The Prophecy of the Phoenix

I’ll Be Fine

Lucius Malfoy unlocked the door to his lover’s prison and let himself in.  James was nowhere to be found so he opened the bathroom door.  He was sitting in a bathtub full of soapy red water scrubbing away at his red and torn skin like a madman.  The blond rushed to his side and grabbed both his arms holding them tight.  “James stop!” he cried out.

Without a word James wrenched himself free and continued scrubbing. The only thing Lucius could think of to do was to pull his wand from his robes and yell “Stupefy!”

The dark haired wizard suddenly went limp and still.  Lucius quickly pulled him from the water and wrapped his bloody form in a soft white towel; calling for a house elf to fetch a healer.  He carried James out to the bed and gently laid him on the bed before reversing the curse. 

James immediately leapt into the blond’s arms and buried his face in his chest.  Lucius hugged him back and stroked his damp hair.  “I heard an interesting rumor today,” he said quietly.  “They’re saying that the dark lord got his world turned upside down last night.”

James sat back and nodded.  “I turned Egyptian Veela.”

Lucius tilted his head and looked at him questioningly.  “I don’t understand.”

“Well, I told you how it’s in my blood.  There was one in the Vale family like fifteen hundred years ago.  I also explained that it’s not always active, in fact, an active nydre gene is very rare anymore.”

“Yes, and it’s active in you.  You never really explained much more than that to me other than you can change form sort of like a werewolf.  The only difference being that you can do it at will.”

James nodded.  “And the fact that I still know who I am.  The thing is that the creature is inside me.  It has a mind of its own that I have to keep under control.  I can’t really explain it.  It’s like there’s my human half and my nydre half.  Together we make a whole.  Both sides show in my personality on a day to day basis, but my human half has to constantly maintain control.  Well last night I gave up control for a little while.”

“Oh.  My next question is why were you trying to scrub your skin off?”

“Because he touched me.  I may have given up control, but I still remember what happened.  Every time it replays in my mind I want to gouge out where he touched me.”

He started to cry but held back the tears.  Lucius pulled him close and kissed his forehead.  “It’s ok James.  Let it out.  I won’t tell anyone.”

“No.  I will not give that to him.”

“But he isn’t here now.  If you cry he’ll never know.”

“But I will know!  I made a vow to myself a long time ago that I would never give anyone the satisfaction of shedding tears for them.”

“There’s no shame in crying.  Anyone in your situation would be in much worse shape.  You need to deal with the pain you’re feeling.”

“I’ll do it the same way I always do.  I’ll repress it and bottle it up until it explodes in pure rage.”

“That isn’t healthy and you know it.  I want you to be ok.  I need you to be ok.”

“I’ll be fine.  I’m always fine.”

Lucius sighed in frustration and hugged him tight.  “At least eat something for me.  You haven’t touched a bite in four days.”

“I’m not hungry.  All I feel right now is sick.”

“Maybe later then.  I came to see how you were doing and to tell you that I found someone who can make a collar replica.”

“Oh.  That’s good.”

“I had to go to an elf.  He said it will take about two weeks.”

“So I have to pretend to like that sick bastard for a little longer.  No problem.”

“I’ll leave you to rest.  The healer should be here soon to fix you up.  You rest and do what you need to do.”

He kissed James and quietly left.

***

A/N:  Wow!  Another chapter the very next day.  That’s really good for me.  The question becomes is the story still good.  I tried to explain everything.  Leave a review if there’s something you still don’t understand.  Suggestions on how I can improve my writing would be appreciated.