To Hurt and To Heal

Where the Maps May Lead Us

There was nothing left in the world except the hiss from the waves.

At least, that's how it seemed to Delphini Black as she warmed her hands by the fire among the crimson colours that were deemed ever so lightly amongst the moonlight. Even with the wind, the heat was setting, and sweat made her many layers of clothes cling to her body.

The ocean became deadly. It invaded every molecule on her skin, which made her head throb and her bones ache. The muggy warmth of Swanage had been nothing compared to this.

Beside her, Padfoot lowered his head into his hands then glanced toward the breeze. Letting the mist from the waves overtake his mindset south.

Sighing, Delphi walked into the flat, hidden away from society. It was small, but clean. She walked into her room and locked the door behind her. She quickly slumped onto the tiny bed.

She was certain any minute now Rodolphus would burst through the door and make Delphi pay for the damages.

But when Delphi stood in front of that mirror next to the horrifically small closet Padfoot called a bedroom, Delphi had finally understood her meaning.

She was a muse. There were so many words to call what she had been, but the closest and only word she could think of was betrayed. She had finally realised how lost and helpless she'd become.

Magic has been gone all these years. And the world was dead, or simply didn't care anymore. Yet there, deep in her heart, there was a pain, a pain that she didn't think could ever be healed. A heartbeat later, she let out a scream.

One that was well deserved and glad to get rid of it, and hoped she could spend the rest of her days locked in a small, confined space but maybe she would put it behind her. Maybe she would beg to erase her memory, to be cleared of every little problem that was trapped in her mind. Or maybe her "family" had already forgotten about her themselves. And what Delphi didn't want to admit is that would be the ideal solution. It was a force too hard to comprehend.

Delphi turned the water on the shower nozzle but didn't even bother taking off her clothes. She stood there for a moment before opening her eyes. She felt the sting from the water as it spread across her eyes.
She let herself breathe in the foggy steam, Delphi hoped she wasn't foolish enough to tell anyone. Smiling to herself in the confines of her room, Delphi nestled in the bed, pulled her robes low over her eyes, and crossed her ankles. By the time Padfoot had finished watching the fire die down, the dark lord's daughter was fast asleep.

*

Though the chant of the wind roared around her, Delphi had her eyes closed despite being very much awake. It wasn't hard to understand that her life with Rodolphus and Euphemia had changed now. For better or for worse, Delphi was stuck in a position, which might be the death of her.

Despite the fact, she knew their plans very well, there was nothing she could do- mostly because of her history and some of her future decided that for her.

Padfoot slammed his mug on the table, letting out a cry "Ah!" as the glass shattered, his hand was still trapped under. Perhaps this was not his day. But thinking back to her, perhaps it was his life.

Like everyone else in their positions, their lives were slowly ending. Not from an actual event rather from the mental states the two are wrapped in. But lucky enough for Padfoot and Delphi, it wouldn't be long until their next edge of chaos ensues.

The second army was packed to capacity. Every studying and searching and stalking that they had come up with had eventually come to a close. The soldiers rose to the occasion, maxing out their spells and curses and killings. And all for what? To bring back the Augurey's father? Was that really their main goal?