The Love of a Thornbush

I Don't Know - Chapter TwentyThree

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"P-Please" Andromeda croaked, with wheezing breaths. Her blood streaked across my skin as her hand made contact with my arm. Narcissa Black sat atop me, eyeing her sister with disgust.

It was a beautiful expression on her regal face. Her lip curled in a sneer as she watched her older sister struggle to breath through the blood accumulated in her lungs. She was dying, that much was clear.

The oaken witch met my frightened gaze. Andromeda was terrified, reaching out for me. Her hand found mine, slick with her own blood,  and frantically squeezed. My fear and attempts to shrug her off were not well received. The Woman atop me stiffened, and an animalistic snarl shaped her mouth as she pointed her wand at her own sister.

"I will kill you, Andromeda" Narcissa hissed, dark eyes like pits of fury. Her red lips pulled back to reveal starling white teeth, pointy and perfect in every way. Andromeda froze, bar jolts from her own erratic breathing "let her go. Now"

Her grip lessened and my hand slid free. Narcissa kept her wand pointed  directly at Andromeda's jugular, a cold hard expression on her face. A strong, manic anger in her eyes.

"Look away, sweet little"

My eyes ran rampant on Narcissa, taking in the tense manner of her shoulders. Her jaw clicked, and her teeth gritted as she considered her options.

"What- no!"

"I said look away. You don't want to see this"

My hand took hers, and Narcissa flickered to look at me. Her strong, angered gaze faltered as she met my eyes. I saw the softness she displayed towards me, and decided to use it to my advantage. Delicately, I placed her hand onto my cheek, allowing her to stroke my skin in reverence.

"Please"

My soft utterance was desperate and hoarse. The older woman ran her eyes over me, admiring me. To her, I was the pinnacle of innocence. A baby bunny for her to cherish and keep in a little wooden cage. Her... Pet.

Narcissa slowly began to speak, with great hesitation and thought.

"I suppose... I should prioritise getting you out of here safely"

Hearing this, Andromeda began to croak in disagreement. Her hands flapped to grasp at me but froze once more when Narcissa shoved her wand into the woman's face.

Her eyes were cold, lips spread in a demeaning smile.

"I'm going to take her, Andy" Andromeda fought to sit up, but it seemed she was losing too much blood to use her remaining strength "she's coming with me, and you can't stop her"

Narcissa leaned down, a hand on Andromeda's chest. Her red painted lips met her ear and hushed a whisper too quiet for me to hear.

Soon enough, I was being walked through this familiar house that had lost all of it's warmth. Dishes sat drying on the edge of the sink waiting for their next occupant. A half knitted scarf draped across the back of the sofa, never to be finished.

I'd just begun to watch the woman leading me away, when a roar shook the walls of the cottage. The glass photo frames shattered and clambered to the ground. I nearly stumbled, until surprisingly strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist. She shushed me, sensing my fear.