The Battle Of The Basilisk

-19-

Will prayed he wouldn't end up banging his head on something.

He didn't.

The second they were out of the spinning whirlpool of Apparition, he was thrown back into an untrimmed rosebush.

He leapt up with unaccustomed agility and arched his back. "OUCH!!!!"

Raghavi stood nearby, her face pale. "Well, there are worse things to run into."

"Oh yeah?"

She nodded and gestured towards a bronze fountain with no water. "What's so bad about that?" Will raised an eyebrow.

Raghavi nudged him forward. He moved a few steps and peered into the reservoir. Inside lay a mass of green, white, brown and yellow feathers.

He gulped, his insides doing several back flips. I'll murder Ayano for this, he thought.

"What's happening?"

Think of the devil. Will turned and glared at Ayano, who still looked as white as a sheet. "You told Raghavi, didn't you?"

"Tell her what?" Ayano pulled little twigs out of her hair. Raghavi folded her arms.

"Anatidaephobia." Her voice was totally free of sarcasm.

Ayano stopped. "Sorry?"

"The ducks." Will tried to keep his voice from shaking. "Duck phobia."

Ayano scrutinised the basin and looked up. "Oh yeah, I did. But these are dead, so how does it matter? I wish I'd landed here- It seems a lot softer."

Will wanted to strangle her with his bare hands, but he held himself back. She was pretty much back from the dead anyway. "You didn't have to!"

To his surprise, she ignored him completely. "Why are there dead ducks in here anyway? Is someone on a murdering spree?"

"A spree that involves ducks?" Jane approached them, holding a white rose. "I don't think so. At any rate, it's disgusting. Where are Pranaty and Charles?"

"Over there." Raghavi pointed to the other side of the garden, where Charles was busy plucking flowers. Pranaty was watching him, the tightness of her face indicating disapproval.

"You don't need this many!" She chided. Will felt something rise up his throat- And swallowed it back down. He didn't like whatever he was seeing, but it was for the best. Charles was shaking his head, muttering something about an experiment.

Will deliberately turned around at stared up at the still, handsome manor, with diamond-paned windows, and elaborate gardens on either side. It seemed to radiate a cold aura, making him feel very much uncomfortable. There was not a soul in sight, which was odd considering the obvious luxury the family enjoyed.

Ayano voiced exactly what Will was thinking. "How did Hydra live here? It's so... I don't like it."

"Me neither," Jane replied. "But the sooner we get our work done, the better. Let's go."

"Our what now?" Will tried not to sound sarcastic. Jane gave him the 'You-Heard-Me' look and strode forward with Raghavi, the others at her heels. Charles finally seemed to have collected enough flowers, and he jogged next to Will. His fists were full of white roses, with the occasional dandelion. Will spotted two duck feathers poking out and tried not to wince.

"Can I have your hair?"

"Pardon?" Will was taken aback, but that didn't seem to surprise the Chinese guy.

"For a paste. It'll be useful in case anyone breaks a bone at some point-"

"Can't you just use your powers again?" Will could sense the harshness in his voice, but he wasn't intent on hiding it anyway. "Like what you did for Pranaty?"