Lasses Barracks One (Three Occupants)

"Knowing Will, it's probably got food-related information." Eliza laughed. "And maybe some interesting secrets of his..."

She paused. Part of her was curious as to what his possible journal might contain, but the other part of her, the Gryffindor conscience, pointed out that she couldn't read it without feeling guilty.

She continued stirring.

Lara rolled her eyes with a smile. "Of course." with a sneaky grin, she added. "What sorts of secrets, do you suppose? Maybe that he sleeps with a teddy bear?" she joked lightly with a laugh.

Eliza looked awkward. "...perhaps."

But inside, she was laughing.

Lara gaped, laughter threatning to overtake her. "Does he?"

"...No comment." Eliza finished mixing. "I think that's just about done...are we ready to set the trap?"

Lara shrugged. "Fair enough. I think we're all set. How do you want to position this baby?"

"Hmm...Would she sit down first?...And whereabouts..." Eliza mused.

Lara shrugged. "Hard to say. Depends if she's tired when she walks in, I guess. How about we stick to the classics and pin it over the door so it hit her right when she walks in, regardless of what she does?"

"Okay." Eliza agreed, removing and vanishing the spoon.

((Lol! Fitzwill would just like to clarify that he doesn't sleep with a teddy bear!))

[NEW TIMELINE]

Fitzwilliam walked towards the Lasses Barracks quietly. It had been several days since he had convince Lara to sneak out with him to the world of civilization. It was quite an adventure. He still didn't quite believe that he and Lara was able to escape a Purger attack with minor scratches to the both of them. Still something bothered him. During their encounter he had seen, or thought he'd seen a Purger hit Lara straight on with some sort of unfamiliar spell. Of course, when asked afterwards, Lara brushed it off - saying that it didn't hit her at all and since she seemed to be fine - he believed her. Until that is, his dream. He dreamt that the spell did hit her and that she was bleeding everywhere - quite a macabre dream (a nightmare actually) but it was not unusual for the minds in Morpheus Keep.

He was trying to brush it off, but his mind couldn't get the idea out of his head. He resolved to just come and see that Lara was fine, with his own eyes.

He knocked. "Lara? You there?"

Lara winced as she made her way towards the reflection. Despite her claims and assurances that all was well after the purger attack down at the bar, she was in agony. Waves of pain radiated throughout her body, making her feel as though every inch of flesh was being consumed by flames of hell. Often, late at night she'd still be awakem unable to sleep from the unbearable pain of it all. Despite that though, she still forced a smile upon her face. She had her siblings to look after, after all. She didn't want to look weak in front of them. Not to mention she didn't want to cause anyone to worry. Especially Will...

Raising her shirt slightly, she gagged at the sight of the swollen, crimson gash on her side, surrounded by bruised purple flesh. It looked a bit infected... The sound of Will knocking, however, broke her from her reverie as she hastily covered the gash. "It's open," she called out.

Will breathed out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding at the sound of Lara's voice. His dream had been so graphic... Anyway, he shook his head and opened the door.

"Hey L." Will entered the Barracks. He took a long look at her to make sure no blood or anything at the sort was on her. Then as an added measure he pinched himself. Then he realised that he'd been staring at her for an unusual amount of time without speaking. He grinned sheepishly.

"Hey Fitz," she greeted in return a bit breathlessly as she ran a hand through her long blonde locks in a nervous gesture. "What's up?"

An eyebrow arched as she noticed the long look Will gave her. Awkwardly, she stood on one foot, shifting slightly, wondering why he was staring at her like that. A chill of fear coursed through her as various scenarios and explanations raced through her mind. Did one of the others find out about their venture? Did Will know that she'd been lying about her injury?

Trying to keep her calm and composure, she attempted to break the tension with a joke. "Hey, I know I'm no Ms. Wizarding Universe, but come on, give me a break, it's early in the morning!" she remarked, with a forced smile and laugh.

She made her way over to her bed, and jumped upon it, only to immediately regret the action, wincing as a sharp pain hit her side, as though she had just been struck by a dagger.

Will was gonna comment on the weather but then figured that was really awful. He really had no reasonable excuse to be there, apart from wanting to verify his dream had been only just a dream. However, the next second, Will forgot whatever he was about to say. He was on Lara's side immediately. Concern and worry was fighting for dominance in his features.

"Are you alright? W - What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Lara replied quickly, forcing a smile on her face, in spite of what felt like a dagger being shoved upon her side, burning it into a cinder of wrath. "Just a, um, cramp. Yeah, twisted my side the wrong way." she lied.

"What about you? Not that I mind, but what's with the visit." Desperately trying to steer the conversation away from her, she asked in a joking tone, "Did someone steal your teddy bear again?"

She turned her gaze to Will, trying to focus on him instead of the pain. It shouldn't be too hard, she figured. After all, half the time she'd find herself staring at Will purely on accident and as a habit. Especially when he was flying and she could see all his muscles...

It worked, since she smiled softly in appreciation of his good looks, though she wondered why she saw flashes of sparkles circling all around Will. Either Will was all of the sudden the King of Tinker Bell and all of the fairy people, or...

Yeah, maybe Lara did have a problem.

"Oh, no you don't." Fitzwilliam chuckled at Lara's attempt to change the conversation. "Teddy's fine, thanks for asking."

He reached for her arm so that he could stir her to the truth. He knew there was something she wasn't telling and he was determined to find out what. "Come on Lara, what's up?"

He looked at her as the last of the merriment left his blue eyes. "I know you're hiding something. Your laugh doesn't quite reach your eyes when you lie." An observation he acquired long ago. Back when they were still at Hogwarts and he was following her around like a little devoted puppy.

"Good to know," Lara giggled. "Wouldn't want you to panic and turn the Keep inside out, looking for that little furball," she replied, her words sprinkled with laughter.

"Not much," she sighed, though winced as it sent another wave of pain upon her side. "Just... bored, really. And kinda tired, is all." she replied absentmindedly, though this time her focus was not on the pain, but on Will's touch. In an effort to reasssure him, she let her other hand fall upon his, both as a comfort to him, as well as a support for herself since she was beginning to feel a bit dizzy. "Stop worrying. It's no big deal. I'm fine, really."

Her smile lessened as she watched Will's mood seem to lessen as well, the light fading from his eyes. The sparkling around him was hypnotizing, in a way, and getting brighter and brighter, faster and faster. Entranced, she raised a hand, attempting to touch the sparkles. "So many Fairies..." she breathed out, a bit delirious, from the light and the pain.

"Do you have wings now too?" she asked breathlessly, circling her head in time to the "dancing and bowing faeries". "Must be a hard job, having to watch Tinker Bell and all her minions. Hey look, they're flying away..." she remarked, getting up with another wince to follow them out of her room.

"Are you on something?" Will muttered as he used his other arm to support her head - to stop it from bobbing. Her eyes seemed to be a little unfocused and her words were slurring - not to mention her hands were cold. Any other time he would have just laughed at this (maybe even convince her to give him some of whatever the he'll she was on) but at the moment he had a hunch that there was more to what she was feeling than seeing the Fairy King.

Something was wrong he could sense it. "Lara, you're delirius... Come on let's get you some water or some thing." He manuvered his body around so tha he was able to put her arm around his shoulder, so he could support her.

"There's sparkles! Sparkles, everywhere! W-Will... Why didn't you ever tell me you were the Fairy King?" Lara asked, trying to pry away from Will and follow the light.

"No... No, I don't need water... I-I want a fairy too..." she uttered deliriously. "No fair, why do you get to be a Fairy Princess and I don't?"

She swayed slightly as she stood, holding unto the doorway for support. Everything before her seemed to fade into a swirl of colors and blurs and sparkles. Those damn sparkles! "Th-This room needs to stop spinning. I-I..." she swayed dangerously on the spot, becoming more and more pale by the minute. Unbeknownst to her, she even started shivering, despite it being a fairly warm day.

Her gaze wondered down to her side where dark crimson was beginning to stain her corset top. "I can't breath..." she gasped before collapsing unto the ground, all the colors in the room fading into darkness.

Will had been saying her name all throughout this in an effort to get her focus back to reality. When she started to sway, his worried hunch earlier started to go on overdrive. He hovered near her. Really to strike if anything happened.

In the blink of an eye, Lara fell and Fitzwilliam was stunned. "Lara!"

However, he recovered quickly enough and he bend over her in a heartbeat. "Dammit Lara, what's wrong?"

Then he saw it and his spine turned cold. There was blood on her. It wasn't as much as what he saw in his dream, but sh!t, this was real.

"Sh!t, sh!t, sh!t...." Will didn't even realise he was saying it repeatedly.

He needed to see the wound - he knew one or two things about healing, having read a few books on the subject (Diana had an entire bookshelf dedicated to healing spells). She seemed to be out cold, but he might as well ask for permission.

"Lara, I'm just going to look at the wound, okay?" His hands were shaking. It was like his dream all over again. His fault. It was all his fault... later, later, he needed to help her right now.

His wand was in his hand as with his other he slowly lifted up her shirt. It was bad. Very bad. He didn't even know how to begin to heal it.

"Fuuck, fuuck, fuuck..." He stopped and got a hold of himself. "You'll be all right, Lara, I promise."

He started with all of the simple healing spells. But nothing seemed to work. Not even close.

He alternated between cursing and promising that she'll be all right as he got into the more complicated spells and still... nothing. Nothing was working.

"Fitz, what are you doing in...?" Darius stopped dead.

"Darius!" Will said surprised.

But Darius stood as if he was petrified.

"I need you to get help okay?" Will said acting calm. He realized Darius wasn't really responding. He left Lara's side just for a moment and grasped Darius by either shoulders.

"Darius, Darius, look at me." Will said.

Darius obliged.

"I need you to get help. I need you to get Val... or Tav... or who ever you can. Just get help." Will begged him. Will was trying very much not to shake. "Okay?"

Darius nodded and as Will released him, he started running in the direction of help.

Will returned back to Lara. "You're going to be okay, Lara. You're going to be fine. Lara, I promise."

Vaguely aware of her surroundings and the panic and commotion occurring around her, Lara opened her eyes. At least, she tried to. It was getting harder to stay focused and not fall back into a tempting slumber and exhaustion that was taking over and ensnaring her. Though her vision was beginning to blur, she could vaguely make out Will's panicking form and reassuring words pouring out, and did her best to calm him. She attempted to shift in her position, yet seemed to be deprived of the strength to even lift a finger, unable to focus on anything except exhaustion and the pain radiating throughout her body.

She could see nothing but darkness around her. Darkness... and a light. The white light... In a few terrified seconds that felt like eternity, Lara truly believed this was it, this was the end, and any moment now, one of her shaky, unstable breaths would be her last. It was a depressing and petrifying thought in itself, not only because of the people who needed her that she would be leaving behind, but of all the words she had put off and ignored for so long, that she never got a chance to say. All those unspoken thoughts and emotions...

"It is how it is," she thought to herself. "At least this way, I'll see everyone else again..."

Using every ounce of strength that was yet to be zapped by the mysterious toxin within her, and attempted to say what she believed would be her last, she exhaled, "Will.... I-I... I lo-..."

Unfortunately, not even her last sentence would be heard, for her eyes rolled to the back of her head, as her body began to seize in erratic, dangerous convulsions.

*Minutes Prior, in the Council Room*

“You are a bit too young yet to wield it, Demyan. But when I think you’re ready, I’ll more than happily return it to you. For now, though, Lucifer Viper-“ Valerio attempted to explain.

“... is one ****ing ill-tempered ghost! I don’t know who s*** in his bowl of Ectoplasm Krispies but ... Merlin, he has issues!” Demyan shouted in protest, feeling he was more than ready for the responsibility of wielding the dagger immediately.

“He’s dead, Demyan, of course he has issues. But he is your grandfather and even though I don’t even agree with some of his opinions, I won’t tolerate you speaking about anyone – particularly him – in that manner, do I make myself clear?” Valerio corrected the teen firmly. “There’s really no need to swear up and down like that. I get you’re angry – I do, really. You’re not the only one here who knows loss.”

“You’re not my parents!” Demyan shot back, rebelling against the gentle tones of Valerio’s rebuke.

“No, I’m not. Would have a lot of explaining to do if I were. But I’m positive they’d side with me, Demyan.”


*Present*

News of Lara’s injury and startling condition made the previous conversation seem so long ago to both Valerio Addams and Demyan Kaminski. Both men ran at top speed, going so far as to push the other out of the way in the attempt to follow Darius.

“What the Hell?!” Valerio asked, terrified at the sight of Lara on the floor convulsing. It reminded him of how his biological mother had eventually passed. “No one move her, and take care if you’re going to move! She won’t thank you for stepping on her...” he ordered, pushing Darius and Will aside to plow on through to examine the revealed wound, not moving to restrain Lara unless he thought it would result in severe injury otherwise. “Someone make sure she doesn’t swallow her tongue, but don't put anything in her mouth!” Had this been a time for joking he would’ve added a comical bit about the potential of losing a finger.

“Anyone have any idea how and when she got this?!” he asked to the other three in the hall with him, gently touching the bruising to assess what sort of damage had been done. It looked infected to his eyes, the flesh nearest the wound reddened as though with inflammation. He had watched Juria – the resident doctor at Hogwarts when it still stood, and his stepmother to boot – tend to all manner of wounds, most of them on his father but some indeed from patients tended to at the school. They would need something to disinfect and treat this with, and the only place Valerio knew that had such equipment happened to be the Keep’s hospital wing.


Demyan stared in shock at his elder sister’s body twitching and flinching erratically. Some of the movements reminded him of when he’d seen his mother flinch from Sevastyan. Immediately the teen became worried that whatever his mother had, Lara now had too. “She seemed fine yesterday...” the teen offered, shaking his head as he knelt beside his sister.

“Dammit, Lara, c’mon... snap out of it...” the younger Kaminski pleaded, more a whine than a demand, and placed one hand on his sister’s shoulder while the other attempted to take her by the hand. Much as they bickered and fought as children, and even now as teens, he had made a promise to his mother to keep both of his sisters safe. Come hell or high water, Demyan was going to stick to that promise even if he had to sacrifice himself to do it.

The young wizard only wished he knew what to do in this case...

"Lara... " Will began, he hastily wiped the moisture from his eyes. "Don't speak... don't... just save your energy. Help is coming. Lara, help is coming." He stuttered as she attempted to say what he suspected were her last words.

He felt as if the air was punched out of his lungs as she started convulsing. No. They weren't going to be her last... they weren't. It couldn't be. He wouldn't let it. "Lara... please don't. Not yet. Not yet."

Then things started to move as if a slow motion spell was cast. Darius ran back in with the armada in the form of Valerio and Demyan. Will easily followed Val's orders finding it easier to do as what was said instead of thinking. Not that he had the capacity to think at the moment. His mind went blank with shock.

His mind started racing again when Val asked his question. “Anyone have any idea how and when she got this?!”

He didn't even think about lying or omitting certain things. Screw getting in trouble. Served him right anyway. It was his idea. Now Lara's life was hanging in a bit of thread and it was all his fault. Will was willing to sacrifice everything he had and more to get her right. "A cup - couple," he was trying to jump start his brain. "A couple of days ago - we went out just for a couple of drinks."

He swallowed. "We were attacked by Purgers. I didn't think... I think she was - " He breathed. "She was hit by some sort of curse..."


Darius watched in horrid fascination. It was very similar to a Muggle car crash and one just couldn't look away. It was the first time he really saw anything life-threatening. His carefully constructed sheltered life at the Casillas home seemed like a thousand miles away. Nicolas and his foster siblings had made sure to keep him from anything remotely dangerous and kept macabre details out in news.