Obscure Occurrences |C. BAREBONE|

☛ Forty-One ☚

• April, 1927 •

Genevieve made Credence strong. She forced his power to the surface so he could protect himself, her and Nagini. They were all one, a unit. But Credence wasn't able to save himself from everything.

His Obscurus burst from him in anger, not fear.

So this time, when instead of a belt, a whip came down... Credence was frozen into a familiar huddle on the floor. Each lash sent him into a whimpering mess as Mary Lou's voice rang through his head. The soft contradiction to her action echoed through his mind and forced bubbles of sobs to break past his lips.

A few days couldn't approach slow enough.

Already, Credence wanted to be in Paris and far from the circus. With him would be Genevieve and Nagini, with the witch finally with her wand in her hand. They would have no restrictions: only freedom.

Genevieve, in the meanwhile, was biting her nails in apparent anxiety. It was a new habit she had built over time, it was one that calmed her nerves but reduced her pretty long nails into stubs. She should really stop. And she tried of course; she sat on her hands, covered them in the bad tasting soap she and Credence washed with. Yet nothing deterred her brain from bringing her fingers to her teeth. This biting was happening in this moment due to Credence's punishment, the consequences of his protection. And she knew, once he walked into their space he would crumble into her arms at those memories.

To distract herself from the silent screams she imagined, Genevieve decided to visit Nagini in her cage.

Once she entered the huge tent of women, Genevieve felt each oddities' stare burn into her skin and brand it with shame. Of course, Catriona had told them of her previous conquests and her darling. They respected the witch much like Skender. And to find out her death was caused by her darling's lover was unforgivable.

Each step closer to Nagini pressed heavier weights upon Genevieve's shoulders. Each step closer choked the veins visiting her heart. Each step closer... brought back memories Genevieve would rather not relive. She felt each cut, each bite and assault with a harsh prickle against her skin.

She felt incomplete.

After all, Catriona had teared vast amounts of flesh from her body, leaving a map of torture across her small form.

"Genevieve!" Nagini whispered excitedly, her hands pressing tightly to the bars as the witch approached.

"Good morning" Genevieve attempted to smile.

"Good morning...-" but then Nagini noticed the forced smile, how it curved a saddened frown into a sinister curl of lips. "- Is it happening?".

Genevieve nodded quietly as she pushed herself as close as possible against the cage.

"He'll be alright. Credence is strong, we know that",

"He isn't when it comes to this... I'm scared for him Nagini".

"Me too. But all we can do is be there when he returns", with that, Nagini curled her fingers with Genevieve's, intertwining them into a comforting gesture.

"I don't if we can do this any longer, I can't do this-"

"Don't think like that!-" Nagini exclaimed in a whisper, "- I've been doing this for too long to give up now, you've been doing this for too long. Soon enough we'll be in Paris and free".

"Freedom sounds nice" Genevieve chuckled lowly before pressing her forehead to Nagini's.

"You're my sister, Genevieve",

"And you're mine" she smiled in reply as she tightened her grip on Nagini's hand. It was a silent message between family, that no matter what they would stick together. Through thick and thin they would never separate.

☛✹☚

Soon enough, Genevieve was forced to leave Nagini's side. As time grew short between their meeting and Credence's return, many oddities began minimal assaults on Genevieve. Some would accidentally nudge the witch as they walked past, soon some would throw random sticks and stones from beneath them. Until finally, one woman had the audacity of pulling Genevieve's hair.

That's when Nagini forced her sister back to her tent. The maledictus feared that if she remained any longer, the girl would meet Credence more black and blue than last night. 

Genevieve approached the tent with a potent reluctance. She didn't want to see him hurt, Genevieve didn't want to brand that vision into her mind. However, she didn't have a choice.

With a deep, semi-reassuring breath, Genevieve pushed under the tarp to reveal a wounded Credence. His back had met the full force of his punishment but his hands hadn't been spared. New thin, crimson lashes layered onto old scars and following her gaze was the sound of Credence's deathly whimpers.

It didn't take long for Genevieve to be kneeled before him, his face cupped in her hands as he leaned in further toward her heat.

"Help me, please help me... Help me Gene" he cried into a heart-wrenching sob. Again and again repeating those words until Genevieve formulated a plan.

"Credence, Credence-" she cooed, pulling his eyes to meet hers in the process, "- I'm going to help you, but you must stay here while I go get some things... Okay?".

Hesitantly, Credence nodded his head and bitterly released Genevieve from his tightening grip. She was leaving him in an attempt to retrieve her wand from Skender and heal Credence effectively of his wounds.

As Genevieve stormed from her tent, her mind contemplated what she could trade for the use of her wand. She wasn't going to be another play thing, she was already working freely for the Circus Arcanus and Genevieve genuinely couldn't find anything to give. Her mind was blank with solutions.

"Ah, Genevieve-" his ugly voice sardonically cooed, "- I was expecting a visit from you".

"I need my wand" Genevieve demanded.

"And what makes you think I'll give it to you?" Skender questioned, chuckling slightly after his words; his whole body seemed to ripple with the laughter.

"I'll... I'll-".

"You'll what?".

"I-I don't know... But if you give me my wand
-just so I can heal Credence- I will do anything you wish".

"Anything?" The man sinisterly repeated, his voice echoing with control.

"Anything, just let me heal him"

...

"Fine!-" he barked in reply after a long, daunting pause, "- but he won't be the one taking care of the Zouwu".