The world froze as he came more closely into view, but it was the eyes that horrified her, they could've killed her. He seemed at peace in the violence of the setting, death and destruction was his forte after all.
"No," Bexley spoke, fear was keeping her standing, fearing for the loves of her life was keeping her upright.
"No? How humorous, you thought you had an option." Voldemort snickered, triggering it to ripple through his followers.
"I will never, join you. I will never allow myself to be so hollow, so lifeless I'd rather die." It happened so quickly, he was right in front of her, his poisonous wand digging into her neck, from the corner of her eye she saw Regulus stumble, as he stopped himself from running to her aid. Voldemort's eyes fell to him.
"Regulus, is there something you'd like to say? Because death can be arranged unless you have a better idea?" Bexley whimpered as Voldemort's fingers grazed her cheek.
"No, my Lord." Regulus sounded stronger than he looked, but Bexley was pleased he stayed quiet, he couldn't die, she refused to let it happen. Then it infiltrated her, searing white pain flooded her body, it was crippling, like a branding poker had been forced down her throat Bexley curled in the fetal position on the floor, her screams echoed off the cliff's melting into the sound of the ravenous sea.
"Is death the worst you can think of?" Voldemort hovered over her "Because trust me, my dear, I can make you plead for mercy before I kill you, I can commit far worse atrocities than this." Revelling in her pain, Bexley's fingers dug into the ground, as she felt her body cave in on itself, the air being sucked from her lungs over and over again, cutting her screams off in her throat. But somehow, it stopped. Perhaps she was dead, perhaps that is what would wait for her when she opened her eyes. Prying them open, she saw in the distance a white blurred figure, the pain subsided, and the figure became clear. Dumbledore. It was like he gave her the ability to breathe again, and when she saw Sirius, she had a reason to do so. Balling her hands into a fist, Voldemort sighed at her attempts to stand, kicking her to the floor easily, repeatedly doing so until his laughter faded, he saw Dumbledore, he saw the light in the cavern he had created and he hated it.
Staring at the stormy sky, yells were muffled as the ringing in Bexley's ears proceeded, soft hands pulled her to the realms of the living and even softer lips forced life into her, she didn't have the choice to give up.
"Come on baby, please. Please." Sirius pleaded against her lips, his words cascaded over her as she kissed him back. "Come back to me." his lips were gravity and she fell like a bird might fall through the air.
"You're here." Bexley's fingers found their familiar home in his hair.
"Of course I am, we're all here. Now come on, we have to get out of here okay?" Sirius pulled her to her feet, handing Bexley her wand, she sighed at the feeling of safety it consumed her with. The sight was fearful, witches and wizards of all stature fighting, casting spells she had never even seen in use, Lily's red hair flying in the wind, she looked fearless. They ran to the safety of the light, dodging and deflecting spells.
"Lily!" Bexley pulled her out of the way as she shouted "Petrificus Totalus". The approaching Death Eater fell stiffly to the floor.
"This is nothing like Defence class!" James almost cheered as he stunned a Death Eater in the face.
"Come on! Dumbledore said we have to get back to the port key." Remus found them, dragging them along the beach.
"How did you find me?" Bexley called as they ducked a spell.
"Peter, he came all fumbling and muttering and then can you believe it, Snape! He told us Bellatrix's plan and we told Dumbledore straight away. Reducto!" Lily spoke easily with the flick of her wand.
"Protego!" Professor McGonagall stepped in front of them, hoarding off a dozen Death Eaters. "Get a move on!" She ushered them on.
The heaven's opened and as they began to become drenched in the rain, Bexley spotted Regulus, standing on a precipice, with Voldemort. Bravery, stupidity, love whatever it was called forced Bexley to stop in her tracks.
"Bexley come on!"
"Sirius we can't leave without him!" Bexley pointed to Regulus, inching closer to the edge of the cliff.
"He can handle himself." Sirius's hand clamped around Bexley's wrist.
"No! Sirius, he can't! You're his brother, he needs you, just because he's grown up doesn't mean he doesn't need you anymore. He loves you and I know you love him, I know you're capable of it." Sirius's eyes followed Bexley's to Regulus, he sighed and his hand slipped into hers instead.
"Come on, this way!" He called to the Marauders, they followed him as he began climbing the slope to Regulus. Below them, Bexley saw motionless bodies and guilt became the only thing she was conscious of. All because of her, they were gone, they were dead. They crouched behind the jagged rocks, thinking of a plan.
"Let's just go!" James sighed.
"Off you go then, James! Go face the most sinister wizard the world has ever seen." Lily scolded, but that was exactly what Bexley did, she was tired of hiding, tired of people dying because of her.
"Bexley get back here!" Remus shouted. She dismissed him, her wand fumbling in her hand, she raised it to him.
"Let him go." Regulus's face was the picture of terror, as she captured Voldemort's attention.
"All of this, because of you." Voldemort laughed.
"I'll give you what you want, you can have me, just let them go, all of them." Voldemort retreated from Regulus, beckoning her to him. His hand slithered to hers as she closed her eyes, her gift would save them, this time it would do some good. As her mind cleared, she saw strange figures, it was all too confusing until she saw the warmth of the eyes of Lily, but it wasn't her, it was her son, the boy she saw. Hope and possibility warmed her blood, but as Voldemort's fingers sank into her hand, she let the events play out in front of her. It was a war, a long-lasting one, one which ruined the boy's childhood, one which saw her friends-
her friends dead.
"Yes," Voldemort spoke, she could hear his smugness. The vision continued and it was Hogwarts, but not how she knew it, it was destroyed and bruised. But there was Voldemort, he was, slipping away, he was like dust, he was fading out of existence. Voldemort's hand snatched away from hers. "No, you faked it! It's not real! It's you, it's your fault, no, it's all you!"
"You will never succeed, you will never know love and I pity you." Bexley uttered as Voldemort drew his wand, the familiar stinging feeling of it in her neck.
"No!" Sirius appeared, the Marauders behind him, whilst the sight should be comforting, it was horrifying as she feared for them. "Give her back to me," Sirius whispered, tears staining his face.
"She makes you weak, Sirius. Love is a fickle thing. Is it not Regulus?" The broken boy stood, brushing himself off as he reached for Bexley's arm.
"Regulus?" Bexley looked up at him, her eyeline flitting between Sirius and Regulus.
"I don't want to die Bexley." Regulus sobbed. Bexley held his face in her hands.
"It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." She repeated these words hoping to impart some truth with them as it dawned on her what her fate was to be.
"He'll hate me." Hot tears roamed his face.
"Sirius will love you, he always will. It's okay Regulus this is how it's meant to be. It's okay, I'll be okay." Bexley smiled sadly, kissing his forehead gently, her eyes found Sirius's as Voldemort's wand wandered over them.
"No." Sirius's voice carried over to her. He began to run towards her, but Remus grabbed ahold of him.
"Do you want to die!" Remus cradled Sirius's body.
"Bexley, don't you dare turn away from me. Bexley-" Sirius's body thrashed as Bexley stepped back and faced out towards the sea. The water was stormy grey, aggressive and cold, yet it didn't matter because as her body fell into its abyss, it wouldn't feel the cold, it wouldn't feel the sharp shock, it wouldn't even feel the descent.
"BEXLEY!" Sirius's voice screamed for her, hoping it could save her and pull her into his arms. "Come home to me." He cried, never had Bexley seen him this damaged, but it was okay because this was how it was meant to be and one day he'd understand. She looked behind her and smiled at him, the one she saved for him, the one made for him, the one because of him. It was this that was etched upon her face as green engulfed her, and she was wrong. Bexley did feel the falling, the never-ending falling.