TW: BLOOD & GORE
b e f o r e
Draco was still in Adeline's hold when the world stopped spinning and they arrived at the commencement of their deaths.
The room they stood in was dark and cold. Wooden floors and brick ceilings caged them in. Without much light, Adeline thought they might be in some sort of house. Everything is very still, very quiet for the few moments after they land. A dizzying sort of silence keeps everything in an odd sense of limbo like they're not really here; like they're not even very alive. Then Adeline feels the texture of Draco's jacket between her fingers and all reality pushes in on her. She lets go immediately, summoning Lumos in her palms. She'd gotten better at controlling it now, rays of light scattering against the walls.
Adeline had been right, they stood in the middle of a house in the living room. An orange couch in the middle of the small room, an unlit fireplace sitting in the dark across from the lounge. A small matching armchair was beside it, ghastly red throw pillows decorated on the seats. It was too dark to see the smaller details of the room, the people in the hung picture frames, the titles of the books on the shelves that line the back wall, what lay outside the closed windows.
"No one's home." Draco broke the silence, his voice whispered despite his statement.
Adeline turned to him; he was looking around the room just as she had been. His hair looked whiter than she'd ever seen from the light coming from her palms, shadows from his lashes and nose danced around his pale face. His eyes settled on her, quiet.
"Everyone in town has evacuated," He continued. "They all know the Dark L- Voldemort has returned."
Adeline turned away from him, taking the light with her as she headed for the door by the bookshelves. It was wooden and creaked when she opened it. It led into a dark kitchen, mustard yellow tiled floors, slightly discoloured from age, an island in the centre of it with bowls of slightly old fruit, jars of nuts, grains of rice and dried portions of pasta. The kitchen was fairly large and looked recently lived in. There was even an old mug of coffee sitting on the bench. Windows above the sink showed nothing but darkness.
Across from the kitchen were a flight of stairs next to the front door. By the entrance, a mess had been made of shoes and coats, umbrellas, scarves and hats. Whoever lived here, left in a hurry.
Upstairs there was a bedroom and a bathroom, both messy from a quick packing job. There were spaces on the walls that once hung picture frames, on shelves that had housed something else valuable to its owners.
The house was quaint, and it probably would have made a lovely home to these people, before fear drove them away.
Downstairs, Draco was in the kitchen. The light above the island was on, warm tones brightening the room. It made the yellow floor less bearable. He was leaning over the stove, staring at a boiling kettle with two mugs on the bench beside him.
Adeline extinguished the light in her palms and, clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to Draco. The house felt too quiet, too mournful for its tenants for there to be any loud noise or ruckus.
"What are we doing here?" She asked, her voice slightly hoarse. Draco made no move, but she noticed the way his hands grasped the bench underneath his palms tightly. She wondered if this was his plan all along; coerce her into leaving the school, guiding her somewhere that she would be seen by one of the Death Eaters, play along until that final moment before he transported her somewhere else, somewhere safe.
The tenants had left somewhat recently, so had he known them, since he must have known the house was occupied. Or had this plan of escape, this betrayal of his family and the Dark Lord, was it rather impromptu? He must have known his disloyalty would lead to his death, no matter how faithful the Malfoy's had been to the cause.
"Draco..." Adeline started again but found she had nothing more to say. The kettle whistled and finally, Draco moved. He readied the water into the mugs beside him, quietly disturbing the silence as he tapped teaspoons against ceramics, stirring the hot remnants of the cups. He turned and placed one of the mugs on the bench in front of her, blowing into his own. He'd made them tea.
"Why did you bring me with you?" He asked. Steam from the drink hid his face in brief intervals, warping his features underneath the kitchen light.
He must have known his choice to hide Adeline would lead to his demise. So, did he do it out of sacrifice or was it a solution to his suffering?
Forgive me.
Adeline wouldn't let him. He wasn't allowed to leave her, too. No one else was allowed to die and leave her with their messes.
"Leverage." She said, ignoring the mug in front of her.
Draco took a drink of his tea, a large hand covering the entire dish. He was nodding his head, distracted. His eyes travelled from her to the bench between them.
"I'm going to need something to get them off my back. You're worth more to me alive than dead, at the moment."
He didn't look up from the table and the only indicator he had heard her was the quick twitch of the corner of his mouth. Adeline had the distinct feeling he was angry with her; she just couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly.
The wind howled outside, a quiet settled inside the kitchen.
"We can't stay here." She spoke, gripping the strap of the bag hanging from her shoulder. "We should leave soon; they'll be able to track us here."
Draco didn't lift his gaze even as he spoke. "The house is spelled. No one will find us here. Besides, there's a blizzard tonight."
Adeline looked outside, sharply surveying the darkness. With the kitchen light now on, she could see the snow building up on the sill and the storm falling heavily around them. No wonder it was so cold.
"We'll stay tonight, then." Adeline resigned, turning back to face Draco who still wouldn't look up from his haze. "We'll leave first thing in the morning."
"And where exactly are we going?" He chided, annoyance edging into his tone.
Adeline didn't respond until she reached the bottom of the stairs and when the words left her mouth Draco's head snapped up and looked at her.
"We're going to go kill my brother."
The water was hot against Adeline's skin as she lowered herself into the bathtub, steam billowing around the bathroom and fogging up the mirrors. The room was a light green, the floor and wall tile a shade of sage. It wasn't dark like the Slytherin colours and it didn't even remind her of her school.
Whoever designed this place, certainly have a flair for colour.
The milky water smelt of lavender and soap, a relaxing remedy to Adeline's bones. She wasn't sore nor was she tired, but the whole running about and transporting to a different town in the middle of merlin knows where did give her a headache. To top it all off, she was stuck here now with Draco.
Adeline was aware it was her own doing, that she had dragged him here with her. But she couldn't very well shift into an unknown location without a little advantage for herself. If everyone and their mothers were going to be looking for her, she may as well have some collateral with her. The Malfoys will want their son alive and if Adeline has to use that against them if she runs into trouble, she won't hesitate to do so.
Besides, he has other uses.
It doesn't matter what fleeting moment of weakness she had at the top of the Astronomy Tower, her only goal was to find Alexandre and destroy him. No matter what that took.
Besides, it would have been too kind to let the Death Eaters have Draco, especially after everything he's put her through.
If anyone was going to kill that boy, it would be me.
However, it was not on the top of her priority list as of right now.
Eventually, Adeline got out of the bath as the water went cold and found some clothes that had been left behind in the wardrobe. They certainly had more suitable weather-based jackets than she did, and she reminded herself to look through the rest of the house before they left in the morning.
Her skin was warm and flushed from the bath, and the sweater she pulled on kept the cold away.
Draco wasn't in the kitchen when she went downstairs, but his tea was half empty and abandoned on the bench. For a moment, Adeline thought he had left. That he didn't care about any snowstorm or blizzard enough to stay. There was a tightness in her chest until she walked into the living room and saw him crouching before a lit fire. His figure was shadowed and dancing around the flames. Briefly, Adeline was reminded on just a few nights before when they stood in his room.
She cleared her throat. "The bathroom is free. I suggest you get yourself a change of clothes upstairs, too. That dreadful suit of yours isn't exactly conspicuous."
For a moment, Draco didn't move. She didn't even think he had heard her and had almost repeated herself.
"Alright." He said finally, standing from his crouch and turning to her. His hands were in the pockets of his pants, his tall body leaning slightly against the mantle above the fireplace. "Where are we going tomorrow?"
Adeline's lips twitched in a condescending manner.
"I don't trust you." She said in lieu of answering his question.
His hollow cheeks and bruised eyes looked more prominent than ever. "And I you."
The house was so quiet and even though they were intruders, it still seemed to welcome them.
"At least that's settled, then." She mused, turning to go.
"But I will not be your prisoner," Draco spoke before she could escape, his eyes boring into her skin. "I will follow wherever you go, but by choice and not command."
The air between them was thick and warm, the fire heating the room rapidly. Adeline eyed him, his poised manner and pointed look.
"You're not in any position to be making demands." She remarked, finding quiet amusement in the exchange.
"It's not a demand, Adeline." Draco countered. "Anywhere you go, I will go too. I'll not fight as long as you are honest with me. I want only to help you."
His gaze was open and true, even despite the flicker of his anger and guarded heart. When he was like this, so readily there for her, he scared her so.
"You're sleeping on the couch," Adeline responded, arms delicately folded over her chest. The fire crackled. Draco's jaw tightened and his body slouched further against the mantel like he couldn't even keep himself up.
"Gladly," He bit out.
Adeline hummed, lips twitching. She turned for the door but before she left she called over her shoulder.
"And do try and get some rest, Draco." She spoke, voice like honey and lavender. "You look like shit."
The morning sun shined glaringly against the snow creating bright diamonds and shiny textures that patterned through the window. It was early and Adeline was cold, the bed comfortable and warm underneath her. If she hadn't been so determined through murderous intent, she'd probably want to stay in bed.
As the light shone through the house, the remnants of the previous tenants became more obvious. An old jewellery box on the vanity, perfumes and colognes in the bathroom, magazines and books on their bedside tables. As Adeline walked downstairs the picture frames left behind stared back at her. They were filled with smiling faces and warmth. She glided past them, noting each one. It appeared a man and a woman had been living here; a lovely couple with their happily ever after cutting short. She wondered what life they had lived, where they were now and if they were even alive.
Adeline distantly pondered on this, merely to have something to do, while she brewed her coffee. She didn't make any effort to keep quiet so it wasn't a surprise when the door to the lounge room opened and Draco stepped through. He was rubbing his eyes and straightening out his messy hair, not that it helped. He looked rumbled and warm from sleep; a pillow mark printed on his cheek. He was wearing tracksuit pants and a sweater that was too large for his poorly cared for frame, something he must have taken from the upstairs closet.
The morning sun peeked out through the windows behind him, silhouetting him in a glowing light. He dropped his hands and eyed Adeline moving around in the kitchen, noisily opening cupboards and sifting through boxes of salvageable food. He glowered, knowing she was doing it on purpose.
Draco shuffled over to the bench, leaning against it as he blinked languidly. Adeline hadn't spent many mornings with him and even when she did it was when they were children, yet she still faintly remembered how he wasn't much of a sunrise person.
Her lips twitched as she made coffee, her back to him. Without even realising it she had taken out two mugs, preparing both. A part of her withered, scowling at her negligence. She probably hit the spoon against the cup too hard once she realised.
Then something warm was close to her, smelling of sleep and citrus, a hand snaking between her side and her arm as it closed around the mug and took the finished hot coffee. Draco never touched her but just from his proximity Adeline's stomach dropped and her breathing hitched just momentarily. She turned just in time to see his tired silver eyes just centimetres from hers before he was slinking back to his position against the bench.
She wasn't sure if he'd even realised what he'd done considering how half-conscious he looked, clutching onto his coffee like it were a lifeboat. Adeline looked down at her own mug, steeling herself as she blinked down at the drink. It felt too early to feel so guarded, but it was because of the morning air Adeline had to watch herself more closely. Times of domesticity made it easier to fall through the cracks.
She took her coffee and went upstairs. From there she started going through some of the clothes left behind, creating a small pile of garments that she'd change into. There wasn't much room for her to take a lot and she didn't really want any extra baggage than she already had. Instead, she found a pair of warm pants, a wool long sleeve shirt and a thick fleece jacket with an ugly brown flannel lining. There were boots at the bottom of the wardrobe, a size too big for her and they dug in slightly at the sides, but they'd have to do. Adeline was happy she'd never have to put on her Hogwarts uniform again, this last semester proving that it really couldn't get any better for her there.
She went into the bathroom to change and wash her face, letting the warm water run down her arms and into the basin. It was nearly time for them to leave and Adeline still needed to figure out where exactly they were and how they were to get to the family estate. She knew they couldn't use magic, not unless they wanted to draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
Her long hair curved around her face, cascading down her shoulders and back. It was shiny and luscious, nothing like it had been for many years. It was still a distant surprise for Adeline to see her reflection, and it was no longer because of how ill she looked. With every passing day, the mirror showed a strong, young girl with sharp eyes. Her skin was clear and bright, with no dark circles under her eyes or cracks in her full, pink lips. It was like looking at a stranger.
Adeline had always had long hair, even when she probably should have just cut it off over the last few years – when it had lost its lustre and had turned into a dull shade of greyish brown. She remembered she had sometimes wished for it to look like it did now. She touched it lightly, the smooth tendrils slipping through her fingers. She had never enjoyed looking at her reflection, not even now. It was not for vanity but merely because she wasn't didn't feel the person looking back at her was herself, like the girl who lived in the mirror belonged to the voices in her head. Adeline had never felt like her own person, not once in her life. A light sigh left her lips as she opened the drawers underneath the sink.
Draco was finally waking up after his coffee. He never had been a morning person, even at school, it was difficult for him to get to his first class without convincing himself to get back into bed for another hour. He'd rummaged around the kitchen after he finished his coffee and found some food they could eat before they left. Not much, but a few nuts and bars. Everything else was going bad, most of the fruit in the bowl slowly turning into mush. Once he'd done that he headed upstairs to get dressed, finding the large hideous sweater he wore not very appropriate for wherever they were going.
Which she still hasn't told you...
Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair as he opened the wardrobe upstairs. It had obviously been riffled through already this morning, a slight mess on the floor. Draco always thought Adeline could be quite messy when she wanted to be. It was usually when her mind was on other things or she was in a poor mood.
Maybe those ghastly yellow tiles in the kitchen set her off.
Draco found some pants to change into and pulled on some boots. Thankfully, they fit unlike the sweater, which he swiftly and dutifully took off. If he was feeling stubborn enough, he'd walk out into the snow without a jacket if that sweater was his only choice – purely on the principle of it being too scratchy and unattractive.
He found a black long sleeve and a thick corduroy jacket, which he threw on the bed. Adeline stepped out of the bathroom before he could pull on his shirt and she stopped when she saw him. She'd changed into different clothes, her face slightly coloured and clearly washed, her hair pulled back behind her shoulders. Draco's heart, as it always had when Adeline entered the room, gave a deep, painful thud.
He suddenly felt self-conscious, knowing how he looked. It wasn't something he liked to think about, but he knew he hadn't been eating enough lately. The stress of everything had been getting to him. He hadn't been doing enough of anything lately; eating, sleeping, thinking about anything other than the girl in front of him.
She leaves the room as he finishes getting dressed, and when he meets her downstairs she's chewing on a handful of nuts. A streak of pride slithers through his chest.
At least he could help somewhat. At least she's eating.
He remembered the many months since she'd returned to Hogwarts of watching her sit in the dining hall, poking her food much more than she ever consumed any of it. He'd nearly died watching her, seeing how sick and tired she looked. He felt helpless and a fool, knowing there was nothing he could do that would make anything better. It made him feel almost as equally powerless as he had when he saw how she'd changed in a matter of days, healthy and strong. He couldn't understand for the life of him what was going on with her.
"We need to leave," Adeline stated. It was the first thing that had been spoken all morning. Draco felt exasperation tug at his bones. She was always so bloody difficult.
"Tell me where we're going first." He reasoned, walking over to grab a bar for himself. He stood next to her, but they never touched. Adeline had her bag over her shoulders, and now that he was closer, Draco noticed her hair was not just sitting across her back, but it had actually been cut to her shoulders. He stared, halting any movements. She'd had long hair for as long as he could remember.
Without even thinking, Draco's hand reached out and touched a thick tendril. When Adeline stilled, he realised what he'd done. He let go, clearing his throat.
"You cut your hair." He spoke, refusing to let the colour into his cheeks.
Adeline stared at him; annoyance written into her gaze.
"Evidently," She muttered.
Draco wouldn't feel embarrassed, so he didn't let the silence settle for long. "Well, don't expect me to follow that lead. I refuse to box-dye my hair black."
Adeline snickered. "You'd look terrible with black hair."
He felt his lips twitch. "I'd look like a sex god no matter what I did."
She rolled her eyes but looked away quickly as if trying to cover a smile. Draco had to hold back his own, but his chest tightened.
It shouldn't be so easy.
Draco wished it could be like this, easy banter and boyish charm. He wished they could just stay in this house with its too bright colours and ugly sweaters. She would be so much safer here. He didn't know what any of it meant; what she was talking about when she spoke about her brother, where she'd been this whole time, how she seemed to change overnight. Draco didn't understand any of it and he wanted – needed - answers but he didn't think he'd get any. And it was because of that and because she has turned into this enigma of death and mystery, that he knows she has to leave and has to do whatever she seems so determined to do. Draco wouldn't pretend to know what's good for her, not when he's missing so many vital pieces of information. The best he could do was follow wherever she goes and spend every day protecting her. There was no other option for him.
"We're going to my parents' house," Adeline said, her short hair shaping her face like a halo.
Draco stared at her as she put the rest of the small portion of food into her pack, zipping up her flannel coat and preparing to leave.
And naturally, she will make his job as hard as she possibly could.
The town was empty just as Draco had said. Adeline still didn't quite understand how he'd known that, but she never asked. They walked in the cold snow in silence until they reached the abandoned village below. The house they had been in was located at the top of the hill; a farm area secluded far enough away from everyone.
The only sound that reached Adeline's ears was the crunch of ice underneath their boots. She'd hoped there would be a train station close by and after walking a little further, she'd been right. They waited in silence for nearly forty-five minutes until a loud steam train rolled through. Adeline hadn't even been sure one would stop as indicated on the schedule since nobody resided here anymore, but she supposed that doesn't stop traffic.
The train wasn't for passengers but cargo, and it hadn't stopped for any reason other than the drivers needing a break. Luckily no one even noticed Draco and Adeline sneak through one of the doors and sit amongst the boxes of food and the sacks of rice and oats. It took another ten minutes or so until the train started moving again and relief tugged at her chest when it did. She spared a glance toward Draco, sitting amongst dull brown bags of goods across from her. His hair really was too bright, she just hoped nobody would notice him because of it.
Perhaps he should get a hat or something.
As Adeline looked at him, she'd occasionally see his jaw tick or his brows pull together. His hands were on his knees as he held them close to his chest and peered out the slightly ajar door of the train. She wondered if he knew she was looking at him or if he was so resigned to himself he didn't notice. Then his eyes flickered to hers and he held her gaze.
The train continued on.
There was an undercurrent of anger in his silver stare. She couldn't decide if it was a perpetual state when he looked at her or if this was something new he'd come across, a new sort of vexation or crossness.
Even with her heart shrouded in metal, her mind occupied by the pull of ancient magic, Adeline still distantly wondered what Draco Malfoy thought about.
"Why didn't you just kill me?" She heard herself asking, a question that had been on her mind since last night.
Draco's hands tightened around his knees. "That seems rather futile."
"How so?"
He never did look away from her when he spoke. "I much prefer you alive."
"Doesn't seem to be doing much good for anyone else." She bargained.
"I'm trying to keep you safe." He admitted.
"Even if that meant you'd die because of it?"
Forgive me.
He shrugged, his fingers tapping against his kneecaps. "It seemed like the most reasonable idea at the time. No one needs me around."
Adeline watched the way he breathed, slow and rhythmic, the way he blinked languidly and sure, his gaze steady and unwavering. He was just a boy.
"Quite the noble sacrifice." Adeline's voice was teetering on displeased. Draco's gaze tightened on her just slightly.
He was quiet for some time, just sitting there observing her. When he spoke again, his voice was harder. "You shouldn't have taken me with you."
"You're not allowed to die a tragic hero's death." She retorted, her brows lifting just so. "You don't deserve it."
Draco, like always, looked exasperated. He took his eyes off her as he sighed, an irritated sound.
"Is that why you're angry with me, then? Because I pulled you along with me?"
Because I wouldn't let you die.
There's this part of her, buried so deep inside behind layers of dirt and death, yearning for a Shakespearean end that would satisfy her unrequited heart.
Without me.
"I'm not angry with her, Adeline," Draco spoke, eyes trailing after the light from outside the train. "I just find your stubbornness annoying."
She scoffed, indifference clouding her mind. Her stubbornness, what about his?
For the remainder of the train ride, they sat in silence.
They got off in a town Adeline recognised around mid-afternoon. They were close enough to the estate that they could walk, although it would take some time. They walked through the middle of the town, both on edge the entire time. She overheard passing conversations on the lips of nearly everyone.
The Death Eaters had taken over Hogwarts, Dumbledore dead, missing students. Once Adeline heard her own name, she grabbed hold of Draco's arm and pulled him faster out of the main roads. They reached the long windy roads that led to Adeline's childhood home fast enough.
It took nearly an hour before they arrived at the gates of the Levier Estate, and Adeline was taken aback by the sight of it. She hadn't been here in years, but could still remember the scent of the fields, the sway of the trees, and the touch of her mother's harsh grip. What was most startling, however, was how overgrown everything looked. The once-grand gates that had closed off the public had rusted slightly and were covered in thick vines. They even creaked when she opened them. Draco was close behind her, wand at the ready as they walked down the long driveway. The house came into sight, looming and dark, large enough to fit several small villages. It, just like the surrounding gates, stood dark and alone and covered with overgrown flora. The house was shrouded in green leaves and thick branches, a haunted air suffocating it.
Adeline thought it looked akin to an evil lair, like the earth couldn't even stand its presence any longer.
"Stay here." She muttered, not even looking past her shoulder.
Draco grabbed hold of her arm quickly. "No, I'm coming with you."
She looked at him sharply, tugging herself away from his hand. "No, you're not."
He rolled his eyes, digging his heels in. "Yes, I am."
Adeline was rethinking the importance of him being alive. "Stay here or I'll spell you to a shrub."
Draco made a face, uttering his profanities. "That's ridiculous-"
With just a twitch of her hand, a thick vine moved from the brick of the house and snaked its way to Draco's feet, constricting his movement like a snake. Quickly, nothing was seen but his head, an angry glower on his face. She took his wand for good measure.
"Adeline, I swear-"
"Won't be too long, dearest." She called, heading into the house.
It was dark and dusty, the long hallways crowded with family heirlooms, paintings of dead relatives, Latin scripture sitting in glass cases. It was like the largest museum filled with Levier history. Adeline nearly gagged at the smell; dust and mould, childhood flashes and bruised skin.
She walked further into the house, slowly passing the sitting room. It looked untouched, but Adeline could still remember the hours she had spent sitting on the chair beside the couch, reciting text after text to her father while he would scold her every time she'd get it wrong. He always said it too loudly, for her mother would come along and hit her across her ear. She remembered one time her mother hit her so hard, blood had come from the contact, a ringing in her ear followed for days even after she had healed herself.
The wood in the fire looked old and dusty.
She reached the back of the house, an old library with books she's read over and over. It was all Latin and French history, dark magic and the etiquette of the royal. Lovely nighttime reading for a child.
There was a large window at the back of the wall, old and split up by squares. The view behind it was slightly warped from the odd, uneven glass but Adeline could still see the expanse of the fields. They too were overgrown, grass long and flowers wild. She couldn't see much but her eyes sought out the single tree sitting on a peak above everything. She'd never been allowed to go near it, especially when her mother was there tending to it. It was larger than it had been the last time she'd seen it, big and strong and beautiful. It had always given her the creeps, the leaves always looked wilted and unnaturally dark. It was the only thing in the entire estate that wasn't overgrown; in fact, it stood with perfect and precise clarity, freakish flawlessness in the field of overgrown vines and trees.
And placed at the roots of it, bright and clear, were a bouquet of white orchids wrapped in gold string.
Someone had visited Alexandre's grave.
Adeline made her way upstairs, the air growing more suffocating and denser as she did. The house was so quiet, staler than it had ever been. She didn't allow the memories to wash over her, the years of neglect and abuse, the hours of solitude and loneliness.
Her bedroom door was wide open, something that her parents never allowed. They didn't like to be reminded of her presence. She didn't go inside but without having to look too hard, Adeline could tell someone had been in there. There was a dent in her bed like someone had sat by the pillows, and the air had a distinct disturbed smell to it. She stood by the window and could sense the intruder still lingering in the walls; the way they had grazed their fingers over her curtains, touched the books on her shelf, the fabrics of clothes left behind. The thought made her queasy.
She made her way through the house, seeking out one room in particular. It was like this odd pull navigating her to the top floor study room. It was the same room she'd spent most of her childhood in. Her father had a large desk near the window on the right, each wall filled with bookshelves. There was a couch in the middle of mahogany sitting tables and oak shelves, which Adeline would sit on and study for hours at a time. Her mother would sit in the chair before the fireplace, writing in her book of spells and dark magic, often turning to chide or hit Adeline if she felt she was trying hard enough.
When Adeline pulled the double doors open to reveal this room of torture and torment, the stench of mildew, mould, dust and death were the strongest. Adeline gagged and her eyes watered. Everything was just the same as she remembered it, the books and shelves, the paintings and couches, the desk and chairs. Even her mother and father were seated where they always had, stiff and motionless.
Adeline swallowed the bile in her throat as she took in the sight before her.
Elias Levier sat at his desk, leather chair holding his body in place. His hands were placed on the desk before him, blood dried underneath his palms as sharp quills protrude from his skin. His eyes wide open but the gaping holes in his face did not have eyeballs. His skin was pale and grey and his throat cut open.
Lillian Levier sat in her armchair in front of an unlit fire. Her head hung low against her chest as if her neck was broken, blood was crusted onto her chin and down her chest, her tongue lay on the carpeted floor. Her wrists were bound to the sides of her chair but her hands lay limp, fingers missing. And finally, there was a large hole in her chest, gaping and black, a place where her heart once resided. She still had her eyes, at least.
And on each of their laps, delicately placed with precision and care, lay a deathly white orchid.
Adeline exhaled. The room smelt like blood and gore, she could taste the words of death and revenge that had been uttered here on her tongue.
She closed the door behind her and left the house, never once looking back.
The vines fell from Draco as soon as Adeline emerged from the house. She didn't look harmed or hurt, but her skin was pale and her eyes distant. She walked straight past him without saying a word and headed for the gates.
"What happened? Were they in there?" Draco asked, rubbing at his neck where the vines had scratched him slightly. He didn't get a response as he followed her; her steps always took quick ahead of him. "Adeline, I can't help you if don't tell me what's going on."
She turned on him, sharp and angry, her eyes a dagger and her pretty mouth in a snarl. "I don't want or need your help. This isn't some heroes journey bullshit. You're here because you were tasked to kill me and failed, and now I am using you in case your parents come looking for you."
Draco waited for her to finish, his body still and patient. Her eyes were fiery with rage and her body shook slightly. She looked so far away from him.
They stood in angry silence in the middle of the winding driveway, his eyes blinking expectantly at her, and hers murdering him with her fury. Slowly, this receded as they continued to stare at each other and it was only when Adeline looked less distant and enraged, and more frustrated and ashen, did Draco speak.
"Were they in there?" He asked. Slowly, she nodded her head. "What happened? Did you talk to them?"
"They're dead."
Draco's surprise didn't hide well on his face. He thought of the Leviers, wicked and cruel but a constant fixture in his life. Adeline's remaining family, dead. Everyone was gone.
"I'm sorry-"
She scowled, shaking her head and continuing her walk to the gates. "I don't care about that. They were assholes. What I care about is finding my brother."
Draco was flummoxed, confusion a constant in his mind over the last 24 hours. "Wh- Adeline, you need to talk to me about this."
They'd reached the gate and let themselves out, Adeline didn't even bother looking back as she continued along the beaten path before them. She didn't respond for quite some time, not for most of the walk back into town and not while the sun began to set. When she did, her voice no longer held any anger, nor did it hold anything other than a hollow echo.
"I will. Just..." Adeline looked at him, they were entering the beginning of town. "Not right now."
There was a shiver of something in her green eyes, quiet and tepid but definitely there – a tremor of urgency.
Not right now.
Draco could live with that for the meantime.