the cards.

"How do you know that?" Nova asked after a moment of silence.

"My dad showed me." Pam said simply, her expression was hesitant the way it usually got when she wasn't sure if she should share certain information with Nova yet.

“My parents own the magic shop. They have a special printer for the cards.” She finally caved watching Nova’s expression.

It took a minute for the information to settle into Nova’s head then she cracked a smile and Pam pouted.

“Forgive me but you have to admit the situation is a bit ironic in a funny way.” Nova slightly giggled. “I mean what are the odds a family who does muggle magic end up with a witch for a daughter. I bet they just thought you were a natural at everything they taught you.”

Pam smiled sheepishly. “Yeah pretty much. They had no idea until the ministry person showed up.”

“What about you?” Cedric asked, interrupting her memory.

“Pardon?” Nova asked, blinking her eyes as she remembered what they were talking about.

“What will you do when you get home?” Cedric asked curiously. Nova had quickly found out that Cedric was always fascinated with all her stories of the muggle world.

“Well as much as I would love to start decorating for Christmas.” Nova began as she slumped against the seat. “I did ask my parents to record any of my programs that I’ve missed and then to buy any movie that has come out recently. I'm not sure how much I have to catch up on.”

“Oh why didn’t I think of that.” Jamie frowned. “And we got a new vhs player before I went to Hogwarts this year.”

"Programs?" Cedric asked his brows furrowing in confusion. "Movie? VHS?"

All the girls giggled as he continued to look around utterly confused.

"Oh you should all come visit me for a weekend. We could show Cedric around London and show him our favorite movies." Nova said perking up at the idea of at least still having an adventure with her friends over the holidays.

Nova quickly pulled out a piece of paper and began to scribble out her phone number.

"Here, give me your numbers as well so I can call as soon as I get an answer from my parents." She handed out small slips to all the girls. "And I'll send you a letter through Apollo as soon possible."

Cedric nodded though he seemed upset he didn’t get a slip of paper. Half of the train ride back was spent wondering the train checking in with friends they hadn’t been able to squeeze in the compartment. Nova made mental lists of which friends to send at least small gifts to. The Weasley kids had warmed up to Nova over the course of their time at Hogwarts and she remembered their father really enjoyed muggle artifacts. It would seem Apollo would have his wings full this holiday, Nova just hoped he was up to the task.

In the end everyone was almost resisting the urge to separate. They went through the secret entrance in pairs and huddled as closely together as possible as they looked for their parents. Hugging each other tightly before saying goodbye. When Nova finally let go of Pam she rushed over to her parents and hugged them tightly.

“How was your first semester at Hogwarts?” Her father asked once they pulled away from the embrace.

“So much fun!” Nova said bouncing in place, her parents chuckled as they walked towards the car.

“The castle is ginormous, I don't think I’ve fully explored it all. I almost wanted to stay for the holidays.” Nova began as soon as they were all in the car. “Would it be okay if I stay during the Easter holidays? I mean we don’t really celebrate it much.”

“We’ll see sweetheart.” Her mother said and Nova slightly noticed her tone of discipline? What was that about?

“I was also wondering if my friends could come during one of the weekends. We have a pure blood friend and we want to show him around London and muggle stuff.” Nova continued but paused when she felt a strange silence spreading between her parents.

They glanced at each other nervously as if not sure how to bring up something.

“What’s wrong?” Nova asked.

“We’ll stardust theres something we need to speak to you about.” Her father cleared his throat.

“You see we received quite a number of letters from your Head of House Professor Snape.” Her mother continued.

“You mean Mr. Snape.” Nova grumbled under her breath.

“Nova!” Her mother reprimanded her.

“I’m sorry but last I checked Mr. Snape does not have an actual doctorate.” Nova huffed.

“Would you call Professor McGonagall, Mrs. McGonagall?” Her father inquired.

“Heavens no I do value my life.” Nova said.

“Right, well Professor Snape has sent us… many letters regarding your behavior in school.” Her mother continued.

“My behavior?” Nova asked wondering what she could have dont that would warrant a letter to her parents.

“Apparently you bewitched a chalkboard to do something?” Her father finally said and it suddenly clicked.

“I can’t believe he gets away with this.” Nova fumed as she left the potions class. “Just because I try to correct something and suddenly he takes points away from Gryffindor? The twins weren’t even doing anything during this lesson.”

“Don’t stress Nov.” Fred said.

“Yeah Snape takes points from our house all the time.” George said.

“Its still not fair.” Nova huffed thinking about how Snape needed a taste of his own medicine.

It suddenly clicked and Nova paused.

“Oh whatcha thinking?” Pam asked, eyeing the look Nova had on her face.

“I need a large chalkboard.” Was all Nova said and they quickly went hunting for one.

Nova bewitched the chalkboard in a way that would add points towards certain heads of house, then she hung it over the glass tubes that kept the score of the houses. Nova started to give points to all her professors making sure to score everyone high but keeping Snapes in the negatives. In the end Snape eased up a bit and nova retired the chalkboard much to everyone’s dismay. Though she kept it tucked away just in case.

“Well?” Her mother asked, waiting for Nova to explain herself.

“If you think I made it write something vulgar I didn't.” Nova said then continued to explain what it is that really happened.

By the end of her tale her father had to fight back the urge to laugh and her mother was a strange mixture of worry, disappointment, and annoyance.

“Why haven’t you told us how Professor Snape has been treating you?” Her mother asked.

“Didn’t seem important at the time. IfI had known he was sending letters every time I had a thought about his methods of brewing potions, then I would have sent one right along about how big of git he is.”

“Nova.” Her mother reprimanded again while her father disguised his laugh as a cough.

“Well he’s definitely no Slughorn.” Her father said to lighten the mood.

“Does this mean my friends can’t come over?” Nova asked as she realized why her parents had been in such a strange mood when she was asking to spend time with her friends.

“Well.” Her mother sighed, wondering what to do now that she knew Novas' side. “Why don't you give your father and I a day to think about it.”

In the end her parents caved, as long as Nova kept them more up to date over what happened during her classes. Nova was surprised to know that Adeline didn’t live that far from her and was able to visit her more frequently. They both alternated between going to visit Pam and having Pam visit them. Though Nova had a mother who was basically considered muggle it was a bit of a strange experience meeting her friends parents.

Adelines parents seemed like smart people; they didn't seem to mind the fact that they had produced two magical children and instead tackled it as some new challenge. Meanwhile Pam's parents were enthusiastic that their daughter had turned out to perform real magic, they loved seeing the simple spells Novas father had to help around the house. Pam’s parents had also hoped that Pam's younger sister would also turn out to be gifted magically.

Though meeting the muggle parents had been a bit of giggle, traveling around London with Cedric. Nova, Adeline, Pam, Jamie, and evening a couple of Cedric friends had all spent a day together. They took the boys to a movie and made try as many muggle snacks as possible. Pam had even showed them how to mix their popcorn with certain candies. They also went to a mall and made them try on muggle clothes. In the end the boys had actually purchased a couple outfits.

“I want to live in London.” Cedric sighed as they drove away from the city.

“Im surprised Amos as never brought you before.” Novas father said peering at them through the rear view mirror. “With the way he speaks of you I think you just need ask and he’d consider moving.”

Cedric turned pink at the mention of his father and Nova scolded her own.

“I'm just saying.” Her father chuckled.

“You’re more than welcomed to come whenever you want.” Nova said, rolling her eyes at her father. “Trust me we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface with muggle things.”

“Sounds fun.” Cedric said smiling brightly at the thought.

Novas father glanced through the rear view mirror again and sighed softly at their familiar expressions. Ah kids.

[tessimagines]

After All This // Bill Weasley - Part Six

Pairing: Bill Weasley x Moody!Reader

Summary: Alastor Moody wasn’t a man to back away when someone needed him, so it’s really no surprise that his daughter (Y/N) is like that too. So when both Bill and (Y/N) find a house-elf at their door one day, (Y/N) doesn’t think twice before apparating away with him.

You can find the series masterlist in my bio!

Warnings: angst, fighting, grief, torture and just overall a very heavy chapter.

Wordcount: 3.65k

A/N: This chapter is pretty intense and plot filled (like pretty much all chapters ahead!)

March 16th, 1998

“Dad,” you said, giving your father a quizzical look. “What’s that?”

Alastor Moody looked down at his daughter from his place at the old mahogany table, his brand new magical glass in his hand. He had just popped it into its brown leather strap and was giving it a quick cautious inspection. You had been watching him the whole time, taking note of every action in the simple process.

“It’s my new eye,” Moody said, allowing his daughter to take a proper look at the thing for the first time. You leaned over his knee and peered down at the glass eye in his rough and tattered hand. It looked so small in his wide palm.

“So you can get rid of the eye patch?” you asked, your nose scrunching up at the leather patch covering his left eye. You had hated the thing since you had seen it on him for the first time and kept telling him that he looked like one of those muggle pirates. He gave a rare, slight chuckle at your words.

“Yes. Happy about that are you?” There was a smile on your face as Moody took the eye patch off, revealing the red, scarred skin around the hole where his eye used to be. He saw you flinch at the sight but keep on looking, disgusted intrigue on your face. Moody felt the need to turn away from your innocent eyes but stayed when you raised a hand to the scars running down the left side of his face.

“Did a bad man do that, Dad?” Moody picked up a sense of concern in your young features, bringing a smile to his lips. He lifted you up and placed you on his knee like he would always do when explaining something to you.

“Yes,” Moody said. “A very bad man. You know that Dad’s job is to put all the bad wizards and witches in jail. But sometimes I can get hurt, and this can happen.” He lifted a finger to point at his eye. “Or this.” He pointed to his wooden prosthetic leg and gave it a pat. He watched your eyes glance down from his facial scars and down to the wooden leg. You followed his action in patting it and smiled at the weird part of your father.

“That’s cool,” you said, giving it another pat. Moody chuckled and tucked a (h/c) strand of hair behind your ear, one that so resembled your late mother’s.

“That’s not the word I would use for it,” Moody said. “but I suppose it could be considered cool.”

“Was it the same man that got Mum?”

Moody paused, the question taking him by surprise. His heart sat still in his chest at the mention of your mother, and he was grasping for the right words to say. It had been a different death eater than the one that had taken Adeline, yet to him, they were much of the same muchness. Both were the same evil vermin that they had both been pledged to fight against.

“No,” he answered slowly. “No, it wasn’t the same man.”

“I miss her,” you said, suddenly looking up at his face from your gaze on his wooden leg. You were playing with one of the buttons on his dark grey shirt, your legs swaying around in the air between his leg and the floor.

“I miss her too,” Moody said, letting you wrap your arms around his neck. He held you tight as you nestled your face in his neck and against his light brown hair, his hand going up to cup the back of your head. “I miss her too.”

He placed a kiss to the side of your head, keeping your body close against him. Letting a silence come over the both of you, he kept a grip on the electric-blue eye in his hand. He’d give both eyes to have his wife back. But more importantly, he’d give his life to make sure you didn’t have to die along with her.

The sunlight streaming in through the window bounced back off the electric-blue glass ball and into your eye, only becoming aware of the painful glint as you awoke from the old memory. You could almost feel the kiss that you father had placed to the side of your head over twenty years ago, the remanents of its comforting nature still imprinted on your skin.

The sound of Bill’s footsteps coming down the stairs awoke you from your trance, your head turning to look at him. He flashed you the warm smile he always would whenever he saw you, no matter how long had passed since he had last been in your company. This time it had only been several minutes, yet he still made his way over to you and wrapped his arms snuggly around your waist, digging his nose deep into the strands of hair sitting around your ear.

He placed a kiss to your temple, feeling you lean back against the front of his body. It was one of the comfiest places in the world and you always found yourself coming back to its comfort. 

“I was thinking we might go visit Tonks and Remus today?” Bill said, feeling you turn around to face him in his arms. “See how big her belly’s gotten and tease her about it.”

You let a laugh slip from your lips, a large smile on your face now beaming. “Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, Bill. Even if it does make you fat.”

Bill gave a hearty laugh, placing a kiss to your lips. You reached a hand up to ruffle his long, ginger hair, stepping out from his hold around your waist. “I’ll just go get a jacket for both of us and then we can head off.”

Before you could take a step up the stairs, a loud crack of someone apparating outside came rippling through the cottage. Your eyes immediately flickered over to Bills, ears pricked to pick up the slightest of noises. Within a second, your wand was outstretched in your hand and you stalked your way over to the window. You tugged the thin lace curtain back, peering outside to find the unexpected visitors.

Out near the edge of the windy cliffs stood three familiar figures. Dobby the house elf who you had met only a handful of times stood in the middle, both hands outstretched and holding the hands of Luna Lovegood and Garrick Ollivander. Both looked injured and weak, bloody cuts all over their bodies and bones protruding out of their undernourished flesh.

“It’s Dobby with Luna Lovegood and Ollivander,” You said, turning around to look at Bill. You saw a look of confusion come over his face and the wand in his hand drop to his side.

“The wandmaker?”

You simply nodded, making your way outside and over towards them. You heard Bill quickly make his way out behind you. Dobby was hurridly making his way over to you, tugging both of them along behind him.

“(Y/N) Moody!” called the house elf. “Dobby needs to help Harry Potter! Harry Potter told Dobby to bring Luna Lovegood and Mr Ollivander to Shell Cottage!”

“Where’s Harry?” You said, placing a hand to Luna’s face to check the scar that sat on her cheek. Luna’s silver eyes were still bright despite the physical wounds that littered her body.

“They’re at Malfoy Manor,” she said in her light voice. Her normally bubbly expression had turned to one of worry. “They’re in trouble.”

You had your mind made up within a second. You nodded at Luna before looking down at the Small house elf in front of you. “Can you take me there?”

“Of course,” he responded, his high-voice enthusiastic to get back to Harry’s aid.

“(Y/N),” Bill said, grabbing hold of your wrist and turning you to face him. “Don’t go leaping into battle. Think this through first.”

“There’s no time to think this through, Bill!” You said, your (e/c) eyes meeting his blue ones. “There in real trouble. The Malfoys are dark wizards, and as far as I’m concerned, my job is to hunt down dark wizards.”

Bill sighed, knowing that fighting with you would be no use. When you were set on something like this, there was no changing your mind. “I’m coming with you, then.”

“No, you can’t,” you said, “you need to look after Luna and Ollivander. I promise I’ll be careful, okay?”

You knew he was worried for you; he always was whenever you had to do something like this. Though normally, you would have your father or another auror with you. This time, however, you were heading into it alone. All he could do was place a rash kiss to your lips, a hopeful goodbye, and let you leave, hoping with everything he had that you would return all in one piece.

“You’re too much like your father,” he muttered against your lips before placing another kiss to your forehead. You leant into him one last time before turning away and grabbing Dobby’s hand.

“I love you,” Bill said, the breeze ruffling his red hair and sending a shiver down his skin. Bill’s face was already pale with worry but he held onto your gaze with apprehension.

“I love you too.” And with those final words, you watched as Bill, Luna and Garrick Ollivander vanished into a swirl of colour, the dark colours of the Malfoy’s dungeon quickly setting in. Looking around, your eyes met with Harry and Ron’s, a look of relief coming across their face as they took your presence in.

“(Y/N)?” You heard Harry say, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around your body. You embraced him in the cold and damp dungeon before wrapping your arms around Ron.

“Tell me what’s going on.” It was then that a blood-curdling scream erupted from outside, unmistakably a female’s. You winced at the sound, knowing full well who’s throat it had escaped from.

“Bellatrix has Hermione,” Ron said, rage clear in his voice as he said it. You knew it was taking everything he had not to barge up there and into the middle of a room full of Death Eaters.

“Why are you even here?” You said, looking between the two of them.

“Snatchers got us,” Harry responded. “We have the sword of Gryffindor, that’s why Bellatrix is torturing Hermione.” He stumbled on the word torturing, his eyes rising to the roof where another scream erupted.

“The sword is supposed to be in the Lestrange volt,” you said, your grip tightening on your wand in your hand. “Okay, look, we haven’t got time for stories. I’m going to sneak up there. You leave the duelling to me, okay? I have the most experience. You two get Hermione and the sword and make sure you’re ready to apparate back to Shell Cottage with Dobby.”

You crouched down until you were face-to-face with the house elf. Your authorative tone reminded you so much of the way your father would address the Aurors below him just before a mission would unfold. “Now you make sure you do whatever you can to get them to safety. If I get injured or die, you disappate out of here and get them to Bill. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, (Y/N) Moody,” Dobby said. “I’ll make sure Harry Potter and his friends are all safe.”

You nodded at them all, before making your way past them and up the stairs. Your eyes flickered to Peter Pettigrew’s dead body, no emotion arising in you as you looked at it. You stepped quietly on each step, growing closer and closer to Hermione’s screams as you trod. Years of Auror experience had made your footsteps near silent and your breaths almost invisible to detect. Your heartbeat was beating quickly in your chest but your hand never shook, your wand steady and ready to use in your still hand.

You rounded a corner, ears pricked to pick up any sound that the Malfoys or Bellatrix might make. You were so close now and could see the dark outline of a tall woman with dark, frizzy hair. On the floor just below her was Hermione, bloody and screaming, tears streaking her pale and distraught face. You swallowed in disgust at the way Bellatrix leaned over her, enjoyment in her eyes at seeing the muggleborn in so much pain.

You raised your wand silently and aimed it straight at Bellatrix’s chest. You were careful not to let it point in Hermione’s direction before shouting, “Expulso!”

Bellatrix flew back in the air as blue light hit her chest, a stunned expression on her face at the unexpected curse. You watched as all three of the Malfoy’s heads turned to you, their wands now in their hands.

Before another second had passed, you had disarmed Lucius Malfoy and were working on stunning Narcissa. Draco stood still, his wand pointed at you yet still unwilling to actually use it. You watched in the corner of your eye as Bellatrix stood back up, her curved, walnut wand in her hand.

Her frenzied eyes locked with yours and as she raised her wand, a wicked smile playing with her features. As furious as she was at the expulsion curse you had shot her way, she almost looked excited that you were there, hardly able to wait to play with the toy that had been delivered right into her hands.

“Oh, look,” she said in her high and toying voice. “A Moody has come to save the day.”

You weren’t one to wait for a death eater to finish toying and shot a stunning curse her way. It seemed to do its job in shutting her up before she deflected it with ease, a look of outrage on her face. Her features were glowing red as she looked at you with pure disgust in her eyes.

“You think you’re a brave one too, huh?” She gasped. “Well don’t you remember what we did to your father? Don’t you remember him falling off that broom that night?”

Her words sent a rush of loathing through your blood, your already tight grip on your wand tightening. You saw her raise her wand and you jumped out of the way, barely making it out of the red, torturous light in time. “Crucio!”

It struck the floor beside you, charring the wooden boards that it hit. You raised your mother’s old wand and yelled, “Incendio!”

Bright flames shot out of your wand and into her direction, licking her skin and singeing her hair. She staggered pack, a burning pain clear on her face and a look of hatred in her eyes. “Don’t you dare talk about my father like that!”

Bellatrix laughed despite the pain. “Do you know what happened to his body? Of course you wouldn’t, after all, we got to it first… or more like His Dark Lord’s snake did…”

Her own words must have stuck Bellatrix as hilarious because she let out a large and long cackle, it’s high-pitched sound echoing around the otherwise silent room. The Malfoys were just watching on now, completely engrossed in the teasing and curses being flown back and forth. You caught the figures of Harry and Ron coming around the corner and into the tense room, their eyes immediately settling on both you and Bellatrix staring back and forth before flickering down to Hermione behind you. Ron instantly made his way over to her and helped her to her feet, Ron taking most of the effort in walking her back over to Harry.

“You’re another dead Moody, you know that?” She finally said, set on finishing you rather than wasting another minute of her time toying. “There won’t be any more of your filthy half-blood family left to hunt us down.”

You deflected the stunning shell she shot your way and quickly followed it up with an expulsion charm. She stumbled back, more vicious intent coming into her features as her eyes narrowed on you. “I watched that snake eat him whole,” she screeched, “And I’ll watch it eat you too.”

“Shut up!” You couldn’t take the taunting about your father anymore, it was opening up to many painful doors you thought you had closed. But she kept going, firing another fiery spell your way as she did do.

“There was barely enough left of him before the snake got to him! The fall broke his body, oh…” She let a high, intake of breath part her words. “I wish you had been there to watch.”

You were almost set on dropping your wand and jumping on her, switching to the muggle way of solving fights. But Dobby’s high, anxious voice filled the room. “(Y/N) Moody, we must leave now!”

“Just a second, Dobby,” you said, taking a large intake of breath to clear your mind. “Just another second.”

You shot a red curse her way, watching her as she deflected it with a silver shield charm. There were flashes of different coloured lights, blue, red and green as curses were shot back and forth, some deflected and some just missing its target. Bellatrix’s cutting curse struck your arm, sending sharp pains throughout your arm as small but deep cuts sprang up all over your arm. There was blood everywhere, soaking your clothes and dripping to the floor, but you kept your wand pointed at her and fired a successful burning curse her way.

“Now, (Y/N) Moody!” You heard Dobby scream again, his hand interlocked with both Harry and Ron’s, Hermione struggling to stand up straight against the tall redhead. With a last look at Bellatrix Lestrange, you cast the most havoc-causing curse you could think of.

“Confringo!”

Fiery Orange light escaped your wand and hit the ground where Bellatrix stood. The ground erupted, sending her flying back and into the wall behind her. While she was out you hurried back and grabbed Harry’s hand, Dobby instantly moving to diapparate all five of you out of the now rubble filled house.

It was only as the room turned into a swirl of colour that you noticed the little knife that Bellatrix pulled from her side, and the malice look on her face as she threw into the disapparating form of the five of you. Blood trickled down her smiling lips as she realised it disapparated along with you, hoping with everything that she had that it would find it’s way into one of your flesh and bones.

The crack of your apparating forms rippled through Shell Cottage, turning the heads of the three people that sat inside. Bill was immediately on his feet and running full pelt out the front door, frantic for his eyes to lay on you once again. He paused, feeling like his heart was beating in his throat, closing up his airways and leaving him struggling for breath. And then his eyes met yours, standing a few feet from Harry before he watched your knees hit the ground.

He hadn’t even noticed he had started running towards you before he was on the ground next to you, looking over your body for any indication of injury. Your arm was coated in blood, the scars left by a cutting curse littering the skin of your arm. There was a little cut on your chin, but otherwise, you were physically fine. But for whatever reason, you were shaking uncontrollably in Bill’s arms.

You couldn’t speak. You had finally let go of all the emotions that Bellatrix’s words had let loose. You knew you wouldn’t be able to fight if you had let them rip and claw at you there, but the holding in had done its own damage. Each breath that came out of your chest was sharp and jagged. You knew you should feel the pain of all the cuts on your arm but you were completely numb to any pain at all. All you could picture was the image of Nagini striking the broken corpse of your father over and over again.

You hadn’t noticed that you were gripping the inside edge of Bill’s green jacket, the skin on your hands turning white from the pressure it held it with. You barely noticed the screams and whimpers that were coming out of your mouth or the tears that had blurred your vision of the panicked man crouched in front of you.

“(Y/N)…” he said, but you couldn’t hear him. You scarcely noticed his lips moving. “What happened?”

All you could do was lean into him, feeling his arms immediately moving to wrap around your neck and chest and bring you deeper into him. The wind whipped both of your hair into each other’s faces, your cries rippling through your body and into his.

You were only able to mutter one word over and over until it was the only thing your lips seemed to be able to mumble. And that was what kept Bill’s heart thumping a hundred miles per hour in his chest. Your voice was strained and weak with every cry of ‘dad’ that escaped your lips.

It was like that night all over again. All Bill could do was hold you against him on the damp floor of Shell Cottage while everything else but you and your cries faded out of existence in his mind. You held onto him like he was the only thing keeping you alive at that moment, the sound of Bellatrix’s cackling laugh echoing in your head as she stood over your Father’s broken and battered body. And then the Snake would close in on it, amusement seeping deeper and deeper into Bellatrix’s features.

And Bill was the only way to hold onto reality. Without him holding you, the snake would engulf you whole along with your father’s damaged and dead body.

I was on edge while writing this part. There were so many times where I was so close to crying because of the intensity of it. What did you guys think? Let me know!

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[bloodvbonerpg]

                           War Cries

In any other room in any other part of the world the dancing flames in their metal pits would be a stifling, almost suffocating addition. A dozen of them lined either side and within the hollow bowls the fires writhed and undulated like living beings; there for the sole entertainment of those who sat beside them. Skin would blister as it did when left under the sun for too long, or caught directly between the large waters and the coarse coastal sand and pebbles.

But in the depths of the otherwise pitch-black Blood Court, none gathered could feel the blazes unless they had been sentenced to trial, or death, by them. And so each inferno grew, and died, and climbed towards the sky again with each passing hour of moonlight.

Idle conversation bounced around the stone walls of the Blood Court Throne Room -- all gathered waited on bated breath to understand why they had been called back; back from Blood Hunts, back from their chambers, back from their places of solitude and Clan intimacy.

In an alcove high up and behind the Throne below, soft footsteps hailed the entrance of a latecomer. One moment the space between her sisters was empty, and then she filled it with her blood-stained lips and unkempt hair.

The tallest, Vishna, didn’t look away from the gathered crowd below as her sister finally showed her face.

“You’re late.”

The eldest, Mayal, grabbed a scrap of torn linen from her skirts and hastily began to wipe the blood from Cerces’ mouth. Long-forgotten remnants of a humanity and mortality passed. “I told you to come here right after you ate.”

Cerces Rayyad-Child looked down in shame. “I did. I just took my time.”

Beside them, Vishna snorted her disapproval. “Don’t.”

As though the Court had been waiting for the arrival of one lone Vampire, the noise around them died down. The trio of girls all looked below as a lone Vampire stood upon the dias where the Bloody Throne rested -- unoccupied since the departure of their interim-King and the Maker of the girls: Rayyad Wolfgang-Child.

Adeline Wolfgang-Child stood in front of the Throne and looked out upon the Court with her trademark steeled gaze. The surrounding tension was thick, viscous, like the blood they all consumed. The one who broke it first would be the one responsible for whatever followed -- that was simply how it was.

It was Adeline who surrendered herself.

“Fifty,” her voice echoed loud and clear over the walls and in the ears of every Vampire gathered, “fifty good Children of the Blood found dead on the edge of our Eastern border. Their Hunt; a folly. Their blood, taken back to the dirt in a waste.”

If there had been any lingering conversation before it was gone. All bodies and all stilled hearts were focused on the revelation coming in Adeline’s voice. In the balcony, the trio of girls had forgotten about the smudge of blood still on the bottom of Cerces’ chin.

“Some of them were your Makers, and some of them were your Children. Some you would never know and now will never know. But they have fallen and it is my duty to tell you of their ends. What caused this loss is not our concern. But they will not be forgotten, and vengeance will come.”

As the last echoes of her announcement fell into silence a grave anger began to simmer. Soon it would eclipse the flames that gave them light, and the blood what would follow would be a wave large enough to drown them all.

Vampires were not beings for prayer or understanding. They lived in every second of every moment passing them by from the first time they awoke reborn until the end of their immortal lives. Death was as natural as second life. But the news of fifty dead wasn’t just another occurrence. It was an outrage. It was a murder.

One Vampire stood and leaned against the stone railing with white-knuckled rage.

“Tell us what we all want to know, Wolfgang-Child,” she spat through hissed fangs, “tell us who.”

The silence was broken and dissent began to boil. Voices chiming in agreement became a cacophony of calls and jeers. Blood owed was blood spilled in payment.

“Where is the King?!” called a young man in the assembly, and with him raised numerous calls of agreement.

“Call the King back!”

“He will lead us to war!”

“We’ll kill the leech bastards!”

“Who said it was them?”

“Who else?!”

In their alcove, Mayal Rayyad-Child shifted in anticipation. No one was waiting to listen to Adeline’s judgment. Her words had become a drop in the pool of many and around them accusations were thrown as haphazardly as body parts.

She glanced to her sister and could see the thrill of the hunt and kill was already alight in her eyes. While more rational than the mess down below, Vishna was ready to relish the hunt that would follow in retaliation.

“Was it the Upyr?” came Cerces’ whisper in the eldest’s ear. Mayal looked down at wide, innocent eyes and reached to pull her in close.

“I don’t know.” Came her truthful answer.

Meanwhile, Adeline watched as the temperature of the room reached a rapid boiling point. While the gathering was meant to incite anger and passion among the Blood Court, the violence that was spreading had not been her intention.

But she had been cast aside in the heat of the moment, and the calls continued.

“We need to retaliate!”

“No one is saying we shouldn’t!”

“The King has abandoned us and this follows! He’s unfit!”

“Watch your tongue!”

“Or what?!”

“We need unity!”

“We need a better King!”

“ENOUGH!”

All eyes fell to Adeline. Now standing atop the Throne, a blasphemous act in and of itself, her fingers curled like talons around the back of the chair as she commanded the silence and attention of all gathered. She looked out among them and tilted her head upwards to address those above her -- those of the Court.

“Speak or carry your silence forward!”

An elder Vampire, turned past the prime of his Human life, stepped forward at her summons.

“Does the Blood King know of this, Wolfgang-Child?” he asked.

Adeline gave a silent bare of her fangs. Her lack of response was the only answer they needed.

“Then call him back,” continued the elder, “so he may join us in this vengeance.”

Beside him, a woman spat on the stone below. “He cares not of the Court -- even the Mad One followed. Fuck the King.”

Mayal pulled Cerces back as their sister took them by surprise and leapt onto the railing before them.

“Action is demanded, King or no King! The longer we wait the more of ours fall!” Vishna announced to the gathering at large. An echo of agreement followed her words. “The murderers must pay!”

Silence followed as Vishna looked down to catch the sight of her blood-kin. Adeline’s lips were pursed in a tight line, but no opposition came.

Vishna continued. “All with me, say aye!”

“AYE!” Came a thundering chorus. Though some remained silent the majority had been claimed.

With a flash of fangs and bright red eyes, Vishna gave a bellowing war-cry. “Aye!”

“AYE! AYE! AYE!” Repeated over, and over, and over. Unity had been found not with the Child of the King, but with the one who met the dissent with a craving for blood.

Behind their sister, Mayal grabbed Cerces close and breathed a command into her ear: “Go to the Sanctuary. Tell Father. Tell the King. War is coming.”

The youngest Vampire’s wide eyes flickered between her sisters. She vanished in the same moment. The remnants of Mayal’s commands lingered on her flesh.

The almost tribal and rhythmic chanting followed Cerces Rayyad-Child through the halls of the Bloody Court and out to the bridge and the world beyond. Overhead the moon shone down to light her way as a silent sentinel. Blood both old and new paved the streets leading out to the edge of the Court’s Territory.

But before the young Vampire could pick up the speed of the wind at her back, she stopped in a cloud of blood-scattered dust.

Two figures stood at the edge of the bridge, bathed in the light of the sentinel above.

The war cries within drowned the screams without. No message would reach Sanctuary that night, or any night after.

One day, word from the Blood Court simply doesn’t come. Is it due to negligence; a simple stubborn willfulness to disobey their King?

Or is it something more?

NOTE:: The events of this Plot Drop remain unknown to the residents of Sanctuary. Please keep this in mind going forward.