Rebirth {Marauders Era}

CHAPTER 26: DECIMA: KILL HIM

Decima stood alone in her stone hut, shut away from Februus and his torturous ways. It seemed like it had been years since Sirius had last visited. I hope I didn't scare him away, she thought darkly. It seemed her harsh words had simply come because of years of frustration, and a definite longing to see her sisters. She laid down, her hand lying limply on the cold stone ground in front of her. Immortal beings normally didn't feel like dying, but she did.

Long story short: It sucked.

She sighed as the stubborn tears threatened once again. It was surprising to her that she could cry, but as she simply laid there, something snapped inside her. She cried and cried, sobs coming faster and faster. Sirius has been her only way of escape, there was no other path from the darkness. She took out the silver string with trembling hands, cradling the light and heat, and noticing tiny strands weaving themselves together.

Suddenly it clicked in her brain. It was healing. All this time, with nothing, no hope of freedom, and now, finally, her little Star was coming to save her. Tears stopped as she rose to her feet, her eyes burning. If he was going to free her, he was going to have to get through Februus. It wasn't going to be easy, she herself had even struggled in ancient times. Her heart hardened with resolve as she stared out to the hidden sky.

"Sisters, give me strength." She murmured, feeling light explode from the center of the room. Rocks went flying as her shelter blew apart. Februus' angry thoughts blew over her brain, big and threatening. It didn't stop her. She was Decima, she was the embodiment of fate, and nothing was going to stop her.

"What are you doing?!" Februus' voice shook the floor. She glared at him, eyes embers in the growing dark.

"Your rule is over, Februus." When he didn't respond, she pushed out with her powers and held his string. Looped and tied, it was impossible to unknot, which is how he lived forever. "Soon I will have that which will allow me to end this, end you. In the meantime, I can inflict some pain upon you. You may be my captor, but you are cruel, and it is the cruelest of slave masters that fall first."

"You aren't rebelling against me. You can't. I'll see to it." She didn't flinch at his loud tone, instead she smiled, because he sounded scared, and she knew she finally, after all these years, had the upper hand. Slowly, deliberately, she pulled at the string, causing a shrieking howl to emit from Februus. Then an echoing gasp came from above.

"Show yourself!" She screamed, and then his face was there, right in front of her. It was horrible, scars and wrinkled dominated it. Terror almost shot through her, but she held it in. Strong, she must be strong. She snarled and pulled again, this time harder, and with more harmful than experimental intent.

As screams and moans continued to sound, stemming from Februus feelings his soul fracture and stretch, and then be put back together again, she became aware of another voice. For the first time it had a clarity to it, he wasn't really dreaming, not naturally anyways.

"Decima, Decima stop!" She whipped around, surprise wracking her features, and for a moment the old women that she sometimes reflected became her. Then it was gone. It was Sirius Black himself, holding her sister's scissors. He held them out, but looked warily at the way she held Februus' string.

"Wait, don't hurt him more. I think he's already suffered enough. Every moment you waste torturing him is one you could spend with Nona and Morta! They wait for you, outside." She didn't listen to his pleads, they meant nothing to her. She reached out and gently touched the scissors. When she did, they sparked with energy, and she gasped, feeling her sister's presence.

"Sister...I can see you." She said softly, words catching in her throat. Then she looked at Sirius, tears in her eyes. "He deserves so much more. These will almost destroy him. Hades is where he belongs. If he does not reach it, so be it. If he never troubles me again it would be better than seeing him beg for mercy in the Fields of Punishment."

She twirled them in her hands. "Where shall I send you, O great Februus?" She asked with utmost sarcasm, and after her next words she groaned and felt him lurch into her mind. "Tartarus, Hades? Hell?"

She collapsed, and screamed herself as Sirius cried our in shock.

"You...serve...me!" He howled, and she almost, almost bowed her head in submission. Then he pushed harder, and she pushed out her only coherent thought before stars exploded across her vision and she fought for every memory through her bond to him.

"Cut-unh-c-cut the g-god d-damn string y-yourself Sirius." When he responded with a shocked 'What!', she didn't react. Curling into herself, she flew into her mind.

"Here you are...bared at last." His voice held no darkness to it now, and he stood in front of her, his face no longer terrible, but beautiful as it was in his youth. Golden locks surrounded deranged eyes as he swiped at her. Yelping, she avoided him, her brown hair whipping around.

"No, it you who it bared. Come from your shield, ready to die." She said, her sharp eyes catching every mistake he made, and sneering at it, though her mouth was a firm line in order to keep herself under control. "While we fight in here, Sirius is out there, and he shall cut this string, and a long fought battle shall be ended before it even begins."

"You really think your errand boy is strong enough to defeat me? That insolent cur only follows you because you instilled fear, as well as lies down his throat. He will never serve you when I am clearly stronger." She showed no reaction at this, gauging her opponent, ready to strike. When he did she kept out of the way, and whispered in his ear as she was suddenly behind him.

"Try as you might, you never will scare me again." She prayed that Sirius would cut it soon, because although it was a simple task, it was taxing, but she hardly had time to wait patiently.

He landed a blow on her shoulder, and she punched him square in the face. This was going to hurt.