Heir of Sallow

I don't want to say goodbye, because this one means forever

CW: VIOLENCE, TORTURE, GORE, DEATH.

What was this?

She could hear the creak of her bones almost splintering. She couldn't breathe. When her eyes were closed, all she could see as red. When she tried to open her eyes, it was like she was being transported between two places. Two men with black hair kneeling over her, but one could only exist without the other. One grey-eyed, one green-eyed.

One, behind him was the dark space of the sewer system, though his face was shone with a blue-white light around him. Behind the other, a grey sky, lightning flickering every so often.

Both with panicked expressions, Both seeming to try to communicate with her. She couldn't understand them.

"Ch-"

"Ar-"

"Lie-"

Two broken voices. She was trying so hard to focus but the pain... She screamed through clenched teeth, unable to do anything but writhe.

"Goo-"

"Focu-"

"Memor-"

It was no use. She couldn't focus long enough to know what either one of them was saying.

Then the boy in the dark space was gone, replaced with a woman, who looked so familiar to the other boy that kept flashing in her eyes. She almost gasped when the pain ebbed just barely. She felt she could at least breathe, albeit painfully. She stared up at Toby, no more switching between consciousness and unconsciousness.

"Hurts-" She sobbed.

"I know, I know- Mum's working on it-" he panted, glancing up towards something.

She wanted to follow his gaze but moving hurt. Thinking hurt. But the pain was easing. Toby was fading.

"Tob-.."

"You're okay! You're okay, just relax, let mum work. I love you," Toby said, his hands hovering over her like he wasn't sure if he should touch her.

She wanted to reach out, to calm him, hug him. But he disappeared and her mother's face appeared in her vision.

"She's conscious, she's awake."

"What the bloody hell happened?!" Her father was shouting.

"G-Grace-" Charlie bit out.

"Don't talk, love." She heard Theo's voice but couldn't see him. "She disapparated as soon as she sent the spell. This place isn't new to her, that means-"

Charlie could hardly focus on what Theo was telling her father.

"Just breathe, Charlotte, Theo says to think of a good memory, it helps with the pain," her mother told her, her normally calm voice shaking.

Good memories?

Trust me, love, if I were flirting, you'd know.

One night together, then you can decide.

We're going to lose that bet.

Yeah? Well, I bloody well couldn't let him touch you, could I?

Do you want another one, love?

I, for one, had a great time.

It's not just the dress.

Well, I happened to enjoy our time together.

Are you still not kissing me, Sallow?

You're stubborn, intelligent, powerful, and if anyone can break through a bloody memory charm it's you.