Waiting II

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

Audrina dashed through the courtyard, long dark hair whipping behind her. She was frantic. She needed to find her best friend, right now, or bad things would happen. Very bad things.

"Kyliegh, where are you?!" Her voice rang through the humid night air, ringing off the walls of the castle.

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Kyleigh sauntered down the halls in a pure white gown that clung to her body just slightly. She saw her friend, knowing that if she was this frantic, something was terribly wrong. "Muffliato" She wanted to make sure no one could hear them. "What's wrong, Audri?" Her eyes were compassionate, searching for the reason why her friend was so upset.

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

"Ky, look what I just got." Audrina tossed a ripped-open letter at the blond, and nearly keeled over. She sank to her knees to catch her breath, while giving Kyleigh the time to read the letter, written in scarlet ink.

"I've just run all the way down from the Owlery, but... seriously... this is bad."

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Kyleigh's crystal blue eyes scanned the letter, widening with each line she read.

Audri,
I know you and I don't agree on a lot about things, like this whole Death Eater thing, but I just wanted to fill you in on something.

I know you're friends with that Kissinger girl, but she's dangerous to be around. Your head of house, Marvolo Black, brought her out to the Death Eaters and let them play with her for hours. That's what really happened to her. Black doesn't want Elan knowing, or even the Dark Lord for that matter. It was a risky thing he did.

There is an impending war coming, and you might not be safe. Pick your side now and stick with it. It's the only way you'll survive. If anyone asks, I didn't tell you.

-Blaise

Ky's heart lifted a few feet as she saw what he had written. Now Elan could finally find out! "Please, take this to Elan....I can't!" She handed her friend the letter hoping she'd go right away.

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

Audrina looked at Kyleigh, her eyes sad.

"Ky, what am I supposed to do? Blaise is all I have! Let's face it, my mother doesn't give a damn, my father's been dead for years (courtesy of my ever-so-beloved mother), and Blaise... he took care of me, right from the start. But... why didn't you tell me this happened?!"

She titled her head as she survied the letter.

"He told me to pick a side... I can't do that. I think we should wait on it. Ky, why would Blaise send me this?! It could be a trap, and we both know I'm not one to fall into traps."

She sighed, then.

"Come on. Let's go find Elan."

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Kyleigh looked at Audrina, not able to tell her friend why she hadn't informed her of what had happened. "I...Audri..." She walked with her friend, heading towards Elan. "I hate Marvolo...you know that..." She ran a hand through her hair, grabbing her friends arm and turning her around. "I don't want you doing anything to put you in danger... and you and I both know you have to make a decision. The letter is right, I'm dangerous to be affiliated with if you don't know who you're fighting with."

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

Audrina raised an eyebrow at her best friend.

"He is rather an annoying jerk, isn't he? But why didn't you tell me? I saw him two days ago." She clenched her fists. "So this is what he wouldn't tell me. B*stard."

"Ky, we grew up together. I mean, our parents were best friends, so it only makes sense that I stick with you." She smiled then, danger in her eyes. "And what's life without a little danger?"

Together they dashed up the spiral staircase to Elan's office. Just as they were about to push open the door, they heard a silky voice, a killer's voice, issuing from behind the door.

The door opened slowly, and Audrina barely had time to stuff the letter down her shirt.

Audrina and Kyleigh both hissed at the exact same time. Marvolo.

[Marvolo Black]

As Marvolo walked out, he saw who he'd already known was there, and he grew a large smile. The two little bitches who he knew were conspiring against him. He swiftly closed the door behind him.

"Good afternoon ladies," he said smoothly. "Elan's quite busy at the moment, but I'm able to help, if you'd like?" he continued, being sickeningly sweet.

He looked between them, letting his piercing eyes bore into them. He continued to smiie.

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

A feral smirk twisted Audrina's lips, and another invoulntary hiss escaped her. She could almost feel the waves of hatred rolling off him, and she was sure he could feel them rolling off both her and Ky.

She was going numb. She could feel it. When her friends got angry, their temper was flames. Her was the opposite. When she was angry, her temper felt like ice, numbing ice. When she couldn't feel her face, it was bad, and right at the moment, her rage was reaching that very dangerous point.

She composed herself. "Good afternoon, sir. I was wondering if he had time to see us. And while I'm sure you're... very helpful, this is something only the Headmaster can understand." She smiled at him, just as sickeningly sweet.

She met his eyes, and glared back. It wasn't often she really had to glare at someone, and she could feel her rage affecting her body. She hoped with all her heart that her own icy gaze had scared him.

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Ky felt a shiver run up her spine as she stared at Marvolo, her eyes telling him how she felt. "Evening." Under her breath, though she knew he heard, she muttered a simple "Bastard."

She gripped her wand in her hand subconsciously, knowing what could happen. "I don't think you're capable of helping people in a positive way."

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo continued to smile.

"As surprising as this MAY sound, the Headmaster has... more important things to deal with than two, spiteful little girls. As do I, you should be eternally grateful I'm offering my help at all!" he exclaimed, still standing firmly between them and Elan's office.

He now shifted his attention to Kyleigh, visibly glancing at her readied wand, then looking back up into her eyes and raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, and aren't you just the most grateful one here, after everything I've done for you..." his voice was still disgustingly mellifluous, but in there was a very deadly undertone.

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

Audrina smiled back, her in-bred Pureblood values of 'divide and conquer' coming into play.

"Fine." Her voice was aloof, cool, calm and collected. She had only ever used this voice to let Ky know that there were other ways to get under the offending being's skin. "Perhaps he does, but I'm sure that there are plenty of other teachers who could help us. It's about Ancient Runes sir, we need to find the new teacher."

The lies rolled off her tongue. Good lies came from truth, the way butter came from creame. Audrina knew she could manuver them into a favorable position, but she needed Kyleigh to play along, and she wasn't sure if her oldest friend would be able to overcome her hatred of the man in front of them.

In fact, Audrina was having trouble keeping her own cool. She watched as his attention shifted to Kyleigh, standing tense and ready to spring next to her, and, for a moment, Audrina wondered how much trouble she'd get in if she threw the letter-opener she had in her pocket at him.

She decided it was worth the risk.

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Kyleigh watched as the letter opener flew towards him. It was like time was suspended for a moment. She looked at Audrina, wondering why she had done this. Did she not know what Marvolo was capable of and willing to do? Either way, the idea of Marvolo being stabbed and dying from a simple letter opener was quite amusing.

[Marvolo Black]

With a rapid flick of his wand, which was pure reflex by now, Marvolo had stopped the letter-opener in mid-air, blinking once or twice as it was aimed right between his eyes, an inch or so away. Using his empty hand, he delicately picked the letter-opener out of the air, and slid it into the folds of his obsidian-black cloak.

After a beat, he replied, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

"Odd, considering classes haven't commenced yet, but do you not think her office would be a more appropriate place to look for Professor Marlow?"

[Audrina Dawn Zabini]

Audrina leveled a glare his way. That was her favorite letter-opener, damnit! Sigh. She'd have to filch it back from his office later. Not too hard, considering. Not that he knew she'd been the one who took the Invisibility cloak in the first place... Nor did she have any desire to tell him. She valued her life on some level.

Damn, the bastard was trying to beat her at her own game. Whoever broke first and started yelling would be the loser.

"We did sir, she wasn't there. And we both know no student can get into the Teacher's Lounge. It's password-covered." She smiled snarkily. Not that she didn't know the password. Too many night spent wandering, she supposed.

She sent a glance at Kyleigh, still rigid at her side.

"Ky..." She said it so carefully, and so quietly, her lips didn't even move.