A Legacy of Pain: Rising from the Ashes

Chapter 28: Illuminating the Devouring Night

Last Time: Annabeth and the rest of the Wilsons watched the event in the Slytherin stands since they had been forced to attend as Sebastian's guests rather than Elizabeth's thanks to Headmaster Black. After watching Imelda and Sebastian compete; Annie and Nyxia excitedly discussed the match and wanting to learn similar spells before being offered to be taught Glacius by Anne. They were quickly told no by Evelyn who lamented how violent the event was and worried for the safety of the children. Evelyn's concern and word choice seemed to confuse Nyxia as Natty and Nelly came out to began their match. While that went on, Nyxia seemed to grow more confused and deep in thought until it was revealed that Annabeth's parents were both muggles. Distraught; Nyxia said something in parseltongue before running off in tears and flying away on her broom after apologising. Annie was stopped from following by her parents as Ominis left to find his sister. The rest of the Gryffindor match went well as Anne took Nyxia's place at Annabeth's side for the remainder of the match. Eventually the Ravenclaw team exited; however Annie noted that something seemed wrong with Lizzy. Anne meanwhile was still and shocked before revealing that there were three, not two people down in the arena while Annie could only see Amit and her sister...

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Why had she thought that she could do this after what had happened only a month ago when she raced Imelda over the stadium? Elizabeth's knee bounced up and down, the air in the waiting room around her charged with the anxious energy which rolled off of her in waves. Logically she knew that the threat which haunted her was gone and dead. Yet that did nothing to stop the flashes which continued to invade her vision even as she kept her violet eyes tightly closed. The auburn and purple haired witch's breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to calm it along with her mind. Almost as if on instinct she reached into her pocket and pulled out a vial of brown liquid. Before she could uncork the bottle and bring it to her lips however; the ravenclaw felt a hand on her wrist and looked up to find violet eyes set against ebon ink, a reflection of her own, staring back at her.

"Stop; We have already taken two of those since awakening this morning. One of which was on our way down here. Remember what happened when we continually took our combo potions? Taking too many will not end well for us." Izzy, the phantom version of herself, spoke in a quiet yet firm tone with a look of sorrow upon their dark veined face. Then, as if trying to drive a stake into her heart; the phantom added. "What would Poppy think if she knew?" It was that which hurt the most since Elizabeth knew her girlfriend would disapprove.

In response; Elizabeth yanked her hand back and practically snarled like a wounded animal at the other version of herself. "I need this! You don't understand; it is crippling! I can see him still, he is coming for me. They are all coming for me and I deserve it!" She hissed far more loudly than she had meant to. "This is what keeps me calm, this potion is how I can manage to push past all of the pain and fight. How can you deny me this when I need it?!" The witch screamed in desperation, her violet eyes wild with fear and delusion as she ranted at Izzy for what they had said.

However, before she could continue her tirade, her veins turned to ice at the sound of a nervous and concerned voice from the other side of their waiting room. "Elizabeth?" The auburn and purple haired witch turned her head with the speed of a bolt loosed from a goblin crossbow to see Amit staring at her. The look in the other dark haired ravenclaw's eyes sent a shiver down her spine as she noted the terror contained within them. She had grown used to him being fearful of her the year prior, yet what she saw in his eyes now was different. It seemed somehow more personal this time. "Who are you talking to..." His voice trailed off before his fearful eyes widened even more. "Wait, are you taking ANOTHER calming draught!? Professor Sharp warned us of the danger of overdosing on that potion, what are you thinking!?" He asked incredulously while surging forward to take the vial from her hand as Izzy simply smiled triumphantly off to the side.