So many thoughts were swirling around in the Seril’s mind.

Amber was in danger. When wasn’t she lately, but now he had come to realize just how dangerous this situation was. She was looking for a safe house. Was she scared? Did she know something that she wasn’t telling? Seril was worried for her, even scared for her. She’s strong, but this magic is too unpredictable. He told her it was unpredictable, he explained how he felt. What if she ended up in another coma, what if the Ministry came back for her? It was almost too much to handle.

And then there’s this problem with Alexis and Drado. He had been in it with them from the start. They were supposed to work together and finish it together, but they had left him in the dark. All of their work and everything they planned was kept a secret from him. He found solace in new friends, a new group, and they blamed him for it. They told him he wasn’t necessary anymore, that he had left them, so now they would leave him. Seril tried to forget about them.
Then they wind up in the Hospital Wing, both of them in horrible condition. He needed to know what happened, he thought he could help. Alexis wouldn’t tell him, she had moved on. He couldn’t return the feelings she had for him. He loved her no more than a good friend, but that love had faded, and now they were only acquaintances.
And Drado had completely tossed him aside. Drado despised the shiny new Prefect badge on Seril, so much so that he threw away everything they had shared together. Seril was just breaking through with Drado, and then it all came crashing down.

What was happening to all of his friends? He grew up with these people; he had figured he would always be close with them. He had figured wrong. Of course, he grew closer to some of them, but he grew apart from others. That hurt the most. That had always been one of his fears, and now it was coming true. He felt like his years at Hogwarts had all been stepping stones through some great story, only it wasn’t the story h had in mind.
The story had begun to write its own ending, and Seril felt that he had no choice but to follow along until the book was finished.

_________________
"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room.
There was a knock at the door."
-Frederic Brown

Alexis sat high above the Pinboria Cove, over looking the beach. "I'm all alone in this. Seril had choosen to side with Amber, Amber who has almost doomed us all. Calls me stupid for making a sacrafice. My life is spiraling down." She shuddered and looked over the beach seeing another solitary figure walking it. "I wonder if that girl is having the same problem as me... feeling so alone and against all odds trying to fight for her survival in this magical place called 'the world'."

Little did Alexis know that the girl she had saw walking to the streach of beach was none other then Callie Bradley. "Drado, Is gone... He apparently hates me and doesn't want to see me. I'm so alone... so very alone." She layed down and closed her eyes.

Moments later she opened them and sighed. She walked over to the edge of the cliff looking down at the rocks and water below. "Would it hurt that bad?" Before she could answer her own question she was spiraling down. All the important people she has met in her life flashed before her eyes, six special people, The first was Seril.

Seril was an important step in her socialization, she had never met anyone that treated her better then everyone else without question.

The next was Drado Bolton. Drado was the proof that even among unstable insanity there is a stable power that had deeply effected her, the power of the heart. Emotion.

The next two people were her mother and father. Although she knew them briefly she would never have had a driving force to succeed and make something of herself.

The fifth person was Professor Snape. He told her to cast Drado aside, her very last friend. She for once had stood up and defied the teacher she admired more then any others. She was able to say no and mean it, however she fell apart after knowing she wouldn't be able to find Drado if she even tried.

The last person was a cackling madman, Xander Muune. He was evil, pure evil he needed to be killed at all costs.

Suddenly, she looked down as she was falling, felt a loud thud and darkness consumed her. Five seconds later she opened her eyes and realised she had fallen asleep. She stood and looked down the cliff. "I'm not going out that way."

Amber rubbed her eyes with one hand as she used the other to force herself into a sitting position. Chewing lightly on her bottom lip, she glanced around. Shock was evident on her face as she looked at her surroundings, again and again. The room was completely white. White floor, white walls, white ceiling... no windows or doors in sight. But that wasn’t what shocked her so... to her, it all looked real. When everything else she could remember for the past few weeks looked like a dream, this place looked so real.

Pushing herself up, Amber spun around a few times, laughing quietly. Something other then herself looked real for once. After a moment, she stopped with a frown on her lips. What the hell am I doing here? She rushed forward, pressing her hands against the wall. Pushing against the wall did nothing. Looking around at the glaring white room, her thoughts were beginning to trouble her. With a frustrated sigh, she hit the wall lightly with her fist, before going on to the next one. Each wall just stayed in place, adding to her building frustration. Covering her eyes with one hand, she pressed herself into the corner, allowing herself to slide down until she was sitting on that bright, white floor.

Time passed, how much, she didn’t know. She could feel the fear beginning to flow into her veins, but she ignored it for now, as much as she could. There has to be an explanation for this. Spreading her fingers apart, she looked around the room again. It was constant, staying the same as when she first set eyes upon it. Ironically, that fact, along with how real it seemed, was what was making her... edgy. Where am I, exactly? I thought I was in the commons, but... Frowning still, she closed her eyes, tilting her head back to rest it against the wall. Is this really real... or am I am slipping further into insanity? Little did she know that it was indeed a ‘dream’, and one that would not let her go so easily...

~~~~~~~~

‘Those who call themselves gods are faithless sinners. Repent, and cast out what is within you, before your punishment is set.’

Amber eyed the paper once more before moving her hand away as it was magically placed on the tree. Hopefully, this will get someone’s attention. Shaking her head once, she peered over her shoulder, through the darkness where she knew The Hog’s Head was. Hopefully... Pulling her cloak more tightly around herself, she hurried off, unaware if anyone had seen her testing the waters in this little game of ‘chess’, where she was but a pawn. The only question that remained in terms of this, was a simple one... How many moves before the pawn became a Queen, or the other side took the bait and attacked?

Amber pushed her wet hair out of her view as her reflection in the bathroom mirror stared back at her. It’s amusing, almost... how everyone jokes about the mirrors as if they were actual... mirrors. Leaning forward, she pressed her right hand on the mirror, simply watching as her steady breathing fogged the mirror. I suppose they are, reflecting the worst uses of magic people can imagine. Reflecting the worst parts of us. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes, just feeling the water slowly tumble off of her body as she reflected on the past week or so. The two main types of evil were witnessed the night of the attack... one type, actual acts of evil, was committed by those men that night. The other I committed myself. She slowly opened her eyes, glancing back down at the mirror as a large sense of disappointment filled her. Carefully, she pulled her hand away from the mirror, eyeing the mark she left behind.

Grabbing a hold of her towel with both hands, she pulled it back so that she could study the long, thin scar traveling diagonally across her side. It was a gift from whatever the hell those men had summoned. She ran one finger over the new scar for a brief moment, before wrapping the towel more tightly around herself as she quickly exited the bathroom. Hurrying through the dark dorms, Amber made her way out as headed to her own room. After struggling with the lock in dim light, she pushed the door, stepping silently into the room. After closing the door behind her, she slowly walked to her bed, and just allowed herself to fall down upon the beckoning covers.

Amber simply laid there, her face buried in the black and yellow sheets as her mind wandered through everything that had happened. The attack on the school, as well as the long discussion she had with the headmaster revealed to her, once and for all, that she had much she still needed to learn. She would simply have to practice and try to at least understand everything she was capable of. There was no one there to teach her... No person who could help her master her power... the ‘beings’ in her had nothing to say, and the gods were still fighting in their own dimension. Amber rolled over, now on her back as she stared up at the ceiling. It appeared to slowly twist and move to her because of her tired state. She was always tired; it took so much energy to handle all of this magic inside of her. For better or worse, she was slowly beginning to cope, like she was with everything else. Even if she didn’t want to cope.

Unfortunately, Amber’s mind was now turning to the darker areas of her memories, brought on by her discussion with Angel and Bren the day before during class. She knew she shouldn’t dwell on the past, but she kept hoping it would give her an idea on what to do. Closing her eyes, she let out a heavy sigh as she allowed her mind to submit to her memories. To the memories of that day that changed her life.

~~~

Amber’s body was pressed up against the stone altar, at the center of which a red, magical energy glowed deeply within. Her hands were pinned in that very spot by Angel’s hands, though she did not notice that. Her focus was on the red light, she was in a different world now, that Angel called the ‘Void’. She was completely unaware of the calm paradise surrounding the temple as the effects of the alcohol slowly faded.

She found herself in a great red space, held firmly in place by red tentacles. She had seen them shortly before then, in the mist and.. Angel, as she spoke about these ‘gods’. However, in here, the tentacles were glowing darkly, monstrous and magnified as they pulled her forward, to what would quickly come apparent to her as she drawn closer to it. Horror began to build up inside of her as she saw the dizzying chasm, the size of which was beyond both imagination and understanding. She could barely struggle as thrill mixed in with the crushing panic as the tentacles dragged her past the edge of the chasm. They continued to drag her out into the middle of the endless red void, so far from the edge of the chasm she could no longer even sense it. Suddenly, the tentacles began to loosen about her, swishing as they moved apart. Without further warning, they pulled away from her struggling body.


She began to fall.


In her own world, her knees buckled, and her body hanged off the edge of the altar, held only in place by Angel, who was trying her best to guide her. In the void, however, Amber continued to fall, and fall, and fall. She lost all perspective, only knowing that she was falling with no hope of survival. Panic began to overtake her as she plummeted, the force passing her ears mounting into a shrieking scream. By now, Amber began to slide out from beneath Angel as her body flinched with unconscious seizures.

An icy pain filled her head as -something- invaded her frightened mind, searching her thoughts. Briefly, she sensed something else in void. Another presence... she almost got a glimpse in her mind, but her thoughts were torn away from that as she felt something a grab a hold of her. Panicking still, confusion took over as she felt as if she torn in different directions... her consciousness briefly shattered by the experience as Angel pulled her out.

Red light exploded from the center of the alter, bursting out like a giant bubble above the ancient, weathered temple. The red glow etched the stone altar, sinking in as it briefly filled in the cracks and ancient symbols. The glow from there quickly spread to the girls, surrounding them like a shimmering aura as they both became aware of their world. Briefly, as Amber slipped from consciousness, finally sliding out completely from beneath Angel, landing back on the stone with a small thud. The red glow began to dissipate like the retreating tentacles as it pooled in the center of her chest before disappearing from sight, like it had done with Angel before her.

~~~

Ever since that day, they have been in my mind. Amber roughly rubbed her face with hands before opening her eyes. Every idea I have, every promise I make to myself... I break them all. Not anymore. I -will- survive, if only for Seril. I -will- keep faith in my gods. I -will not- commit the evil that I did the night of the attack. I -will not- let others be hurt while I stand by watching.


F*** anyone who tells me I can’t do it. I -will- prove I am fit to be the High Priestess!

(OOC Note: I included more of Amber’s memories in this, using screenshots I had taken at the time. Too much went on that night, so I had to cut out or summerize a quite a few things. Even then, I’m going to have to spilt this into at least two posts. But for now, on with the show!)



The branches of the trees shifted ever so slightly as the cool wind pushed it’s way between them, the leaves dancing in a chaotic, but beautiful, mess. The sun’s warm rays occasionally broke through it, warming the green grass below. Small, fluffy white clouds looking soft enough to sleep on drifted lazily through the blue sky, well beyond reach of mortal hands. It was the type of day that made most people happy. It inspired them.

Yet, it didn’t move a single, emotional cord in Amber’s heart. Her view of this so called reality was distorted now beyond even her long strained ability to cope. Like before, she was unable to focus long on these things that no longer seemed real to her. But, she was seeing things differently colour-wise now, in addition to her already altered sight of some people, and things. Worse, still, her ability to feel anything towards those she deemed dreams had faded. She tried to feel, but... it was too hard for her. Even to feel anything towards Seril, who she valued more then everyone. With each time she used this pure magic she had, it got worse. But she couldn’t stop, not now. She had a fight to win... one of the few things that registered as real to her, now.

Leaning back against the rough bark of the tree, Amber closed her eyes. Slowly her thoughts churned back to when the sisters were together. To the night, that up until now, had caused her much grief and guilt.

~~~

Angel wanted someone... someone alive. Why, Amber didn’t know, but she trusted the woman she called her sister. In particular, Angel wanted Selena. The ‘wench’, as Angel called her, had been sticking her nose into the affairs of Angel, her sisters and their gods. Amber and Angel had discussed it briefly, and Evie joined them in the middle of the conversation. Angel was going to abandon the idea, if only for Evie, yet Amber did not drop her offer to distract Selena’s boyfriend, Drith, by having him help her with her fifth year work. They decided to drop the subject as a whole for now, and they marched off towards their home, the temple. On the way there, Amber slipped on the pure white and gold robes that they had adopted for use at their home.

Upon reaching the ancient temple, the door slid open for them, as if beckoning for them to come inside. Silently, the three girls stepped inside the large chamber, before Angel rushed forward for her spot, holding her hands out for them to take. Evie reached Angel before Amber did, as she took her time walking up the steps, before rushing towards her sisters with a large grin on her lips. The familiar red mist burned to life in the temple as a sense of joyous homecoming filled them all. They barely had time to savour the excitement when the energy above the stairs crackled as someone approached. Aden Brask, of all people. Amber had little interest in the conversation that began to take place around her. She was just watching him, in case he tried to do anything stupid that threatened her sisters. To her, he was an infidel just like anyone else who entered their home uninvited.

Amber was only snapped out of her daze with the arrival the last of the four sisters. She felt the link between them redouble in power with Mara there, now. Briefly, She turned her gaze to the manticores that had gathered around, eyeing Aden hungrily, held back only by the orders of the sisters. The sisters began to communicate via the void, thoughts slipping between the four of them with ease. The discussion, for now, revolved around whether or not they could trust Aden. Amber just coldly watched Aden, as Angel and Mara tried to convince her and Evie that he could be trusted. Evie was cautious, but trusted in the beliefs of her sisters. Amber made her thoughts quite clear. ‘Everyone can be trusted until they betray, then it’s too late.’

She bit back her tongue as she heard Mara’s reply. ‘No, then you kill them.’

‘But sometimes the damage is done. No matter what you do, it will all tumble down.’

Amber narrowed her eyes a short while later, when Mara decided that they would deal with him. She was tense now. She found no humour in the joking her sisters began to do, with only Evie seeming to be serious as well, though she saw no point to not comment on this. ‘Two to balance out the other two.’

Suddenly, all four sisters felt a tingling of anticipation as they were warned of the presence of yet another person. Mara began to use the power the ancients had given them for now to pinpoint the location of the intruder, while Evie and Amber aided in the search. The red mist formed the tentacles, that slipped through the partially opened door. After grabbing a hold of someone, the tentacles jerked back, pulling inside and dropping the young wizard down on his face. As the mist pulled away, Amber began to laugh when she realized who it was. “Drith, Drith, Drith.... Poking your nose where it doesn’t belong?”

Almost instantly, the manticores greedily eyed the form of Drith. “Hold, my fellow pets... You will feed soon enough.”

Mild alarm was evident on Evie’s face as what her sisters were hinting at the manticores as they surrounded Drith. Angel’s voice cut through the noise. “So, the would-be infidel that wishes to destroy our home, sisters...This is the one I told you wishes to assault us.”

As Angel spoke, Amber could only watch in mild surprise a lithe girl dove through the door of the temple, which was beginning to close. Selena barely made it through, with her robes snagged on the door, which was now holding her in place. A frown twisted it’s way onto Amber’s lips as she stepped forward. “Two!”

Drith attempted to ignore Amber as she moved forward, his attention focused on the manticores before him, as he prepared to defend himself with spells if it came to that. Amber just smirked and continued to walk forward, as Angel and Mara ordered the manticores to bring Drith and Selena... something Amber wished to do herself. Drith finally backed up a bit as Amber approached. “Take one step to me and you’re gone.”

Amber just ignored Drith’s threat and Selena’s dark glare as she eyed the girl. “Sister mistress!” Amber called back to Angel. “You will be happy, I think.”

She held out her hand as she watched Drith. “Drith, do not fight... Trust me... You will only be killed if you do.”

“...Amber?” Drith looked rather surprised as he finally realized exactly who he was dealing with.

She just smiled at him. “Come to me... Give me the wand, and all will be well.”

The red mist in the chamber began to glow more brightly as the event began to unfold. Mara called out for the manticores to bring the two infidels forward, while Angel watched on with a arrogant glare. Evie just looked to her sisters, in hopes of guidance. “Amber... we both know... I can’t do that.”

She narrowed her eyes at the boy as she heard those words. The fake smile was wiped from her lips, and she now seemed emotionless as she focused the power she had access to on Drith’s wand, trying to get it for herself. Amber barely heard her sisters’ thoughts as she attempted to deal with the boy who was proving to be a pain. ‘This bloodlust... I sense it, even in myself... must it be this way?’

‘Bloodlust? ...what would they do if we released them, sister?’

‘The universe is governed by a set of laws and those who violate those laws must be... punished.’

Amber spoke quietly to Drith, as an unearthly red light flickered in the eyes of her and her sisters. “You must protect her, but I must protect my sisters, at any cost.”

Still, the thoughts did not cease to float between them. ‘You are... right... even nature follows these laws. If you say this is required of us, I will say no more.’

‘Amber, do you not agree their death is required purely for protecting what we have?’

Amber remained silent at that, unsure if that was true, or the bloodlust they all had was speaking. She just continued to hold out her hand as the manticores around her grew increasingly restless at the tension that seemed to thicken the air. “Any cost. Give me your wand.” Amber’s voice was uncharacteristically commanding, now, as she knew with each passing moment Drith was losing his grip on the wand.

‘Can I use my power to cause such suffering? Only if they are truly guilty...’

‘She is an infidel, sister. She is corrupt and would see all of us destroyed.’

Amber took a step forward, just listening to the thoughts of her sisters until she was startled by the sound of Mara calling her back to them. She looked back at her sisters, her gaze softening, before sending a glare directed at both Drith and Selena. She hurried back, once again making her thoughts clear. ‘Neither can I, Evie... but... we do as we must.’

Suddenly, things grew more chaotic. The manticores were beginning to become too restless, a feeling which was intensified when Selena finally managed to rip her robes from the door. Seeing Drith attempting to cast, Amber sent final surge of power at his wand, effectively catching Drith off guard. His wand went flying to her, and she stepped on it as it came into range, so she could keep it. Mara was kneeling down behind the large, red pillar of light, surrounded by the mist, which was writhing horribly. In front of the pillar, Angel and Evie stood, holding hands as they faced the two who threatened everything they all shared...

~~~

Amber’s eyes snapped open as she was suddenly pulled back into reality. It was slowly growing dark as the sun slipped over the horizon, bathing the grounds a beautiful, warm glow. She looked at it for a moment, before simply turning on her heel and walking off. Unmoved by the sight, and tired, it was a better choice for her to just sleep, and see what her dreams show her.

Being estranged
Slowly I loose the grip on the reality
Time shall shatter what we have built up
Being estranged
From the reliable
Don't even recognize the warmth
You always fulfilled me with
- Estranged by After Forever

Amber slipped quietly through the open door, stepping hesitantly into the warm and inviting Hufflepuff common room. As soon as she was in the room, she looked towards the stuffed bookcases, where she could hear a familiar, off-key humming. In near silence, she watched the girl with honey-blond hair flip through a book, before slipping it back into the bookcase while shaking her head sadly. Amber’s focus faded for a moment as the girl hugged herself, glancing over the various book titles as she rocked back and forth. However, that did not last long as Amber was torn from her thoughts by Evie’s gasp upon spotting her. “Amber!”

Evie approached Amber, quickly recovering from her apparent surprise. Evie’s eyes filled with love and concern with Amber’s expression. Or, as the case may be, lack thereof. Amber just watched Evie, devoid of emotion. No joy at seeing her friend return to her, no hatred to one of three faithless sisters who left her in the dark, and alone when she needed them desperately by her side. Evie wrapped her arms around Amber’s shoulders immediately, hugging her gently as she whispered. “I’m so sorry I left you.”

Amber hesitantly returned the hug, unsure if it was even real. Evie pulled away from Amber after a few minutes, looking over her tired sister with little judgement, as always. “What can I do?”

Amber’s reply came quietly, and slowly. “...Nothing, honestly...”

“You know that’s impossible for me.” Evie attempted to smile at the thin girl in front of her. “Are you hungry?”

Amber didn’t seem to hear the last question as she struggled to get her thoughts moving. “The book said... that... The Four could stop the mirrors with the help of the key - me.... besides.” She muttered quietly, reaching up to gently place her hands on Evie’s cheeks. “Dreams... can’t help in the fight... the fight is one of the few things that’s real.. anymore.”

Evie nodded, tears beginning to fill her warm eyes. “I’ll bring you home when it’s over, at least... No matter what it takes.”

Amber just nodded, unmoved by Evie’s tears. “I mean it. I won’t leave you again.” With that, Evie stepped back, giving Amber her needed space.

Amber simply turned her gaze up to the ceiling, thinking back to the book, having forgotten entirely that she even had it..

~~~

“I have it... I have not finished translating... but I have it.” Amber stood in front of the alter, holding out the ornately embossed leather book, as if showing it to her gods. To prove she can, and will do, what they asked of her. She had retrieved the book they had asked her to find, a stolen artifact from the temple.

She was not there alone. Brennan, who had brought her here again, was standing back, away from the alter and Amber. Perhaps a smart move on his part, as lightning struck again, suddenly slamming down in front of the alter, where Amber stood... though it did nothing to harm her. Much to the surprise of both her and Bren. However, that was not long to last it seemed.

Something happened in her head, something Amber couldn’t figure out as agonizing and intense pain filled her mind. She nearly dropped the book as she moved to clutch her head with both hands, her mouth opened as if to scream in pain. Thankfully, it was not long to last as Amber collapsed onto the weathered stone of the temple, unconscious....

~~~

Evie watched Amber quietly, many emotions crossing her face before finally ending up with her usual calm resolve. “Do you want to sleep? Or at least lie down? You’re tired.”

Amber drifted out of her thoughts only to hear the last thing Evie said. “I always am..”

After a moment, she tore her gaze away from the dizzying ceiling as her sister asked yet another question, this one more hesitant then the rest. “Do you... go there, still?”

“The temple? Yes.”

“Does it remember us?”

Amber remained silent before speaking after a minute. “Yes.. As it told me... when they called me back... your time... Mara’s... Angel’s... has passed... and now it is mine.”

Evie nodded, biting on her bottom lip. “You know I am on your side, no matter what.”

Amber just remained silent, watching Evie with that strange, vacant expression. “I’m sorry I left you... My mother died... I thought I was doing the right thing by going. Now..” Evie looked to Amber, a spasm of guilt crossing her pretty features. “I don’t know. If you hate me for it, I won’t blame you.”

Amber just shrugged.

“Do what you have to. You were always the strongest of us.” Evie forced a weak smile as she spoke. “I just worry about the cost.”

“It’s my price to pay...”

“It shouldn’t have to be. Not alone, when we committed equal sins.”


~~~

Amber made a face as she looked around the old, small church, fidgeting on the wooden bench next to her mother. Bored of listening to the priest speak on and on, and finding nothing else of interest, the young girl began to lightly hit her mother’s arm, demanding attention in her favorite manner. Alishia just smiled down at Amber, setting her bible aside before reaching to pick her daughter up and cradle her. As Alishia turned her attention back to the priest, Amber just stared in awe at the beautiful ‘curtains’ of dirty blonde hair that shielded her from view, now. In that warm embrace, it didn’t take long for Amber to fall asleep, her head resting on her mother’s chest. Beside the silver cross with a small amber in the center, that hung gracefully from the chain around her mother’s neck. A constant testament to her mother’s faith... something Amber would yearn for many, many years to come.

~~~

“...I don’t care, as long as the mirrors are destroyed. Even if my life is made forfeit in the process, I am happy once they are gone.” Looking to Angel one last time, Amber turned on her heel and walked off without another word, her thoughts slipping elsewhere.

~~~

“Come on... don’t die..”

Amber cried quietly as she wobbled dangerously on through the dark forest, holding Drith’s thin and pale body. He was cold... his soul, his life energy drained almost completely... and it was her fault. She could have stopped it, but she didn’t. Who was she to offer him to her gods like that? Who were they to take it? “Stay with me, come on!” She was pleading to him, though he could not hear, as her doubt and panic began to take over.

She nearly tripped over a rock, but she caught herself just in time, only stumbling forward. She was weak, as the power she received at the temple left her, all the while her adrenaline rush was beginning to fade. Only spells and sheer will were keeping her upright now. She was so tired, she could barely even think. Yet, somehow, she trudged on with this burden, that seemed to be getting heavier by the second.

What had she done?

~~~

Small amounts of smoke and ashes rose into the clear night sky, a dark contrast to the shining stars and the moon above. It’s source was a small pink book, set ablaze if only to help kill the memories that haunted it’s owner. It’s pages became black and curled up in the heat, only to be blown away in the wind. The book, after some time, was burned well beyond recognition. But it wasn’t completely destroyed. Nothing ever is. Something always remains... a loose page, a stray thought or memory. Something is always there, waiting for us. Whether we want it, or not.

~~~

Amber slowly bent down, picking up Drith’s wand before straightening up again. Turning on her heel, she strode confidently over to Mara, and knelt down next to her as she listened to her sister. “I feel you are here, ancient powers... what is your will? Show us what we must do... take our fears, and show us some of your will to ease our minds... how are we to defend this temple?”

Amber began to pray in silence, her hands reaching out towards the light. Angel motioned with her free hand for Sel to come down the stairs, after having a small chat with the girl, which Amber did not hear. But Amber did not notice, watching the glow that surrounded her hands, agonized by the fact that she could not enter the light. Did they not trust her? As the thought was drilled into her head, the pillar of light shifted so that it was encasing Mara in it’s eerie glow, pulling her up from her knees and off of the ground. Dejected, Amber turned her attention back to her prayer as a look of pain briefly formed on Mara’s expression as ‘they’ took over her.

“I like your strength, Selena. The best part of resistance is that it prolongs the suffering.” Angel looked down at the girl as she spoke, as Evie nodded in agreement, her expression almost sympathetic.

Selena just snorted. “I’ve suffered before.”

Once again, the thoughts began to flow between them. ‘Do you want the honour, Evie?’ Angel stepped forward, before stopping again.

‘To serve is an honour... and I will do it.’ Amber lifted her head up as she heard her sister, watching her place one foot in front of the other as she approached Selena, who was busy glaring at Evie.

Evie touched Selena’s cheek, lightly, almost lovingly. “He will stay... and you will come.” She reached down, grabbing Selena’s hand in a surprising strong grip, which caused the girl to shudder, feeling the dark powers of the ancients. Angel watched on with a grin as Evie led the poor girl up to the dias.

‘Teach me sister... How must I...’ Evie glanced to Angel, keeping a firm grip on Selena, whose face paled at the sight of the red pillar encasing Mara, though her eyes remained fierce.

Around them, the stone pillars sparkled and small bolts of magical lightning dancing between them as Evie took Selena’s other hand, completing their circle. The manticores watched on, now cowering and shuddering, filled with both fear and respect for these women.... girls. ‘She must experience so much pain, that even if she were to forget this place she would remember the suffering.’

‘Can I do this?’ The dark glow in the room deepened.

‘It is natural. Pain is a fact of nature.’

As Amber watched on, Evie turned her attention back to Selena and Mara... they began to speak to them. Yet she didn’t listen, why, she didn’t know at the time, but she just couldn’t stand hearing it come from Mara... she would later realize it was because she was jealous of her sister. “Do not fear..” Evie spoke softly.

“I don’t fear for myself, what comes will come... but Drith must be allowed to live and leave this place.” Selena’s voice sounded rather strained, but she made her point clear.

‘Focus anger into her... Be strong sister. She is nothing more then an infidel that warps the reality of nature to her own vision of heretical truth.’

Slowly Amber stood up as the mist slithered around her, brightening her aura. With one hand, she wiped the beads of sweat off of her forehead, before raising both her hands, focusing her power to shield her sisters from most possible damage, though she neglected herself. Glancing to the door, she frowned, sensing yet another person outside. Whoever it was, was not hostile, however. A manticore marched through the doorway, which had opened again, followed in by several more, though some lingered, visible outside the chamber. One of them was dragging it’s prize along, one of many people who seemed to stumble upon them, that night. Only this time it was Thomas.

Amber watched curiously as he was dropped onto the steps, quickly glancing to Angel. However, she looked only in time to see Drith rush forward, knocking Selena from Evie’s grasp. Anger suddenly bellowed up inside of her, she pointed towards Drith as she yelled. “Get him!”

Both the tentacles and the manticores snatched Drith, though the first manticore smashed into him, temporarily stunned from hitting Drith. Due to a well aimed spell by none other then Aden, he was temporarily turned to stone. When they all remembered that he was with them, Mara lifted one arm, making a striking motion towards the door. Obeying, the tentacles wrapped themselves around Aden, pulling him along before finally tossing him out of the temple. After some time, Drith returned to normal, only to find himself surrounded by the hungry manticores, as well as by Angel and Evie. Angel spoke first. “I say fillet his flesh off.”

Now that Selena was laying down on the dias, where she had landed after Drith knocked her out of the way. Evie strode forward, angrily taking his jaw in her hand. Drith just looked to her, defiant as ever. “Do whatever you want with me... let the girl go.”

Still holding onto Drith, Evie spoke with a foreign ferocity even Amber could sense. “You are mistaken to think you have any authority here.”

Angel stepped forward. “You don’t speak unless you are allowed to.”

“I will speak for the ones I love.”

Amber just smirked in near amusement as she spun Drith’s wand in one hand. Evie tightened her grip, keeping Drith in place as Angel slapped him, with the blow heightened by the cackling magical energy. “You heretical fool.” Angel snarled as she glared at him, him unable to reply as the slap stunned him.

“I crave him... I want to taste his energy.” At that moment, they felt Mara’s connection to the void, trying to pull them along.

“You want his energy, sister?” Angel grinned suddenly, holding out her hand. “Yes.. I want his energy.”

“Take my hand, sister.” Mara reached forward to Angel, a tentacle unwrapping itself from her arm, reaching out to touch Angel.

With her free hand, Angel reached forward, grabbing Drith by the throat. Pulling herself up, Selena tried to move towards them, but Evie caught sight of this, and quickly reached over, grabbing Selena’s neck in an iron grip. Briefly tearing her gaze from them, Amber looked to the manticores, who were busy pinning Thomas in place, looking starving now. While he was a fool for coming there, she still issued a simple command. “Stop!”

Immediately after Thomas stood up, Amber looked back to her sisters. Grunting quietly, she increased the power she was forcing into the shields she had around them. Drith’s hand was clutching Angel’s wrist, struggling against her unnatural strength. As Selena attempted to mutter a silent spell, Evie just dug her nails into the girl’s neck. However, a thought hit all of them. The void was hungry.. But there would be consequences for what they were about to do. While Angel appeared to her to be unmoved by this fact, both Evie and Amber hesitated. Evie’s grip slacking, while the shields nearly failed. “Be strong my vessels.”

Evie muttered quietly. “I will not be weak.” Her voice grew louder. “I will not be weak!!” With that, she grasped Selena’s throat with renewed fury, cutting off nearly all of her air supply before tossing her against one of the pillars like a rag doll. Selena just lay there, unconscious now. Angel, now, uttered one of the unforgivables as she tightened her grip on Drith’s neck. “Crucio.”

Amber, however, was having a harder time dealing with that thought. It hit her like a ton of bricks.. What they were about to do, to one of her friends. Horrified and panicking, she looked from Angel to Evie, as if searching for answers. The good part of her was screaming at her to not do this, but.. There was a darker place in her that wanted out. Badly. Tears now pouring from her face, she increased the power of the shields again as the pillars suddenly flashed to life, and the mist swarmed around the red pillar of light and magic. With a sudden burst of intense, blinding red light...

The four girls and Drith disappeared from the chamber.

~~~

Amber curled up beneath the sheets, her back pressed up against Seril as he slept. Closing her eyes, she had a large amount of difficulty getting to sleep that night, with one thought repeating endlessly in her head.

I deserve to pay for my sins...




To Be Continued.

Amber sat on one of many beds within the hospital wing, with the blankets pulled up close as she wished to hide beneath them. In her quivering hands, she held that stupid pink journal of hers, as well as a small quill. Chewing nervously on her bottom lip, she looked down at the ink covered page she had attempted to write her incoherent thoughts on. The ink was splashed all over the place, and it was impossible to read anything. Couldn’t she do anything right? Her grip tightened on the unfortunate quill, which quickly snapped under the pressure.

She was tough, she was strong... not anymore, it seemed. Her inner strength was gone, faded like the powers she once had access to at the temple. Her thoughts quickly snapped to Drith, and she glanced over to the screen that divided the areas. She had no way to see him, but her suspicions would later be confirmed by Pomfrey. The previous night, Amber could only watch and listen as a large fuss was made over the unlucky boy. He was later moved to a separate room, and then to St. Mungo’s. Few people knew about what had happened... yet. That thought made the fear rise in her chest again, which threatened to take over. She had let things slip. Things that raised questions. When her sisters found out, what would they do to her? She knew they could be kind, but... they all could be cruel and heartless if pushed to it, that was proven last night.

Amber returned to writing, in hopes that it would calm her down. Pomfrey had offered her things to help her sleep, but she didn’t have time to sleep. She needed something to tell anyone who asked her about this... a lie. “Amber?”

She blinked, looking up at Evie as she entered the little area. It would seem that she would found out her sister’s thoughts on this sooner then she wished to. Placing the quill between the pages of the book, she slowly closed it, staring at the pink cover for a moment. “Hey...”

~~~

Amber sat on the bench just outside the castle, staring at the ground beneath her. She was so focused on her memories, hoping for answers, that she never saw the snow that began to fall about her, dancing in the light breeze. She was far too absorbed in her own reality. From what she had heard, some people were thinking of trying to pull her out of it. She wouldn’t let them, of course. Not until she finished it... or it finished her.

~~~

They were on the top of the temple, facing the altar now. Drith lay on top of it, unconscious as the four girls looked on, unseeing as their eyes glowed red, signaling they were accessing the void. On this plane, they were standing with Mara in the center, still encased in that pillar of red light as Angel, Evie and Amber stood close to her in a triangle formation. The clouds in the night sky above them began to darken as if warning about events to come. It began to storm, the rain coming down endlessly. The only witness to what was about to take place other then what resided in the void, and nature, hurried out the temple, finally able to escape the manticores who had backed off after the flash of light. Thomas could only watch on, however, as some power was blocking him from reaching the girls.

They could all feel Drith falling in the void, now. The thoughts began once again, starting with Evie. ‘Can we save him.... should we try...’

‘Let him fall.’

A thought came from Mara, now. ‘We can’t and we aren’t supposed to.... can’t you feel the void wanting him?’

‘Yes, just as it wanted us.’

Amber’s thoughts came now, imprinted with doubt she could not shake off. ‘If we let him fall... everything, all the blame... falls on us...’

‘I will not fail.’

‘Regardless, we will be blamed.’

‘We can wipe his memory.’ Amber gulped, able to sense the presence of that.. Other, with them, just watching.. Curious.

‘Others don’t trust us as it is.’

‘We can wipe Selena’s... Thomas’...’

‘Regardless, what is to be must happen.’

‘I will trust this.’

‘Trust in the void.’

‘Have faith.’

Amber couldn’t, now. How long has she searched for something to believe in... This was just like the rest of it, every faith she tried. She could believe for a time, but then.. it just left her. She wanted to save Drith. He was a friend, someone who had helped her. This was no way to repay him. The misery was beginning to build up inside as Drith’s body began to flail about the altar, no one to help him and guide him like Angel had done with her. He was alone as he fell, and they could all hear his screams, even in the void. Amber was growing restless, and her sisters could sense it. Her sisters didn’t offer anymore comforting words, however.

Now, Drith’s body was beginning to flinch and cringe, as terrible seizures took over. Thomas, watching on, pounded against the barrier that refused to let him in. Something snapped in Amber’s head. ‘We can’t do this!’

At that moment, fueled by some emotion, Thomas burst through the protective circle, the energy exploding about him as he forced is way in. The storm grew worse as lightning began to strike around the group of students. By now, Drith’s fall was nearly complete, and it was their last chance to save him. ‘What do we want to do?’

‘Let him go.’ Angel seemed very sure in her decision.

Evie was hesitating, questioning.. While Amber’s decision was fixed. ‘Save him... Please.’ She hesitated for a moment ‘Because... if you won’t... I will.’

Mara’s reply came quickly after that, seeming to support her sister. ‘It doesn’t want him dead. It wants energy... it wants to drain his life’s energy. We give it what it desires, but we pull him back before it kills him.’

However, Amber could not reply as Thomas reached forward to grab Angel... and was pulled into the void himself. Now two of her friends were falling to their deaths. Thomas was out of control in his falling, and was suffering greatly. Angel didn’t seem to mind this, but Amber could feel Evie’s mind cry out at this senseless suffering that both the boys were enduring. Mara’s thoughts came strongly to them through this. ‘Complete faith in the powers that be.’

‘Why would they ask this?’ Evie’s question was something Amber had begun to wonder herself.

‘They need energy... they must grow stronger.’

‘Why the innocent...’

Suddenly frustrated at just watching them fall, Amber attempted to reach out and grab the nearest person. He just slipped beyond her reach, however. ‘Thomas!’

‘He chose to enter the void.’

‘They are not innocent. Drith attempts to undo this place and Thomas wishes to keep me to himself, and take me away from my faith.’

Mara reached out with a guiding hand, helping Amber grab onto Thomas. ‘I will take the powers into me. I will try to control them.’ She tossed him out of the void.

‘Are we right to judge? Is it our place?’

‘I do not judge. I do as I am bid.’

‘It isn’t judging. They were chosen because of their infidelities.’

Mara reached out to grab Drith, channeling the power to help pull him back. At the same time, Amber reached out. He had been falling for so long, it was most likely too late to save him, but she had to try. Even together, they could not reach him... they needed help. Help which came from Evie, as they pulled him from the void. With him out, all the girls came back to their senses, finally seeing their surroundings. Evie blinked, swaying unsteadily on her feet as everything came back into focus... Mara stumbled backwards... Angel just closed her eyes and sighed, while Amber swayed, instantly looking to Drith.

The red light faded from their eyes, and the auras collapsed, pooling back into their chests. Thomas lay semi-conscious on the ground, while Drith remained unconscious on the altar. Evie looked to the two blankly, while Amber focused her attention on Drith as she pulled out a wand. Angel caught Mara before she hit the stone, and gently lowered her. Unable to focus on her sisters, who would soon leave the area of their own accord, Amber began to mutter a few spells to help her now failing endurance and Strength. It took so much, going into the void... Once the spells were up, she stuffed the wand into one of her pockets, and hurried to the altar. She slipped her arms beneath Drith as she heaved his frail body up. Stumbling back, she turned and began to make her way back to Hogwarts, her panic beginning to take over.

‘Don’t die...’

The snow crunched under his boots as he walked around Olgavich, contemplating on many things. He looked up at the sound of anothers footsteps, only to find a Man, dressed in orange. He recognized this man, of course...one of the cultists. How wonderful...It seems I shall have a chance already. was his only thought, as he began to speak to the man.

"A long way from your usual haunting grounds, aren't you?" He said, sounding amused. The man raised his hand, before looking towards the graveyard, and walking towards it, repeating a mantra of "Kill Amber Ramsay", over and over.

They traveled far into the tombs, re-animated corpses and skeletons ignoring the man, and flinging themselves at John, who used a single spell to destroy them all. He continued to follow the man, to find out what he was up to, and whether this was the meeting place.

They reached a large coffin, in the deepest parts of the tombs, with nothing in it. The Man grew frustrated, continuing to ignore John, and blasted the wall, before moving to a statue in the corner and standing in front of it. John placed his hand on the mans shoulder, and began to speak directly to the Mirror within the man.

"I know what the key is, and I know where it is. I can accomplish your goal - I can kill Amber Ramsay." John was flung back by the man unleashing some of the Mirrors power, while an unintelligible voice filled the room, and the temperature dropped. He stood again, before speaking to the Mirror once more. "I know the key, I know how to get it, I know where it is, and all I need to get it is your power. I can kill Amber Ramsay with your help, and I will do so if you will merge with me! I offer myself as a host for you and your power." The man began screaming "Kill Amber Ramsay!" while appearing to be almost in pain, before fading from existance, rather than popping out.

John began to curse, and after a few minutes of ranting in the tomb, he grinned and apparated to Hogsmeade. <i>I'll ask around...I'll find them...and I will get a Mirror, and kill that wench and her dog...And I will completely destroy whatever souls they have.</i> He smirked slightly, as he continued on his way.

He sat, with a sigh, outside the Three Broomsticks. How sad. She's trapped in a dream, and everyone has turned against her. I will kill her though....out of mercy. I will free her from this dream. He smiled slightly, content with his decision, before standing and continuing to search. I will find you, Mirrors....and I will find your Key.

No...fools...get away...you'll die...I can't let you die...you're innocents... his thoughts raced, as he watched the stupid Ravenclaw confront the Man in Orange...he tried to coax the man away, and failed...He became desperate....He cast on them, to make them stop provoking the man...He had to save them, no matter what it cost him...Save them... "Stupefy!" he cried out, as he blasted Bowen from the mans back, mentally berating himself for not finding a better way. His eyes widened in horror, as the others cast on him...They couldn't think he was helping the man...Deep down, he realized that's exactly what they thought...he realized they would blame him...and his spirit broke...He cast automatically, as they cast at him, and fell to their various spells...Forgive...me.... as he passed into unconciousness, his mind raced...he needed power to save the innocents, no matter the cost to himself...but he could only think of one source of power, aside from Amber, and that would damn him as surely as her....His mind spun round and round with posibilities on how to save everyone, and he slipped further into unconciousness, his final thoughts, before a void claimed his mind, rang clear. I will save them...and I will die for them.

Amber walked by herself through the long and confusing corridors of Hogwarts, with her hands stuffed in her pockets and a look of deep thought covering her fine features. It had happened some time ago, but she only recently discovered what had happened. Drith... had been killed? Even if it was true, it was still so hard to believe. He had survived the void, if just barely, only to be taken down by Aurors? Amber pulled one of her hands out of her pocket, roughly rubbing her face as feelings of guilt and of misery mixed together and welled up inside of her heart. She nearly killed him that night... and, when he probably needed help the most, she didn’t do anything. All she could do was hope those men would pay for what they did, no matter who started it.

~~~

Amber let out a snarl as the memory subsided, originally brought on by seeing Bowen die in front of her, filling her with that rage she hadn’t felt for some time. Drith didn’t deserve to die like that... She only increased the amount of magic she was channeling against the man she held, her arm wrapped around his neck while her hand slowly twisted his head. It was difficult fighting the mirror in someone like this, but they needed to have a host before she could destroy them. The magic she channeled against them was pure, but so was the magic the mirror had reign over, which only added to this struggle that would mean life or death for them. The strength of the rage was the last thing she needed, however. A loud crack echoed in the area, originating from the man’s neck as it was snapped, seeming to surprise the other students in the area as they watched the struggle, unable to do anything. The cultist’s body slowly slid from her hands as she swayed dangerously before collapsing into Seril’s arms, passing out as much of her magic was destroyed, sucked out of her as the man - and mirror - were killed....

~~~

Amber stared at the shiny, silver cross that had tumbled down onto the sheets, entangled in it’s chain. Reaching out towards it, she hesitantly ran a finger over the amber stone that lay in the center as her lower lip began to tremble. She had always known that this cross had meant the world to her mother, but she only just found out why, exactly. Tearing her attention away from it, her gaze once again turned the pages of the letter her mother had sent. Reaching over, she gripped the pieces of paper tightly as she rolled onto her back, spending a few minutes reading the letter once more. It all made sense now... Why she was so different from her broth-... no... not brothers.. Half-brothers. Tossing the letter aside, she pressed both of her hands against her face.

She was the product - bastard child - of an affair her mother had. It all made sense now, why she was a witch, and the rest of her family was made up of muggles. Why her mother had always pushed the virtue of loyalty and faithfulness onto her. Her mother felt guilty, though it seemed to Amber that she would not have done things differently, if she had the chance. As various emotions began to overwhelm her... relief, anger, sadness, pity... she looked back to the cross. It had been a gift from her father, her real father. It had been given to her mother out of love, and now it was being passed onto her. Quickly rolling over, she grabbed the cross, and stuffed it beneath her pillow. She would keep it there, until she found someone that meant as much to her, or more, then her sisters. Pressing her face into the bed sheets, she took in a long, shaky breath. It was turning out to be an interesting 16th birthday already.

~~~

Amber stared up at the familiar ceiling of the hospital wing through half-closed eyes. She was weaker now... It felt almost like some part of her was missing, like that little void inside of her just expanded. The dreams couldn’t help with it. Her memories couldn’t help, nor could sleep.... but she still remembered and she still slept. Always searching in vain for something to help her... to make sense of it all. Why was she trapped here?

~~~

The tall girl groaned quietly as she stretched, her aching muscles rebelling against the movement. Glancing down, she eyed the blood that had dripped down onto her sports bra and pants, as well as the bruises that had begun to decorate her sweat-covered skin. “I feel like a rag doll today...”

Evie, who stood at the other end of the fighting area within the dueling chamber, in much better shape then Amber, just smiled. “Another round?”

“Of course...”

“Ready?” Both girls took their positions. Amber cracked each of her knuckles before crouching down into an aggressive stance, closing her hands into tight fists. “Yup...”

“Then let’s fight!” Both of the girls stood there for a moment, as the words hung heavily in the air. Without warning, they charged, with a rather painful impact as they both landed their first blows. They clashed evenly for a while, until Evie struck Amber’s jaw rather hard, stunning her for a moment as she stumbled back, which was all the older girl needed to slam her fist into Amber’s gut, knocking the younger one to the ground. Amber let out a quiet grunt from her somewhat awkward position on the ground. “My poor ego..”

Evie laughed as she looked down at Amber. “Mine can sympathize, after last night. You all right there, Ramsay?”

“Yeah, yeah.. Rub it in, Cromwell. You beat me, Angel beats you... I’m at the bottom of the food chain!” Amber flashed Evie a rather cheeky grin.

“Not for long, I’m sure of it.”

~~~

“About... time...”

Amber lifted her gaze from the floor to stare at the manifestation that stood in front of her. She had expected it to arrive sooner, but it was a relief to see it there, now. Without a single thought of warning, she laid back down on the bed as the manifestation climbed on top of her. In silence, with Amber disturbingly calm and casual about the ordeal, the being began to chew on her chest. Slowly, it began to work it’s way in into her, merging in a way that made it impossible to tell where she ended and it began. First it’s head, the rest of it soon following. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply, before opening them again to stare up at the ceiling as the being attached itself to her soul.

She no longer saw the dream-like and distorted ceiling she once did. It was brilliant now... no longer did she see the physical side of the ceiling, or anything else for that matter. She saw the magic hidden within everything... every object, every person. And she-... she felt like pure magic. However, she also felt a renewed passion to her main goal now... to destroy the mirrors. Sitting up, she only just became aware of Brennan’s presence in the stall. It would be a moment before Evie would arrive, unaware of the mirror that was trailing behind her with one single purpose.

~~~

Amber stretched herself out on one of the wooden benches in the greenhouse grounds, lifting one of her dirt-covered hands to shield her eyes from the hot glare of the sun’s rays. She was thankful to have Evie around. Evie was so patient and understanding, while Amber was so frustrated and uncooperative after the questioning she had to endure from that Auror.... he had found Drith’s wand, which she had forgotten she was still carrying. If the headmaster hadn’t interrupted, she probably would have spilled every single thing they had done, right then and there. At that very moment, she was the biggest threat to her sisters and herself. Yet they were strong, and better then her that regard. Oh, the jealousy that burned inside of her, the eagerness to prove herself better then them, fighting constantly against the insanely powerful instinct to protect them and their faith at all costs.

~~~

“What about you? Can you help her?”

Amber opened her eyes, glancing back as ...Brennan’s... voice pierced her memory. She looked to the three of them. Brennan and Madam Pomfrey kneeling by Evie... who was lying in a pool of her own blood. Most of her torso was missing, leaving all to see the horrific view of the girl’s torn insides as her life was draining out of her. “Miss Ramsay... I know you can heal this... you did it before... Amber... Quickly! She’ll die!”

As Pomfrey’s words hit her, Amber’s jaw clenched for a moment as she strode forward, kneeling down next to her dying sister. Placing her hands on what little remained of Evie’s chest, Amber released some of the magic she held, causing the wounds to mend at an astonishing rate. Pointless... what’s the point of saving them? They’re just dreams... Remaining unaware of even the dark blood that was on her hands, she stood up again, her eyes immediately searching for the mirror. She knew it would appear again... and then the hunt would begin.

~~~

The teenager paced impatiently on the sidewalk, glancing over at anyone who drew near. It was a rather dreary day, and he was late. Muttering to herself, the girl looked at her watch, which had seen many better days. It wouldn’t have killed him to be on time for once, all she wanted to do was practice. She wanted to be able to not only defend herself, but prove herself if she had to. Reaching up with one hand, she gingerly touched her 'black' eye. Even though she knew the punches and kicks would be painful, if only for a time. She could handle the pain, she was tough. Whatever happened, she just got up again. Given time and the right care, anything could heal....


To Be Continued

(( Sorry about the... two month delay on this. It's been rather hard to keep up with everything. ))


'It's not what it seems
Not what you think
No, I must be dreaming
It's only in my mind
Not in real life
No, I must be dreaming'

I Must Be Dreaming - Evanescence



“I can be your savior, or the reaper...”

Amber spoke loudly, her gaze unwavering as she looked down at Mary. The mirror was inside of Mary, she could sense it, see it... and she needed it out. She tightened her grip on Mary’s neck, keeping her kama raised in a manner that caused it to cruelly reflect the moon’s light. There was no emotion to be seen on her face as Mary writhed in her grip, blood oozing from the younger girl’s chest.

“Amber, don’t!”

Evie’s yell barely registered in Amber’s mind. In fact, her senses barely registered not just Evie, but Brennan and Sierra as well, who stood witness to the event unfolding before them, with various reactions to this scene of suffering. Not that she even noticed, however... she just willed the other girl on as Mary’s back arched further, the front of her dress tearing apart as the mirror began to tear it’s way out. “Amber, stop it!”

The plea went unheard. “One chance...”

Without further warning, Mary’s scream echoed throughout the greenhouse grounds as the mirror finally tore itself from it’s willful host, leaving a gaping hole in the girl’s chest. As it flew out, the mirror smashed into Amber, knocking her to the ground before slipping away and disappearing. As Mary slumped to the ground, Evie rushed towards her, protectively throwing herself over Mary, who laid there now, with no signs of consciousness and in a forming pool of her own blood.

Snarling quietly, Amber quickly sat up, twisting her body so she could reach Mary as she channeled the pure magic she had harnessed within her. It only took a few moments to fix what was done to Mary. Ignoring the conversation beginning to take place as Brennan left to clear the halls of any students, Amber stood up, focusing her magic now to track down the mirror. She could sense it, it was keeping itself in another plane... knowing well she couldn’t go there. Amber had to try, however.

Come out, come out....

~~~

Amber clutched her head in her hands, her eyes fixed unseeing on the dark ground in front of her. “Think of it as the void... come on!” Agitated, she recklessly pushed the magic and her strong will to chasing the mirror.

At that instant, she felt herself being ripped from her own body. Briefly, panic welled inside of her chest as her mind was forced within the temple, to the chamber filled with red mist that held the portal. Disoriented as her mind returned to her body after a few moments, Amber stumbled back, the shock of what just happened evident on her face. That wasn’t where the mirror went.. and it was the last place she wished to go.

~~~


The white room.

It had felt so real, and now she knew why. It was real... it was an asylum for those who had gone insane. Finally, her mind was connecting the dots. Seril, Angel, Dumbledore... all of them were there. She spent most of her time alone in that near empty room, and in her broken mind, she must have created this dream to escape. If she able to finish her duties to the temple, she would be allowed to go back there. That had to be it... the temple... the temple was one of the few things that felt real anymore...

However until she finished her mission, all she could was hold onto the fading fragments of those dreams, perhaps created in her mind to explain the insanity of her situation. All she knew, however, was that with each passing moment in the ‘real world’, she would forget more and more about the Asylum...

~~~

“Amber... it’s in Creed. The mirror... we watched it possess him that night.”

Amber lifted her head up, her prayers silenced immediately as the meaning of Evie’s words struck her like a sledgehammer to the chest. Creed? Oh gods... why...?

~~~

“...What do you want?”

The figure of Ray, taken on by one of the mirrors, stared back at her, speaking with a hollow and chilling voice. “It seems that we have a new ally.”

“Not for long...”

“Are you going to kill a Hogwarts students?”

“He will expel it... he must..” Amber grit her teeth, as several of her nerves were struck at once.

“What makes you so sure he will?”

“I know - knew... him..” She went quiet, her words hanging uselessly in the air.

“Yes... and if he doesn’t, are you prepared to kill your friend?”

Amber let out a quiet growl, a small rage beginning to build up inside of her as she clenched her fists at her sides. “I won’t have to...”

The mirror just chuckled. “Interesting..... We might be able to use him to our advantage.”

“No, I will get it out of him.”

“Oh, that’s possible... Not without killing him, though.”

“I can fix it if it comes to that.”

“So much care for this boy... are you really willing to risk the world to save him?”

Amber’s face suddenly paled as the mirror’s words struck her. “Amber, you-..” Evie froze as she finally laid her eyes upon Ray, having only been able to see Amber when she first turned the corner.

“I could kill her right now...”

“I... don’t...- just go.”

“Aw... you aren’t even going to make me? How disappointing.” Amber simply turned her back to the mirror as it seemed to fade from existence.

~~~

There wasn’t much hope of catching Creed here, within the dim interior of the Jagged Moon, but with few options she had. Considering she had found him there, once before... It was as good a place as any to try. She didn’t bother keeping track of time, just staring at the fire as the occasional person came and went. Nothing really caught her attention, until she heard a small popping noise from beneath the table she sat at. Leaning back to glance beneath the table, she arched an eyebrow at the house elf attempting to keep itself hidden there. “Good morning, missus.”

“...’Morning.” Both of them spoke quietly, as the topic of their conversation was not one to mention out loud.

“I have been sent to keep something safe... that which I gave you before. If you would return it, but I was told to inform you that missus does not have to, if you don’t wish to.”

Amber slipped her hand into one of her many ‘hidden’ pockets, her fingers slowly wrapping around the small, green ioun stone within. “Who... do you serve?”

“The one who sent the stone in the first place. That is all I can say, ma’am.”

She carefully withdrew the stone from her pocket, slowly turning it over in her hands as it reflected the dim torch light. However, the memory of how she could not use the stone with her magic floated through her mind. “It is your decision, ma’am. You may keep it if that is what you wish.”

After some thought, she held the stone out for the house elf to take. “I shall make sure it stays safe, ma’am. ....I was also sent to tell you that you are needed at the school.”

She glanced to the house elf one last time as she stood up. “I have delivered my message. I must go now.” Without any goodbye of her own, Amber turned on her heel, striding over to the fireplace.

~~~

Pushing herself up off of the bench, Amber placed her hands on the table, leaning forward to look at Paul as she spoke, with her voice loud enough for the few people populating the Great hall to hear. “It is a concern. I am the host of the four... The four wish the mirrors dead, and the mirrors wish the four dead... this is war. Neither side will stop until the other is dead... even if I did stay away from those men... they will come after me.”

The reply that came was calm, and still in whispers, which just continued to fluster Amber. “ Then by all means keep yourself safe. But if you go seeking them out, you know now how the Ministry will respond.”

Amber straightened herself up, pulling her hands away from the wood of the table as she spoke again, quickly lowering her voice into whispers again. They don’t get it.. They never will.. They can’t... they can’t understand what’s at stake here... “I have yet to find them.... but should.... they find me... well... I want to live...”

~~~

Time was beginning to pass Amber without her noticing. Events, memories, and dreams blurring together into a frenzied mass within Amber’s mind. All she wanted to do now, was to go back to reality.. to sleep. To stay there, however, she would need to finish what she had started...

Her hand gripped the doorknob tightly as she stood there, trying to figure out what she was feeling. Something had happened to the mirrors, she knew, she could feel the turmoil... it wasn’t destroyed... but one of them had been weakened. Seriously weakened. Needing nothing other then that realization, Amber quickly turned and hurried out of the Hufflepuff commons, past Seril and Evie. She didn’t pay any mind to where she walked, automatically following a path to Hogsmeade.

And he was there, with Sierra. Amber paid no mind to Sierra, her senses fixed on Creed and the damaged mirror within him. Wearily, she watched the pair as they stood up as she herself strode forward. “Going to hold still, or run?” Her hand slipped into her pocket, her right hand gripping the familiar form of her wand.

“Amber...”

“I need it out of you....”

“... I think you need to settle down a moment and talk to me.”

“No.” Her voice lacked any emotion, her gaze unwavering as the magic began to flow from her, directed at Creed, who quickly drew his wand.

“Sierra, go!”

With one swift motion, Amber drew out her own wand, meeting Creed’s gaze. “Do you know how many the mirrors have killed, and will kill? I need to get it out of you... or you die along with it.”

“Amber, please calm down. There isn’t any part of the Mirror left in me.”

“Bullshit. I can feel it.” She began to take steps forward, only to have Creed step back.

“Amber...”

She knew it was in him, without a single doubt. Knowing this, she rushed forward, channeling her magic full blast as she slammed into Creed, tackling him to the ground. Pressing her hand firmly on his chest, she began to focus the magic there. It was having the desired affect, as Creed tried to knock her off by any means, as he screamed in pain. “Sierra! Help! Get her off!”

“It wouldn’t hurt if it wasn’t in there, Creed.” She placed some emphasis on his name as that blinding anger began to bubble up in the back of her mind.

“Amber! Wait! Just listen to him!” She barely even noticed Sierra’s screaming, only focusing enough to toss her fellow Hufflepuff away.

“You’re crazy!” Briefly, she could feel his wasted attempts to toss her off using the power of the mirror. Letting out a growl, she just pushed the power back at him as he began to resort to brute strength to force her off.

“Amber! Listen for a minute! He’s changed now!”

Sierra soon joined the fray, the three of them struggled, pointless words shouted at Amber as she pointed her wand at Creed, pushing to get her magic past the barriers she knew the mirrors had given him. “I won’t kill him..”

Amber began to force the events taking place around her into the back of her mind just as Evie and Seril showed up. I don’t want you to die... I lost you, but you’re still dear to me, as a friend.. You helped me so much... I’m doing this to save you. I don’t want to kill a friend... She began to whisper in harsh, questioning tones. “They... will destroy the world, given the chance... do you want to aid in that... kill... everything you love and hold dearly?! It is weak. You can get it out. Refuse to do it’s bidding forever...”

She let loose a single burst of magic, knocking Seril, Evie and Sierra away. Seconds later, Creed’s shout hit her. “Whose the monster?!”

Growling, with that intense rage burning in her head, Amber nearly shouted her answer which was seared with intense belief. “We all are!”

Pressing her magical attacks on, she ignored Creed’s latest cry of pain. “It is weak.. Are you going to be weak too.. Let it control you?”

“There’s nothing there! It’s nothing!”

“As long as it’s there, it’s something.” Creed pressed his hands violently against Amber’s chest, still trying whatever he could to force her off of him.

Why isn’t it leaving? It should have tried to force it’s way out... what did you do to it, Creed? Her words now had an almost pleading tone, as she fought to keep Creed pinned. “They will kill... they will destroy everything... this world... if I don’t stop them.. Everything!”

A loud sonic blast came from the two, tossing away everyone Amber had knocked back minutes before. The blast, and Creed’s physical attempts to knock her off, both failed. That wasn’t the only thing he attempted, however. She could feel it, Creed trying to attack her mentally... his attack was absorbed, but... it inspired her.

Ignoring everything else completely now, Amber pressed forward with her own mental attack, trying to reach the mirror. She could see it there, like a small child huddled in the corner of Creed’s mind, subdued to the point it seemed afraid to move. It paid her no mind, even with the power she wielded. Not because it was ignoring her... it seemed to her, like it couldn’t see her. Stepping forward, she tried to grab the mirror, ignoring the pain pulsing through Creed’s mind as she drew near the mirror, which she could not reach.

As she slowly began to get used to Creed’s mind, she could see the cage he used to contain the mirror. With no thought, she attacked the cage, only to be hit by the waves of emotional pain, coming from the cage. It was only then, that she realized what it was made out, what he had used to form that cage... But she couldn’t stop, not then. Completely oblivious to the world as she struggled with Creed, both physically, and emotionally, she pressed her attack on the cage. As she attacked, a vine crept up along the cage as it grew crystal roses, a signal that Creed’s attempts to reinforce the cage were working. My favorite flower...

She needed the mirror out, but there was nothing that could prepare her for the following battle. Using memories, they fought for what seemed to be forever to Amber. Her memories were no match for the ones sent by Creed, that quickly and easily ate away at her own emotions and hopes. Her memories seemed to be unable to even touch the cage, at times. With each memory that hit her, her attacks grew weaker, and weaker.... before Creed was finally able to toss her off, cutting Amber off from his mind. Even as she got up to give chase, it was no use. He had escaped.

~~~
Doubt and loneliness began to replace the anger inside. She had been given a rather painful glimpse of a happiness she had only ever felt with two people. For the first, she had moved on... but... the second person.. Seril... She was terrified, at the thought of losing him due to what she was done. But it didn’t matter... this was all just a dream.. She had seen him in the asylum... what happened here didn’t matter....


But why does it hurt so much...?

_________________
“Just like a drug, she’s consuming you slow
You can’t love like you used to before
And you can’t find trust in nothing else anymore
Those pale lips, the bourbon-soaked kiss
She’s the den of your sins—the slit of a wrist”

"Come take my hand
And lead me on towards the end
The darkness in me
Devours the strength I craved for all these years

These feelings I have never shown remain unknown
I really don't know if I'm that strong...

These secrets I have held inside through all my life
I guess I'll shield them till I die..."

In My Darkest Hour - Sirenia





I wonder who sent this... The thought was underlined by a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as Amber lightly ran the tips of her fingers over note she received some time ago. It simply asked for her to meet the sender, whoever it may be, at the Leaky Cauldron. While normally odd enough by itself, what made it so much more interesting was that it was written on what appeared to be Ministry letterhead....

~~~

Amber paused, mildly surprised, as her gaze finally fell onto the only patron she ‘knew’ within the Leaky Cauldron. The auror who had spoken to her before, Paul, was sitting by himself, drinking something as he watched her. She kept a close eye on him as she approached, and without a word she took the seat that was offered to her. Off-handedly, he motioned to a bottle on the table. “Firewhiskey, if you like it.”

She glanced towards the bottle, her expression rather vacant and uninterested, before she turned her attention back to Paul, speaking quietly and slowly. “I assume... you’re the one who sent the note?”

Paul didn’t say anything for a few moments, before he finally did choose to speak. “Yes. The Ministry doesn’t know I’m talking with you. I’m sure you’ve heard about the rumors. Hogsmeade...”

Nodding slowly, Amber forced herself to focus, and listen to what he had to say about the ‘Official’ story. Officially, nothing happened there, and he had not been there. The seven aurors that were buried died of natural causes. There were only two men in orange, and there was no third man who did not wear orange.

“Unofficially, that’s all bullshit.”

Amber ran a finger down her cheek, unconsciously mimicking the path a tear would take as frown formed on her lips. “I... knew this would happen.”

“I was the only one that survived. Seven aurors were... ‘brutally killed’ doesn’t cut it. It was a massacre. They were executed with the torture curse.”

Paul looked at Amber, saying something that made it impossible for her curiosity to stay under control. “Officially... we have no clue where one of these men is hiding. And both officially and unofficially, we aren’t going to be hunting his [censored] down and killing him, because unofficially it’s going to be another massacre.”

“You... somehow not only survived, but killed one of these bastards. I’m going to be honest... I’m here because I believe that I’m going to die tomorrow.”

It was almost shocking how that one statement hit her. This is just a dream.. Why do I care..? “What...?”

“Officially, we aren’t attacking this guy tomorrow. Unofficially, I’ll let you know where we are staging from as soon as I know. You are the only one that can stop this from happening again.”

“....Thank you. I don’t... want anyone else getting hurt.”

“I must be clear, we didn’t have this conversation. You risk a lot by even showing up... not only the fight with the Man in Orange, but the Ministry as well. What I told you before still stands.”

“Let’s hope I can disappear before that becomes an issue...”

Paul finally nodded, drinking some more, before speaking as Amber looked at the table, her expression rather thoughtful.

“I hope.. To see you tomorrow. And good luck, for both our sakes.”

~~~

Amber curled up on her bed, desperately seeking warmth and comfort beneath the chilly bed sheets. It was no use sleeping in Seril’s bed alone, as she replayed what just happened over and over again in her head. She felt so used... Why couldn’t you just have stayed a little longer..?

~~~

As quietly as possible, the tall girl slipped into the back room of Mystique Caverns, not far behind Paul. She had never been in this area before... but it was just like the rest of Knockturn Alley - very dark. That didn’t matter, however. They had less then ten minutes before the other Aurors would arrive, as back up for Paul. If she didn’t get the job over with before then, things would get very, very messy. “I know you are here. He’s over there in the corner.”

Amber glanced towards the man who was laying on the hard floor in the corner, dressed in orange and apparently asleep. “...Alright.”

“He’s sleeping, from the looks of it. Let’s take him out now before the others get here.”

“Got it.” Muttering to herself, Amber cast a few strengthening spells in preparation.

“I’m so going to Azkaban for this...”

“At least you’ll have company.” Her attempt at humour was rather weak, to say the least.

“Let’s get this over with...”

Stepping quietly towards the man, Amber knelt down beside him, her movements slow and steady, until she finally lunged, trying to wrap an arm around his neck. That one move, unfortunately, woke him up. “How...”

The man struggled to stand up as he reached for his wand. Seeing this, Paul went for the man’s legs, to keep him down as Amber channeled her magic against the mirror inside of the man. Almost desperately, Amber tried to grab his head with her free hand as the man in orange pointed his wand at her, uselessly blasting her with magic.

“Not so fast...!” With her attempts to grab his head failing, she grabbed a hold of the orange robes, trying to pull him down as Paul attempted to pull his legs out from beneath him.

“Ava... ava...” The man pointed his wand at Paul, who let go and ducked out of the way as the man tried to get the incantation out.

A burst of fear suddenly hit Amber in the chest, but she did her best to control it. You can do this.. you’re better then them... you’re better... Without any warning, the man in orange easily flipped her over his back, slamming her down onto the floor in front of him. Grunting in surprise, Amber grabbed onto the man’s leg, trying to focus her channeling once more. Simply allowing her to grab onto his leg, the man slammed his foot down onto her chest, putting considerable weight onto it, only to nearly fall over in pain as her magic hit him.

Unfortunately for her, the man was able to keep his ground, just adding pressure onto her chest. Paul, after a failed casting attempt, grabbed onto the man’s back, trying to pull him off of Amber. Who, at the same time, attempted to twist herself and knock the man over to no avail. Tossing his wand aside, the man reached down and grabbed Amber’s head, completely ignoring her now intensified struggle.

“Crucio!”

The spells came from the aurors who had just arrived to witness the fight. Aimed at the man in orange, the spells did nothing.

“It won’t work you fools! Pull him off of her!” Paul jumped back as the spells flew through the air.

Panicking, Amber reached up, trying to pulls the man’s hands away from her head as he tried to channel the darker magic of the mirror into her head. “Avada Kedavra!”

Once again, fortunes were on her side, the spell being useless against the defenses she set up with the help of The Four. At that moment, the aurors pulled the man away, giving her time to jump up and withdraw her favorite kama from her belt as the man was knocked onto the ground. “Orders, Sir!”

As the aurors wrestled with the man, one was quickly finished off by the killing curse. One of the aurors yelled at Paul. “Orders!”

“Step back!”

“What? Step back?!” The rage was as plain as day.

“Get away from him! Stand back!”

“Are you nuts?” The other auror struggled to pin the man’s legs down, only to have his throat grabbed.

Gripping her kama tightly in her right hand, Amber finally lunged at the man in orange, beginning to slash deeply into his chest with the sharp, merciless blade of the kama. As that familiar, now almost comforting, rage began to fill her, she began to channel her magic through her weapon. The man screamed out in pain, as the third auror yelled at her. “Kill him! Damn it!”

Again, and again, the blade sunk into the flesh of the man, leaving gaping red wounds as it sliced down the length of his chest. As she pulled the blade out each time, the blood would splatter onto her face and stain her white robes. Each time, the man would heal the wounds almost as quickly as she created them. Placing her free hand on the man’s chest, she began to recklessly channel more magic, focusing her bloody blows on the left side of the man’s chest.

“Wait! We need ‘m alive, damnit!”

“That’s insane! We can’t! Kill him now!”

“Damnit, Paul! Those are the orders! Alive!” The auror glared violently at Paul as he struggled to keep the man in orange down. The glare was soon redirected at Amber. “Kill him already! It’s either him or us!”

“Avada Kedavra!” The second auror fell to the floor, dead.

“No!” The third auror began to manically punch the man’s face.

With the man’s focus diverted from healing for the briefest of moments, Amber slipped her hand into the very wound she had created. Ignoring the disgusting warmth of the blood and innards of the man, she began to channel her magic there. The endless strokes of her kama did not stop all the while, although she directed it to the man’s upper chest, trying to make her way to his heart with her hand.

“Paul, damn it! Get over here and do something!”

“Get away from him! She’ll kill him!”

“What the bloody hell? Just get over here and do something!”

The man in orange, screaming in pain, began to wildly try to grab the Auror’s leg, who just kicked the hand away. As Amber began to slash at the man’s throat as well, Paul rushed in again, bashing the man’s head on the ground repeatedly. This continued on for several minutes, as Amber began to chant quietly, her expression set with grim and terrifying determination. “Got to hell... go to hell.. Got to hell...!”

With one final stroke, the kama sunk deep into the man’s chest. A burst of green light came forth, blasting everyone away from the body. Slamming back into a wall head first, Amber tumbled to the ground, unconscious and seemingly uninjured... even as the wall she hit now had a rather large chunk of stone missing from it.

~~~

Sleep. Normally, she embraced it, her escape back to reality. It was different now. No longer were they the empty, but peaceful days at the Asylum. But she was in the temple now. The portal, completely opened, was tearing her apart, sucking her in piece by bloody piece.


~~~

Opening her eyes, Amber stared blankly at the wall as the Auror left the room, after speaking quietly with Paul. As Paul stood up and walked over, she slowly lifted her gaze to look up at him. “Amber.”

Oddly, he wasn’t looking at her, but instead at the floor. “It’s time to go.”

Not completely understanding the implications of this, Amber forced herself into a sitting position on the bed. “...Good.”

“I’m afraid... It’s not. My orders are to place you under arrest and escort you to the ministry.”

Stunned by this for a moment, she just stared at him with a frown. “....I... can’t go there.”

He didn’t seem to be enjoying this conversation, and neither was she. “I must take you there. I don’t have a choice.”

She just sat there on the bed, looking down at the floor in silence, her hands briefly gripping the blankets as he spoke again. “Please... please cooperate. It will be worse for both of us if you don’t.”

“I can’t... waste anymore time... stopping the mirrors. I... want out of this dream.”

“The Mirrors... aren’t your concern. They are the concern of the Ministry now.” His words were half- hearted.

“...It’s my destiny... duty.... to send them back.”

“If that’s true... then you have nothing to fear from the Ministry, do you? Won’t the prophesy unfold even if you go?”

Amber’s reply came slowly, as she struggled to focus. “And... how many more die? ..Only a matter... of time before the remaining mirrors go after.. A large group of people.”

“The Ministry is taking this matter very seriously. It’s no longer your concern. Please, come with me.”

Without another word, Amber stood up, her expression rather devoid of emotion as Paul took her arm, very gently. He said something quietly, before leading her out of the room at St. Mungo’s that would soon become all too familiar to her.

~~~

Amber’s senses suddenly screamed as she and Paul arrived at the Ministry. There was a mirror nearby, she could sense it, very strongly... But she couldn’t figure out who it was as she looked about the hall. The only people nearby was a group of Aurors, that was waiting for them. Narrowing her eyes, she glanced over the group in a desperate search, knowing well what could happen.

“Ah... Didn’t run off with her after all, eh Paul?”

“Shut it, Phil.”

“Well, I was kinda hoping. Lost ten galleons on a bet, you see...”

“Shut it, Phil.” One of the other Aurors just chuckled as he scanned the area.

With the moment of silence, Paul glanced to Amber, noticing her expression. He lowered his voice considerably. “What is it?”

“One of them.... one... of the mirrors... is nearby.”

Phil decided to speak up again. “Well? You going to take her to the chambers, or you going to stand there all day?”

“Damn it Phil, shut it. Gimme a moment.” Once again, Paul lowered his voice to speak with Amber. “Are you sure?”

She nodded slowly, every part of her being alert. “Yes.”

“Trial’s at seven, come on... time’s wasting.”

Without warning, the silent Auror to Amber’s right rapidly waved his wand. A huge fireball slammed into the ground, at the center of this small group, tossing everyone back, burning them all, except for Amber’s skin which remained untouched by the wicked spell. Unfazed by the blast, the mirror-possessed 'Auror' pulled out a sword, raising it above his head as he looked to Amber, speaking some dark incantation......

_________________
“Just like a drug, she’s consuming you slow
You can’t love like you used to before
And you can’t find trust in nothing else anymore
Those pale lips, the bourbon-soaked kiss
She’s the den of your sins—the slit of a wrist”

This is it. The void, its true form revealed. No tendrils. No gods. No one but me. None of the Men in Orange... No Creed.

No one to love me. An empty hell of red nothingness.

I cannot scream, I cannot weep. I am trapped alone with my memories and thoughts. Every feeling of hate intensifying. Every feeling of love growing.

One day they will see what I did for them, how I saved the world. Perhaps then, they will love me enough to save me, before I become nothing as well.

Nascentes morimur.

From the moment we are born, we begin to die.

That is the price of my faith.