Cell
When Audra woke, she found herself slouched against a stone wall. She could see iron bars in front of her, and another cell directly across from her. Torches burned in brackets to the left and right side of the cell she could see. Her legs fully extended allowed her toes to almost touch the iron door; and from the looks of it sitting crossed-legged would allow both knees to rest flat against the side walls.
Her arms hung limp above her head. She could hardly feel them from lack of blood flow to the appendages; she had probably been in this position for several hours. Mentally thinking about moving them, Audra tried only to find that they could hardly move; looking up she found that she was chained. She had about a foot of links between the cuff and their attachment point, and they appeared to be made of silver. Glad to see they’ve done their homework she thought. From the looks of it, if she stood she would be able to have her wrists at shoulder level, and while that wasn’t exactly a comfortable position either, it would allow blood flow back into her hands. Getting her feet underneath her, Audra pushed up. Something pulled back at her neck. Unable to understand, she continued to try to stand and found herself restrained from doing so. Puzzled, she sat back down, and leaned forward; she could only move her head and neck about six inches from the wall. Well done, I’m collared too, well done indeed she though sarcastically. She felt weak and slightly choked; she guessed that the collar was also made of silver.
She heard screaming and protesting coming from down the hall and getting closer. A wave of cold swept down the corridor, extinguishing the torches. “And Dementors to boot, well done Ministry. And I was half expecting to be shut in a closet,” she said aloud as two Dementors glided into view. The cold filled her throughout and she fought to suppress the horrid memories coming to the surface. She watched as the Dementors threw the fighting man into the cell across from her. As they left, the torches flickered back on and she could clearly see the new occupant.
“I’m not a Death Eater!” the man hollered after the Dementors, gripping the bars. “You’ve got the wrong man! I’ve never worked for You-Know-Who!!! I’m not a Death Eater!”
“Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice,” Audra quoted, watching the man with hungry eyes.
The man seemed to have noticed her. “Glad to see you’re back in your place, mudblood.”
“Sticks and stones, Karkaroff, at least I’m not denying my Master,” she said.
“Huh, what Master?” a voice asked from a cell next to her.
“What are you talking about, Mott?” she growled.
“He’s dead. The Dark Lord is dead,” replied Mott. “And didn’t He make you His Second-in-Command?”
“And seeing as how I’m currently chained to the wall,” she replied, “I’m not in much of a position to accept that title.” Though numb, her left arm throbbed where she had her tattoo. Looking up at it, she noticed it was lighter than normal, but otherwise looked normal. She also noticed that the muscle beneath was sore, not with fatigue but searing pain. At least the spider web of blood is gone she thought.
Another person appeared from the depths of the cell next to Karkaroff. Audra smiled as Trappe addressed her. “How ye doing, m’ Lady?” he asked with some apparent concern.
“I’m alright, Kato. Nothing I haven’t been in before,” she replied trying to sound calm.
“Wha’ happened?” he said, leaning against the wall facing her.
Audra looked at Josh before starting. “The Dark Lord sent me to kill the Minister while He went to care of Potter. I ran into some trouble, got the shit kicked out of me by Lindsey Mendez-Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody,”
“Aye, ye’ve gaet a hell o’ a shiner,” he interjected.
Audra smiled. “Thanks. And I woke up here. That’s all I know.”
“Well, rumor has it tha’ the Dark Lord went after the Potter boy, an’ was somehow mysteriously defeated,” he said.
“Did Lily and James…”
Trappe read her mind. “Nae, they died. Only the boy survived. But the Dark Lord disappeared… died even… I’m naet sure.”
Audra closed her eyes and digested the information. “I told Him it was suicide,” she whispered. “Who was the Potter’s Secret Keeper? The Dark Lord said He knew.”
Trappe shrugged. “Rumor has it, it was Sirius Black.”
Audra’s heart fell through the floor. She couldn’t believe that her husband would do such a thing. But perhaps Lindsey had been right. Perhaps Sirius did betray his friends in order to be with her. Perhaps she didn’t know the man she once thought she did. She was quiet, digesting the news and keeping the emotions from her face.
“Why didn’t you do anything?” Karkaroff questioned, “Why aren’t you doing anything now?!?”
“Shut it, Karkaroff,” Audra ordered. The man’s lips became stiff as he was forced to eat his own words.
“She’s filth,” Mott stated from his cell. “Always has been and always will be.”
“I will kill you one day, Mott,” Audra growled. “How long ago?” she asked Josh.
“Shit, I’ve been in here fer a day now, an’ I was arrested on the second…” he replied.
Audra’s head snapped up. “It’s a full moon tonight,” she said.
Josh looked slightly disturbed. “An’ I’ll take it ye haven’t taken yer potion.”
“Nope,” she said calmly. “Tonight’s going to be fun… how long do you think it’ll take this collar to strangle me?”
Trappe laughed. Just then the torches flickered out as another batch of cold came rushing down like a tidal wave. Dementors drifted down the hall, placing meager meals inside the cells. When they reached Audra’s cell they didn’t place any food in (a good thing as Audra had no idea how to feed herself) but instead looked her over for a minute before moving on. Done with distributing dinner, the Dementors left, and the flames came back.
The sound of high heels clicked against the stone floor from down the hall. They progressed closer, and Audra could hear a couple of catcalls coming from other cells. The woman tut at the calls and finally stopped in front of Audra’s cell. “I see the mutt is finally awake,” she said looking at Audra.
“Gina Mendez, you’re as beautiful as I remember you… been drinking enough blood I see,” Audra sneered.
“Audra, I see my sister gave you quite a shiner,” Gina countered as she unlocked Audra’s cell. Stepping inside, she kept her back pressed against the bars to keep out of reach of Audra’s feet.
<Gina, I need this collar off before I shift> Audra pleaded via mind-flash.
<I know babe, just play along,> the vampire replied. “From what I recall,” Gina began, looking down at Audra with a loathing expression, “you can go days without eating.”
“Yes, but I’d still like a bite…” Audra flashed her teeth, which were beginning to lengthen.
“Well that’s just too bad,” Gina replied nastily, taking the step to Audra. Crouching low, she straddled Audra’s outstretched legs, but kept high enough that Audra had to incline her head to look into her face. “However,” Gina said, brushing Audra’s bangs out of her face, “I am quite thirsty…” Her eyes trailed over Audra’s neck as she said this.
Audra, however, focused on the low cut view she was getting of Gina’s chest. She pulled slightly on her chains, making it seem (to everyone else) that she wanted to get closer.
Gina noticed, and slapped Audra across the face. Her head snapped to the right and pulled against the collar, cutting off her airflow for a second.
“Huh,” Audra finally said, “still a Temptress…”
“It’s Ms. Temptress to you,” Gina said, grabbling Audra’s chin and forcing Audra to look at her.
“Yes, ma’am,” she managed to get out before Gina pressed her lips to Audra’s. Audra knew exactly what this was for, but enjoyed the contact anyways. Her eyes closed and she strained against her holds as Gina’s fangs pressed against Audra’s canines.
<You’re trial is tomorrow morning,> Gina thought while their mouths were busy. The absolute contact of a kiss completely opened their minds to each other, allowing for quicker communication. <Dumbledore is going to testify on your behalf. I’m not sure if you’ll get off. Crouch is bound and determined to not cut any deals.>
<I really don’t want to spend time in Azkaban for something I was ordered to do,> replied Audra angrily.
<Dumbledore is going to try. He promised to do whatever he could.>
<If need be, I’ll hand over names. I would rather the Death Eaters think I ratted them out rather than know I was a spy.>
<Good point.> Gina grabbed a fist full of Audra’s hair and pulled her closer, once again making it difficult for Audra to breath, not that she cared. <I’m slipping a bobby-pin behind your right ear> she informed Audra. <You can use it to get your wrist cuffs off, once I’m gone.>
<Thanks.> Gina pulled away and Audra groaned, really straining against the chains to keep the contact. She could feel Gina’s breath on her face, her lips just out of reach. Gina’s fingers trailed against Audra’s jaw and down to her neck. There was a clink and the force against Audra’s neck disappeared. No longer restrained by the shortest chain, she leaned forward to once again indulge.
Gina placed her fingertip on Audra’s lips, stopping her from achieving the goal. “Uh-uh,” she whispered, and her fingers trailed to the hair behind Audra’s left ear. Slowly, she pulled Audra’s head to the side, completely exposing her jugular. Gina kissed the area on Audra’s neck, lightly brushing her fangs over the spot.
Audra groaned as Gina’s fangs broke her skin and she began taking blood. She knew they didn’t have a lot of time; Audra’s blood was poison for Gina. Concentrating (which is hard when you’re being drained), Audra vividly recalled Halloween night. Giving blood meant that her mind was completely exposed to Gina; there was nothing she could hide. But this is what Gina wanted, needed, to see before tomorrow morning. Gina’s mind watched the entire encounter between Voldemort and Audra, their conversation, her doubt, their kiss, the hooded man Audra waked past, the conversation with Snape… Gina had to pull away then.
Gina licked the wound clean before giving Audra a rather compassionate good-bye kiss. While their lips were still locked, Gina began to stand and Audra followed, pulling with all her might against the wrists cuffs as Gina pulled back. “Not tonight, mutt… Keep your nose clean…” Gina said slightly giddy from the blood. She walked out of the cell and locked it behind her; Audra watched with a hungry expression as she left.
“Down girl,” Josh said from where he sat. “If I didn’ know any better, I’d say ye have a thing fer her,” seeing Audra’s lack of awareness to his words, he muttered, “seems ye dae…”
“She’s an ex-girlfriend,” Audra lied. Backing up to loosen the chains, Audra checked behind her right ear and found the bobby-pin. “Yes, found it,” she said, gripping it tightly she rolled her shoulders and carefully worked her hands behind her back.
“Found what?” Karkaroff looked up from his food and watched her with shrewd eyes.
“Bobby-pin,” she answered as she began to pick at the lock on her left wrist. “I used them to keep on my face mask. Couldn’t reach it with my hands over my head but she,” she jerked her head in the direction that Gina left, “forgot to put my collar back, meaning I could finally get at it.” The work was slow with all the blood rushing back to her limbs. After a couple of tries she heard the clink, signaling she was free. Turning to face her right arm, she began working at it. Trappe chuckled as he watched her work; Karkaroff looked stunned. Work was faster now that she could see it – took half as long to do the second one. The second clink sounded and Audra was free.
Pacing in the cell and rubbing her wrists, she contemplated her next move.
“Thinking about breaking out?” Trappe asked.
“I could… either pick the lock or break down the door…” she thought aloud. As if testing her theory, she stopped at the door and shook it slightly, and then threw her shoulder into it, testing the strength of the bars. The bars creaked, but did not give way so she returned to pacing. “But… could I make it out in time. A werewolf running through the Ministry isn’t exactly a good idea. Pretty sure they’d kill me on sight… Plus I don’t know the layout… make my progress slower…”
“Well while ye’re thinking…” he said, tossing half of his crust at her. Stretching her hand out of the bars she caught it and devoured it in two bites. A ripple ran through her muscles, signaling it was time.
“Oh goodie, here we go,” she said, morphing to wolf. “Oh and thanks for the crust,” she said, placing her front paws on the bars and looking at her friend. He nodded and she dropped back to all fours.
It had been years since Audra underwent an uncontrolled phase. Since the creation of the Wolfsbane Potion, she hadn’t been allowed to go without it. Not that she cared; it was very nice to have normal human thoughts instead of incoherent ideas and emotions that animals experience. While she was able to form those ideas into thoughts, they weren’t strong and it was easy to give into instinct. But the potion not only allowed her to keep her thoughts, it made the transformation easier; instead of becoming a full werewolf, she stayed in her true wolf form. Because she could achieve this form without aid, she didn’t have any transformation with the moon; just some slight muscle growth that occurred without her knowledge.
The rippling in her muscles turned into spasms. Audra closed her eyes and let it occur. She could feel the bones grow longer, the muscles larger. Her hips tilted slightly, making it so she could stand on two legs like a human. Her claws lengthened and so did her teeth. She could feel the fur along her ridge thicken and stand on end.
Finally the transformation was complete. She let out a growl and opened her eyes; Karkaroff looked frightened for his life, causing Audra to laugh. Trappe however looked completely at ease. “Been a long time since I’ve seen ye like this, M’ Lady; how dae ye feel?”
It took Audra longer than normal to string together a coherent response. She had to grunt a couple of times to get her vocal cords to function. Eventually she managed “fine,” as an answer.
Josh smiled. “Try an’ get some rest; it’ll help,” he suggested.
Audra nodded, dropping to the floor and curling into a ball. Sleep was hard to come by; her hunger was overpowering. Eventually she nodded off into a fit filled sleep.