CHAPTER 12 - SCARRED AND STRONG
CHAPTER 12 - SCARRED AND STRONG
What I saw in the mirror was quite shocking. My hair was the first thing that caught my eye; it hung about shoulder length, uneven and damaged from neglect over the past eight months. The color, though, was what truly startled me. It was a light silver, almost white, with a few streaks of golden hair interspersed like little rivers of gold flowing through an ocean of silver.
My gaze shifted to my eyes next. They were mesmerizing yet unsettling, with golden irises interwoven with red, akin to flames flickering within them. Their shape was cat-like, almost predatory. My skin was extremely pale from my prolonged absence from sunlight, but it was fair and soft, almost like that of a newborn. The only mark on my skin was a light, clean, and straight scar running from one side of my face to the other, a stark reminder of the slash that had blinded me. As I studied my new face from every angle, I noticed that my ears had changed slightly too; they had become more pointed, not as exaggerated as a house-elf's, but more like the graceful curve of a leaf.
"Why does it feel like Lady Death has a penchant for Lord of the Rings?" I mused aloud, trying to inject a bit of humor into the unsettling transformation I was witnessing.
Setting my thoughts aside, I proceeded to remove the outfit I had been forced to wear at the hospital. As I pulled off my shirt, I scrutinized my bare chest in the mirror. As expected, there was a large scar right above where my heart should be. Parts of it looked like the result of a stab wound, but most of the damage was from the flames after SAL's egg had been embedded there.
Other scars marked my wrists, and a few were scattered across my biceps and forearms, but surprisingly, the rest of the places the demon had sliced me seemed to have healed without leaving scars. I took a closer look at my body, noting the presence of light muscles—impressive considering my age. However, my ribs were clearly visible, stark signs of the malnourishment I had suffered during my captivity.
Just then, a soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. "Ares, may I come in?" Amelia's voice was gentle yet filled with concern.
"Yeah, Aunt Amelia, come in," I responded, turning away from the mirror.
She entered the room, her eyes widening slightly as she took in my appearance. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I've been better. But at least I'm not in that hellhole anymore."
Amelia walked over and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You've been through so much, Ares. It's going to take time to heal, both physically and emotionally. And remember, you're not alone. I'm here for you, always."
I nodded, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Aunt Amelia. I appreciate it."
She smiled warmly. "You should get some rest. We can talk more tomorrow. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
As Amelia left the room, I turned back to the mirror, taking one last look at my reflection. My face, still bearing the scars of captivity, stared back at me, a testament to the pain and darkness I had endured. The road to recovery would be long and challenging, but with my aunt by my side and my unwavering determination to reclaim my life, I felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.
I stopped staring at myself and changed into my pajamas, savoring the sensation of the soft fabric against my skin. As I climbed into bed, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. The bed felt heavenly, almost unnaturally perfect. It had to be enchanted; I had never slept on something so comfortable. I turned my head and saw SAL, my loyal magical falcon, settling down on a pillow beside me.
"Goodnight, SAL. I'll see you in the morning," I said with a smile.
SAL responded with a happy cooing, and I closed my eyes, eager to escape into the solace of sleep.
However, dreamland had other plans. My mind was assaulted by the haunting memories of my captivity. I relived the moments when they sliced my eyes and stabbed me in the chest while I lay helpless and unable to see. I twisted and turned, sweat drenching my skin as I struggled to wake up, trapped in the torment of my nightmares.
Then, a small light appeared, approaching me with a warm, gentle glow. It pushed the bad memories away, enveloping me in a comforting embrace. The light flew around me before finally entering the scar on my chest.
"Thanks, SAL," I thought, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me as I finally drifted into a peaceful sleep.
My peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the energetic voice of Tilly, the house-elf.
"Wake up, young master Ares! Mistress wants everyone downstairs for breakfast before she leaves," she announced, her voice far too cheerful for such an early hour.
Groggily, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Alright, Tilly, I'm up," I mumbled.
Tilly's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Mistress Amelia has prepared a wonderful breakfast. You must eat well to regain your strength."
I nodded, appreciating her concern. "I'll be down in a minute."
As Tilly left the room, I stretched and glanced at SAL, who was still perched on the pillow, watching me with keen eyes.
"Ready for another day, SAL?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.
SAL gave a soft chirp in response, and I couldn't help but smile. Despite everything, having SAL and my aunt's support made the daunting path ahead seem a little more manageable.
I made my way downstairs, the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast guiding me to the dining room. Amelia was already seated at the table, her face lighting up as she saw me enter.
"Good morning, Ares," she greeted warmly. "How did you sleep?"
I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to burden her with the details of my nightmares. "Better than I have in a while," I replied honestly, taking a seat across from her.
Amelia nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "It will get easier with time. Just remember, you're not alone in this."
We began eating, and the conversation flowed easily. Amelia talked about her plans for the day, and I shared my thoughts on the books I had been reading. It felt normal, almost like the days before everything had changed.
As breakfast came to an end, Amelia stood up, ready to leave for work. "Remember to practice your Occlumency and wandless magic," she reminded me. "It's important for your recovery."
"I will, Aunt Amelia," I promised, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
She smiled and gave me a quick hug. "I'll see you this evening. Take care, Ares."
As she left, I felt a surge of determination. The nightmares might still haunt me, but I had the tools and the support to overcome them. With SAL by my side and my aunt's unwavering faith in me, I knew I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
It took me a while, but I finally got out of bed and made my way downstairs. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, guiding me to the dining room.
Upon entering, I was greeted by the sight of a long, polished red wooden table, intricately engraved on the legs. Silver plates held an array of delicious foods, and eight matching chairs surrounded the table. An elegant chandelier hung above, casting a warm glow, and a fireplace behind Aunt Amelia added a cozy touch to the room. She sat at the head of the table, with a little girl to her left, who I assumed was Susan Bones, my young cousin.
Not wanting to frighten Susan with my scarred appearance, I closed my eyes briefly as I approached. I took a seat to my aunt's right, directly across from Susan.
"Good morning, Aunt Amelia," I greeted, stifling a yawn. "You wanted to talk before you left today, right?"
"Yes, Ares," she replied simply. "But first, introductions. I doubt you've met Susan properly, and if you did, she would have been too young to remember."
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Turning to the small child, she said, "Susan, this is your cousin Ares. He is your Uncle Edgar's eldest son." Then, looking at me, she continued, "And this is Susan, your two-year-old cousin and the daughter of your Uncle Thomas."
Susan looked at me with wide, curious eyes. "Hello, Ares," she said shyly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled gently, hoping to put her at ease. "Hello, Susan. It's nice to finally meet you."
Aunt Amelia looked between us, her expression softening. "I know things have been difficult, Ares, but having family around can help. Susan, why don't you tell Ares about your favorite toy?"
Susan's face lit up at the suggestion. "I have a stuffed dragon! His name is Sparky, and he breathes pretend fire," she said excitedly, her shyness momentarily forgotten.
"That sounds amazing, Susan," I replied, genuinely interested. "I'd love to see Sparky sometime."
Aunt Amelia smiled approvingly. "It's good to see you both getting along. Now, Ares, about the conversation I mentioned earlier." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Your recovery is important, and I want to make sure you have everything you need. I've arranged for a healer to visit regularly, and you'll also have access to any resources you require for practicing Occlumency and wandless magic."
I nodded, appreciating her efforts. "Thank you, Aunt Amelia. I promise I'll do my best."
She reached across the table, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know you will, Ares. Remember, we're here for you."
As breakfast continued, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Susan babbled on about her favorite stories, and Aunt Amelia shared amusing anecdotes from her work. The warmth of the family gathering wrapped around me, offering a sense of normalcy that had been absent for so long.
After breakfast, Aunt Amelia stood up, preparing to leave for the day. "I'll be back this evening. Tilly will be around if you need anything. Take care, Ares, and remember to practice."
"I will, Aunt Amelia," I assured her, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
As she left, I glanced at Susan, who was now playing with a toy wand. "Do you want to show me how Sparky breathes fire?" I asked, hoping to keep her entertained.
Her eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! Come on, I'll show you!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the playroom.
With Susan's laughter filling the house and the support of my family, the path ahead seemed a little less daunting. Each step forward, no matter how small, was a victory, and I was determined to keep moving forward.
"Both of you are going to be living together from now on, so no fighting," Aunt Amelia explained, her tone firm but kind. "Because of my duties as the Head of the Ministry's Law Department, I'll be very busy and out of the house a lot, so you two will be spending a lot of time together. Tilly will stay home and take care of both of you."
She looked at Susan with a serious expression. "Susan, I want you to avoid looking into Ares's eyes for now, as it could be very dangerous for you. Please don't pester him about this; it could harm you permanently. Do you understand?"
Susan nodded furiously under our aunt's intense gaze.
"Good. Now, Ares," Aunt Amelia turned to me with an apologetic look, "I'm sorry to ask this, but until you learn how to control your eyes around others, you'll need to keep them closed."
"It's fine, Aunt Amelia," I replied, not wanting her to worry. "I really only need my eyes open to see details and read. I'll be fine the rest of the time, especially if someone is there with me."
She looked at me, curiosity evident in her eyes. "What do you mean you only need to open your eyes to see details?"
I took a moment to think about how to explain. "Well, since I spent seven months without being able to see, I had to figure out a way to adapt. It took about three months of trial and error, but I eventually learned to send very light amounts of magic from my body to feel everything around me. So, I can sense the shape of everything within about an eight-foot radius. I can't see far using this method, but I can navigate well enough to live, especially if I know my environment and have someone guiding me."
Aunt Amelia listened intently, her expression softening with understanding and admiration. "That's remarkable, Ares. I'm proud of you for finding a way to adapt. We'll work on helping you regain your full vision, but in the meantime, we'll make sure you're supported."
"Thank you, Aunt Amelia," I said sincerely, feeling a warm sense of gratitude.
Susan looked at me with wide eyes, her curiosity piqued. "Can you really feel everything around you with magic?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.
I smiled and nodded. "Yes, Susan. It's like having an extra sense. It's not the same as seeing, but it helps a lot."
"That's so cool!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "Can you teach me how to do that?"
Aunt Amelia chuckled. "One step at a time, Susan. Let's focus on Ares's recovery first. But who knows, maybe one day."
Breakfast continued with a lighthearted atmosphere, the conversation shifting to stories and plans for the day. The warmth of the family gathering wrapped around me, offering a sense of normalcy that had been absent for so long.