Le Frère de Sang

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTES ON THE CHAPTER - Okay, in this chapter you really see the limit to my writing! I cannot write arguments and my battle scenes are not brilliant either. However, in this chapter you get arguments, that last all of fifteen seconds, and a battle scene that lasts a few pages. It isn’t brilliant, so no you don’t need to tell me how bad it was. If you have any ways for me to improve on my arguments and battle scenes then please review and tell me.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sighed and glanced at the clock again. It was seven thirty, they were now half an hour late. I looked back down at the roast beef dinner I had cooked. I had made sure the meat wasn’t too well done and was still red in the middle so Micah would be happy. I had also been very careful to include all different kinds of vegetables with lots of different flavours and textures, hell I even included some vegetables I hated eating and I was going to eat them tonight for Asher.

We had arranged that tonight we would all meet up for dinner at my house and that I would cook and through the marks Micah and I would give Asher a taste of all the different foods. Then of course we were going to have a quiet…okay probably not so quiet night in. I had cooked everything ready, I had bought new clothes especially for the occasion. I had gone all out for tonight and they weren’t even here!

I glanced at the clock once more. Seven forty. So, that was it then. They had forgotten or they just didn’t want to bother. I tried to push down all my hurt and anger at them then changed my mind and opened up all the marks instead and threw what I felt at them. I’d practised recently to talk through, send emotions and memories through, and to open and close the marks. Now I could put all that I learned to good practise. I threw everything I could at them then slammed the marks shut on them.

“Assholes.” I grumbled and picked up the bottle of wine returning it to the fridge. Yes wine, that identification card from Gringotts that every wizard receives when they turn seventeen has really helped me. It helped me get into the club before I became Asher’s lover and it helped me prepare for tonight. Wizards receive the card at seventeen when they are officially ‘of age’ in wizarding law. Because of wizards thinking they are above muggles the card can be used in the muggle world and will show that you are of age there too so despite needing to be over 21years of age in America to get into clubs and buy alcohol I could get in at seventeen.

I waved my hand over the food casting preserving charms on everything. That way the meal would last me a few days and if they got hungry at all then they weren’t coming in to eat my food because they never turned up today.

I cut myself off a slice of beef, a rather large slice of beef, grabbed a Yorkshire pudding, some roast potatoes, swede, carrots, peas, broccoli, asparagus and gravy. There was no way I was going to eat those leaks or the cauliflower, cabbage or new potatoes and spring onions. I didn’t like them so I wasn’t going to eat them. I would have if Asher was here but he isn’t so no.

I was halfway through my meal when the phone went. I wonder if Micah and Asher had realised what they’d missed and were calling. Or…oh damn! I hadn’t thought of that…what if they’d been in an accident?! What if they were hurt?! Images of a car accident, a bloody car accident, slammed across my minds eye. I threw myself from the chair, tripped over the table leg and scrabbled across the floor to reach the phone. ‘Micah’ was flashing on the screen. He was okay, if he was calling me then he was okay…but that doesn’t mean I’m not angry. I accepted the call.

“Hello.” Not a question.

“Harry! God we are so sorry for missing tonight but…but something‘s happened, it‘s Anita,” of course it is, always Anita. “She‘s been kidnapped and…”

“WHAT?!” I yelled then winced at my own volume.

“Yeah, she‘s been kidnapped and we were so busy planning the rescue that we forgot about the dinner this evening.”

“No, no don‘t worry about it. I‘ve put preserving charms on the food…she‘s been kidnapped? By who?”

“We don‘t know who it is but it‘s just a group of people up to no good who wanted Anita out of the way because they were planning something big to go down on Halloween and they couldn‘t have her ruining it for them.” I nodded despite the fact that he couldn’t see.

“Right. I‘m on my way, where are you?”

“No!” Micah yelled and I pushed the phone violently away from my ear as the yell hurt my ear drum. “No you‘re not coming! I‘m not having you be put in danger Harry, just stay there safe.”

“Micah don‘t be absurd I can help, I…”

“Besides we‘ve already left. I‘ve got to go Harry. Love you, see you later. Bye.” And he hung up.

I stared at the phone. He hung up. He refused my help then hung up before I could argue. I gritted my teeth, the anger rising. He wanted to keep me safe, that’s all well and good, but I wanted to keep him safe too and I couldn’t do that waiting at home like a good little house wife! Damn them!

Fuck it. I’m going. Whether they want me to or not I will go and help them rescue Anita. They are not dying or getting hurt when I could be there to stop it happen. Besides, they had never seen me full power and in the heat of battle before. They might be able to win without me but there wasn’t a chance in hell that they’d loose with me.

I threw the phone back in its hanger and raced up the stairs banishing my clothes as I went, there was no way I was going to a fight wearing formal garb - it just wasn‘t done! I flicked my wrist and the wardrobe slammed open before I reached it. I found the few robes I kept in America and pulled them all out throwing them to the bed. I threw them all out of my way until I found the only pair of robes suitable to wear to a fight, a black set of robes similar to the ones Snape always wore.

They had buttons all up the front, about a hundred of them, but luckily the robes were enchanted to do themselves up. I pulled them up over me, slipping my feet into the tight legged trousers and the magic did the rest. I was dressed in seconds. All I had to do then was find the shoes that went with the robes, attach the bottoms of the trouser legs to the shoes, tie my hair up and go. I did all that then summoned my wand and invisibility cloak to me, pulled on the cloak, and focused all my magic on casting on taking me to the circus. I disappeared with a pop.

I looked around, the place was practically empty, though when there was a threat this big I suppose it was right for the place to be deserted. I pulled my wand out and rested it in my palm.

“Point me, Anita Blake.” My wand spun around once in my palm before stopping and I ran off in the direction it pointed. I cheated occasionally, apparating to points a few hundred metres away so I wouldn’t have to run everywhere. Being invisible also meant no-one would see my magical displays. I apparated, ran, apparated, ran for ten minutes before finally ending up at the centre of the city, five miles from home. The wand pointed into a house that lay opposite and from the way the door was slammed open and from the noises coming from within I’d say I found the right place.

I kept my cloak wrapped around me and stepped into the house casting a bubble around myself so no-one could sense me, smell me or hear me. The hose was a wreck, chairs thrown over and a table broken in half. There was a smashed mirror, blood spots on the floor and shadows lingering in every orifice to be seen. I cast the point me spell again and it lead me out of the back of the house where there was a large garden with a smaller house at the back. I could see people fighting in the house and death lingered there. I was at the right place.

I stormed forwards, slammed the door open and took a good look at the scene before me. Micah was transformed, Richard half transformed. Jean-Claude was in a rage, as was Asher and Damien was also fighting along with countless others from the circus and others from the opposing side. I could see Anita tied up to a chair with blood seeping from her and Jean-Claude’s team were trying to advance that far forwards but the ‘enemy’ were protecting the chair and keeping Jean-Claude away.

“…you‘re pathetic and ugly all of you! Die!” I rolled my eyes at the words of the obvious leader of the bad guys. Typical words really, at least Voldemort was more creative.

“MICAH! WATCH OUT!” I snapped my gaze to Anita then followed her gaze to Micah who spun only just in time to attack the guy who was creeping up on him with a knife. Micah took him down easily but my adrenaline had spiked and my heart rate had increased so much the blood was pounding in my ears.

“Oh dear, did your kitty cat nearly get maimed?! Hahaha! Well, looky here, it looks like this vampire has already been maimed. Look at it, a complete monster it‘s skin all melted and despicable. What happened little vampire? Were you turned by a blind vamp? Because only pretty people are turned into vampires.” I watched as Asher’s eyes grew cold and his face grew emotionless. He flicked his head and his hair curtained his face once more. Anger welled up inside of me again and I stared at the man who had thrown the insults.

I cancelled all of my spells and threw away my cloak.

“You are going to pay for saying that you worthless piece of shit!” I started off quietly then my voice grew to a scream. The man’s eyes snapped to me, widening in shock. I grasped my wand and pointed it at him gathering my magic to surround me. I pulled on everything I had, all of my magic to come to my call and be ready to attack. I always have the most magic during a fight. It all comes to my call when I’m fighting and I have double the amount in a fight than I do with any other type of magic. Defence against the dark arts and duelling were my best skills.

“Oh and what have we here, a boy with a stick?! How pathetic.” I let an angry smile cross my face.

“You underestimate me.” I twisted my wrist. “Confundus! Expelliarmus! Flipendo!” I shouted and the man eventually flew back and hit the wall behind him. I hear a snap then the man fell to the floor holding his arm to him with a yell of pain. I glared at him and he turned shocked eyes to me.

“ATTACK THE MAGICIAN! KILL HIM!” The man yelled and I snarled, along with others.

“SILENCIO! PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!” The man was silenced immediately and his arms snapped to his sides, his legs snapped straight and the man became as stiff as a board falling to lie on the floor. I snapped my attention to the others in the room. They were all still fighting. If there’s one thing that works in any fight though it’s the patronus spell. I did the hand movement and concentrated on the moment I found out Asher and Micah loved me. “Expecto Patronum.”

From my wand came a brilliant flash of white light then came Prongs holding his head down and charging around full speed to all the bad guys in the room. I turned my wand away.

“Serpensortia, Engorgio!” A serpent was blasted from my wand then became five times larger than usual. I hissed at it to attack all except the weres and the vampires but to not use enough poison to kill but enough to hurt. It hissed its pleasure and slithered off. I turned to my next opponent and flew curse after cure; the boils curse, the stun spell, disarming them, freezing them, confusing them.

“Ah!” I gasped as my wand was snatched from my hand. I saw a guy with sickly yellow skin and greasy brown hair holding it triumphantly in his hand.

“Not so cocky now I have your stick are you witch.” I growled.

“Again, you under estimate me.” I pushed my hands forwards and sent a blast of magic at the man. He flew back, eyes wide and hit the wall hard before sliding down it. I saw a trail of blood follow him but it wasn’t a big trail and the man was still breathing he was just knocked out. I summoned my wand and spun around casting disarming curse after disarming curse and stupefy after stupefy.

Eventually it was just Jean-Claude’s subjects and friends and me stood up. I looked around the room to check that and saw Richard snap one guys neck before throwing the carcass away. Micah, Asher, Jason and Jean-Claude raced forwards and undid the chains and ropes holding Anita. No sooner had she become free did she wrap her arms tightly around them all trying to hug all of them at once. I looked away, I was okay with them loving her but I didn‘t need to see it. My eyes caught the still frozen man on the floor, the man who had insulted Asher. I stood over him glaring down.

“Didn‘t your mother ever tell you that if you can‘t say anything nice then you shouldn‘t say anything at all?” The man glared completely unable to move anything except for his eyes. I crouched down and pointed my wand at his mouth. “You insulted my lover and my friends and for that you must pay. I‘ve learned so many spells in my lifetime, some of them can kill in an instant, others can cause you so much pain you‘d go insane but never leave a mark on your body. I can cast spells that would make you do my bidding, spells to turn you into animals, spells that can turn all of your body into a hundred tiny birds, or I could just have my snake over there inject a poison into you that is incurable.”

The man’s eyes were wide with terror and I couldn’t help but enjoy it. He should be fearful. He shouldn’t have insulted Asher or risked Asher and Micah’s lives by kidnapping Anita.

“But, luckily for you I am not a bad person. I don‘t hurt people unless they have hurt or killed those I love. So, I‘m going to do a spell, a very complicated spell. It will make you always remember me and my friends but be unable to speak of me. It will make your mouth fill with a disgusting taste every time you insult somebody. It will make you ill if you try to hurt anybody and, to top it all off, if you ever try to lie you will not be able to speak it and should you ever try to physically hurt somebody you will feel the wound as if you‘d done it to yourself. Now perhaps you will think first and open your mouth later.” I pressed my wand harder against his lips and concentrated my magic.

This spell would be hard. I would have to cast each spell individually but tie them all together. I needed to enter his mind too and that would take a lot of concentration. I pushed and pushed making magic do as I wanted it to and making sure the man felt everything, it wouldn’t be painful because I’m not evil but he would be able to feel everything take place. I pulled away when I was done and stood up.

“Enjoy your life and never forget this moment.” I moved away and looked at all the bodies in the room. They could still tell people about me but there were too many of them to cast the spell on. Besides, there were witches around so if they told anyone they‘d just think I was a slightly abnormal witch instead of a wizard. I walked over to my invisibility cloak and hugged it to my chest, it was my most prized possession. A white light glowed in front of me and I looked up. Prongs was standing tall and proud. I grinned and reached a hand out to touch his nose. He disappeared as soon as my fingers touched him. I sighed, that always happens.

“There‘s no more two legs for me to bite!” I turned and smiled at the snake that came level to my waist. I crouched down.

“Thank you for all you did.” I raised my wand and cancelled the spells on it before cancelling the spell that summoned it.

“Harry.” I stood up and looked up at Micah and Asher who were standing in front of me. They both had blood on them and Micah was wearing nothing except for a jacket that had obviously come from Asher. He was also covered in a gooey substance.

“Hello.” I said then waved my wand to clean them both off. Micah shuddered and Asher closed his eyes briefly then I had twin glares from each of them.

“You know what magic does to me and I won‘t let you distract me this time!”

“Harry! You should not use your magic when you know it gives us pleasure.” I took a step back frowning at the double reprimand.

“Sorry I just thought I‘d…” Micah interrupted me.

“Why did you come when I told you not to?”

“Because…”

“It was dangerous Harry!” I glared back at them.

“I came because it was dangerous. You told me to stay behind because you didn‘t want to risk my life. You told me to stay safe. Well I want the same from the both of you, I need you both to stay safe and I can‘t be sure you are going to stay safe if I‘m not there with you. Sure, you were all doing okay before I got here but you can‘t say I wasn‘t help. I‘m good at fighting. I‘m like a walking army with my magic. A walking army, a walking medic. I can‘t be those things if I am not there though. I can‘t heal you if you get hurt, I can‘t defend your back, I can‘t attack those trying to hurt you. I don‘t want you to be hurt or die just because I wasn‘t there to help!”

Micah swelled slightly and opened his mouth ready to yell again but I saw Asher’s hand move and come to rest on Micah’s arm. Micah paused then looked up at Asher. Eventually he relaxed and nodded slightly before looking back to me.

“Sorry. I guess you are right. It‘s not like you are defenceless and despite not being a vampire or a were you are just as powerful if not more. I‘m sorry. I just…I just wanted to keep you safe. You know I love you. We both do.” I let myself relax and tension dripped away from me. I smiled at them.

“I love you both too. I came because I love you and I didn‘t want to see you hurt physically or emotionally. I didn‘t want to have Anita hurt or killed because it would hurt you. I didn‘t want them to wound you because that would hurt me to see you hurt.” Both Asher and Micah stepped up to me and I allowed myself to be enfolded in their arms. I rested my head against Micah’s chest and curled my arms around Asher. Micah’s heart beat was reassuring and just touching Asher was because it meant he was here.

Eventually Asher pulled back as Jean-Claude said something to him. I watched him nod and watched his hair sway in front of his face covering the burns. I sighed sadly and pulled back from Micah. When Asher turned back to us I moved to stand in front of him.

“You know it‘s not true right?” Asher frowned slightly not understanding. I raised my hand and slid it underneath the curtain of hair, resting it against the burned and melted skin. Asher flinched but my hand followed it. I kept watching his eyes. “You know it isn‘t true. You aren‘t a monster, you aren‘t ugly. I love you, just as you are. He only said lies, he only wanted to hurt you, it wasn‘t true. It isn‘t true.”

“I know.” Asher nodded stiffly and I could see that even though his mouth said the words he didn’t believe them. I lowered my shields and the self loathing made me feel itchy beneath my skin. I sighed, pushed my shield back up and moved my hand to behind his neck pulling him down slightly so I could kiss him. I barely touched his lips with mine.

“I love you. Nothing else matters.” I whispered against his lips. He nodded barely again and I let him pull back. He didn’t believe me. I stepped back and looked back at Micah before swapping my gaze between both of them.

“So what‘s the plan for the rest of the night? Are you going back with Anita? Or are you coming back to mine?” Micah dropped his gaze for a moment before looking back at me.

“Anita‘s rather shaken up, she could use the pard right now.” I nodded and looked to Asher.

“I will go back to the circus. Jean-Claude has requested my presence in planning security for Halloween night.” I nodded again.

“Okay. Well, I have preservation charms on the dinner but it wont keep forever so how about I bring it to your house Micah and you and the pard can help yourselves. We‘ll try dinner again another day. Asher, did you need to feed before you go?” Asher shook his head and his hair jumped as he did it. I sighed again. “Okay. Then I‘ll see you both another time?”

“Yeah. I‘ll come over tomorrow night.” Micah answered and pulled me to him putting a quick kiss on my forehead.

“Bye.” He pulled away and walked over to Anita and the pard who were sitting in a sort of circle all rubbing against each other gentle. I caught Anita’s gaze for a brief moment and she nodded then as Micah reached her and wrapped his arms around her she turned to him. I tore my eyes away and looked to Asher. He was watching me carefully.

“It is not sickening to be this close?” I shrugged at his question, he was talking about the way I got sick when I‘m near Anita.

“It is but my shields are fully up and my magic is still buzzing from the fight so it‘s keeping me from feeling it too much.” He nodded again. Things were never this subdued after a battle against death eaters…then again after one battle we’d be healing and preparing for the next.

“I had better go.” Asher said and withdrew away. I felt hurt well up inside me but I squashed it down the best I could. Asher wasn’t trying to hurt me, at least I hope not, he was just hurting because of the words the man had said. I watched him walk over to Jean-Claude and the two of them began talking in rapid French that I couldn’t be bothered to listen to.

“Heya Harry.” I turned and smiled up at Richard.

“Hey, you okay?”

“Oh sure. Only a few scrapes and bruises, nothing that won‘t heal quickly. You?”

“Not a thing.” I grinned and he grinned back. That’s the thing about Richard. He wouldn’t mind that I was there because I fought well and was victorious. So long as I was ‘macho’ and strong I was okay in his view. Then again we had bonded before. He’s like…I don’t know what he’s like. He isn’t an uncle type figure and definitely not a father figure. He isn’t close enough to be a brother but I suppose that’s the closest similarity I can make. He’s like an older brother, or a close cousin.

“Very good. Anyway, I was about to head home. Would you like a lift?” I shook my head.

“No thanks. I‘ll just apparate home. Thanks for the offer though.”

“S‘ok.” Richard said then patted me on the shoulder, turned and left. I looked around the room again and shook my head. Asher had his back to me, Micah was holding Anita and talking to Damien. I gathered my magic to me and thought of home, I disappeared in an instant.

When I got home I climbed into the loft space and pulled down a big flat box. I pulled it down stairs with me, reassembled it then packed all the food I’d made for dinner into it. Wrapping my arms around it I apparated to Anita and Micah’s house.

“AH!” I jumped as I heard a scream and turned quickly, nearly dropping the box. Nathaniel looked scared then relieved when he saw me. I smiled and put the box on the floor.

“God Harry! You gave me such a fright!”

“Sorry. I just brought over the food I‘d made for Micah, Asher and me. We didn‘t get to eat it because of the Anita thing so I said I‘d bring it over here so the pard could share.” I pulled open the top of the box.

“That was kind of you. I think that when the pard get back there‘s going to be a little too much food though.” I blinked at him then looked around the dinning room. Obviously Nathaniel had been cooking while everyone else was gone. I grinned at him.

“Nah, they‘ve worked up an appetite I‘m sure so the food won‘t last too long. I‘ll come back to help tidy up when they are all done with eating if you call me to tell me.”

“Oh. Okay. Sure. Hey, were you there?”

“Yeah I was, nobody got hurt so you don’t have to worry. Anita is just a little shaken up. Anyway, I‘d better go. I really don‘t like it here.” Nathaniel nodded and I stood up and gave him a hug. When I pulled back his loose hair had gotten caught in all the buttons on the front of my robes. I laughed.

“Damn!” He swore and we tried to untangle his hair. When it was finally untangled I turned to leave. Then I stopped…I’d never thanked Nathaniel for what he did. I turned back and met his strange coloured eyes.

“Hey Nathaniel?”

“Mm?”

“Thank you. For helping Micah I mean, it made a big difference so I wanted to thank you for what you did.” Nathaniel’s cheeks reddened and he looked away.

“I thought you‘d be made at me for it. I didn‘t think he‘d tell you.”

“I‘m not mad. I was shocked and I‘ll admit a little upset that he hadn‘t thought to practise with me. But…but it‘s all new to me so I wouldn‘t have been comfortable with it and I probably would have scared him off more. You helped him become more comfortable with it and I can tell you I‘ve never felt like that before. So thank you. So much.”

“You‘re welcome.” He mumbled. I laughed slightly.

“I‘d hug you again but I might get caught on you. So, I‘ll go. Call me when you need help cleaning up?” Nathaniel nodded with a grin and I disappeared again.

When I went to bed I opened my mind shields up to check Micah and Asher were okay. When I prodded their shields I found Micah sleeping and from Asher all I felt was self loathing and shame. It brought tears to my eyes that he felt like that but I had to close the marks because the itching was awful, like I was wearing a foreign skin and I wanted to scratch it away and get rid of it.

-

NOTES: So, there you have it. The story has taken another turn that I didn’t foresee when I first planned the story. Can anyone work out what new plot point will be steering the next few chapters?

Again, just to reassure you that there will be updates, I have nearly completed chapter 30, have 31 and 32 planned also. They will take a while to write as uni starts up again on Monday but I will try my best to keep updating and this story will not be abandoned, especially when it’s so close to finishing!

JUST one further note… Some people have given me email addresses so I can contact them to tell them when the newest chapters are uploaded. As much as I’d love to be able to email you I don’t go onto my email address…I go there once every blue moon. So I am sorry but I won’t be contacting you by that method.

ALSO, some reviewers (I believe the same reviewer has commented on the same thing several times) have made their dislike for Anita known. Another has spoken in her favour. Harry and Anita’s relationship won’t be mended or improved and come chapters 31 and 32 you see further reasons why it wont. However, it is also not entirely possibly for Asher and Micah to be completely faithful to Harry. However, come chapter 31 you will have a slight change in their relationship that might keep you satisfied.

Sorry for the long notes, I hope you read them and keep an eye out for the next update!