Mortem Macnair's House

OOC: Be back in a few.

Phoenix... death isn't the answer... revenge won't heal your pain or put him in any... killing him will NOT do anyone any good. With him in Azkaban you would know that you stepped above his cruelty, and showed the world that we don't need to fear him.

Besides, look around you! He's impoverished! He couldn't buy his way out if he tried. Just don't let revenge control you. Revenge controlled Crouch and look how he turned out!

Phoenix: -Looks away, shoulders shaking now with sadness and regret-

Mortem: -Knowing he doesn't have much time, he rasps- Boy... come here... Important...

-I get only a little bit closer to him, my wand still on him- What is it?

That book... You might find it useful.

-Pauses to breathe-

And don't be too hard on her... I deserve this. She's got inner strength. She's a good gal. -Glances at the shaking Phoenix- She needed this. I needed to get rid of that Pixie. We're even.

-Breathing becomes more difficult-

OOC: Because he's a fool, and hated many of his fellow DE, Mortem kept a record of every DE he knew about in the book.

-I take the book- Thank you, but why are you giving me this?

Because maybe you can bring some light back into this world. I'm too far gone. Hell, I like being the way I am. But I wouldn't want the next generation to end up like this.

-Gasps for breath-

Remember what I said about her... And, boy? Make this world a better place for everyone. -His breathing begins to falter, and his heartbeat stutter-

-With resolve in my words and face- I will...

Mortem: Good. -Sighs-

Phoenix: -Tears running down her cheeks- I'm sorry. I didn't mean-

Mortem: Don't be. I'm a git. I deserve to die.

Phoenix: But-

Mortem: If you want to make yourself feel better, help your friend.

Phoenix: -Nods-

Mortem: -Grins- See you in hell, kid. -He slips away-

OOC: Thank GOD! I've been waiting weeks for that.

-I close his eyes and stay silent-

-Unable to stand his silence, she tries to talk-

I'm s-sorry... I didn't want... I don't... -She covers her face, ashamed- I just c-couldn't... The way he taunted me I...

-I just walk over to Phoenix and hug her comfortingly- It's over and done...

-Leans into Artemis's hug, shaking and crying- He's g-gone... Rest easy now, Pixie...

She is, Phoenix... she is...

-Realises she's ruining Artemis's shirt- Sorry... -Goes to use a spell to dry it, but remembers her wand is on the floor. She can't help but cringe from it slightly-

-I walk over and pick her wand up for her and hand it back to her- Let's just go home... as far as I'm concerned, this was an assisted suicide...

-Puts her wand in her pocket- Ok... -Relief washes through her, and she manages to gain some form of control over her tears- Thanks, Artemis... I should have kept control. I should have... -She trails off, ending in a sigh- When we get back to the castle, I need to clean up.

-Comforting voice- Okay... and Phoenix, you're only human. To err is human...

-She simply nods, while a taunting voice in her head whispers-


But you're not, are you?

-She sighs- Let's go... -She looks back at Mortem again, wishing she could have done something different-

-I keep my arm around her and help her outside and apparate out-

-She lets Artemis support her and she apparates-

She walks through the forest confidently, humming to herself. Gloria cuts a path through an overgrown patch of brambles with a spell and looks at the house with a smile.

The smile quickly slides from her face.

Gloria rushes towards the open door, her wand drawn. She looks inside and gasps at what she sees.

Mortem's wine lies in a puddle on the floor, and the man himself is crumpled in a corner. She strides over and kneels beside him, a single tear sliding down her cheek. Gloria isn't, however, the type of woman to break down. She lifts her wand and murmurs some spells in an attempt to find who did this. She comes up blank, except for a sense of a wild animal.

Gloria stands and leaves without a backwards glance. She wipes the tear angrily from her cheek, and returns home, intending to contact each of her comrades to find the killer.

"And when I find them..." She says to the forest, "they'll wish they'd never been born."

OOC: Ok, I'm gonna feel weird RPing this on my own... Anyone wanna play some extra back-up for Jay or Gloria?

I could play a DE that Crouch assigned to help Jay since he couldn't be there

Gloria and Darcy approach the clearing. Jay waits patiently, still wearing the travelling cloak. Darcy breaks off from Gloria before Jay can see him, and he climbs a tree. He casts a Disillusionment charm on himself.

"I see you received my owl," Gloria says, walking forwards.

Jay nods. "Yes. Can we get on with this? I would like to get back to Hogwarts as soon as possible."

Gloria smirks and draws her wand. "As you wish... You should know, however, that you won't be alive to when you enter the gates."

Jay chuckles and raises his hand, his wand already gripped in his fist. "We'll see about that."

OOC: Ok, thanks, Crouch.