“I-” Regulus was the first one to speak, his voice barely a whisper in the suddenly quiet living room, it drew Sirius out of his trance like whiplash. “I didn’t mean to-” Regulus whispered. “I just wanted her to stop-”
Just then, as quickly as he could, Sirius cried out, a desperate, horrible, noise, enough to make a bashnee recoil. Rising rapidly to his feet, he wrenched the candlestick out of Regulus’s hand and throwing it to the ground as if it was made of molten lava. He pulled Regulus behind him, clinging to his younger brother, protectively, as his eyes, wild and frenzied, searched the room.
"No-" He choked out. "No- please,-"
Blood.
The red stained Regulus’s hands, and the front of his dress shirt, there were some on his face too, Sirius knew he was just as bloody. At least the blood on Regulus wasn’t his own.
And the rug, oh, no, not the rug, the expensive hand-woven rug Mother bought on vacation, it would be impossible to get out- she would be stark raving mad.
Oh, wait, Sirius supposed it didn’t matter anymore.
Walburga was just a pool of black fabric and a pale bony face on the floor, blood soaked in her hair, pooling in a crimson halo around her head.The candlestick lay beside Walburga’ figure on the carpet. The end was stained with the same crimson blood that split from the wound on Walgbruga’s head, it had just caused it.
Regulus had caused it.
It was almost funny. One blow to the head, and the powerful, threatening woman Sirius had feared his entire life was just gone. A barking laugh escaped Sirius despite his better judgement.
Regulus was trembling, the full weight of what he had done not sinking in quite yet.
“I didn’t mean to. I just wanted her to stop- I just wanted her to stop-” He mumbled.
“Regulus.” Sirius gripped his wrists. “Hey, Regulus.”
“I didn’t-”
Sirius slapped him abruptly, dragging his open palm across Regulus’ cheek. Regulus could only blink at him, tears forming in his eyes.
“Shut up.” Sirius hissed. “We need to go.”
Regulus nodded, dully but allowed Sirius to pull him towards the door just as heavy footsteps came down the stairs.
“What in Merlin’s name is going on here?” Orion roared before the bloodcurlding scream of a house elf cut through the air at the sight of his mistress.
Sirius began to run, dragging Regulus behind him, running as far and as fast as he could until Orion and Grimmauld was a blip in the distance.
They fled into the night air, tearing down the street. Sirius wasn’t sure how far and how fast they were going, only soon they reached a neighborhood Sirius didn’t recognize. At least Sirius thought it was soon.
“Wait stop.” Sirius said, out of breath, before he leaned over and vomited onto a random rose bush.
“You’re bleeding.” Regulus started, his fingers grazing at Sirius’ shoulder and coming away red. The blood had soaked through the torn up skin and shirt, what had once been snow white was more like Lily Evans’ hair than anything.
“Shut up.” Sirius snapped.
“No, you’re not.” Regulus mumbled, looking around. “Where are we?”
Sirius didn’t respond, only sank to his knees.
“Why didn’t you just let me deal with it?” He whispered, grabbing fistfuls of his hair. “Why didn’t you just let me deal with it? I could take it.”
“No you couldn’t.” Regulus whispered, his voice was hollow as he knelt beside him. “No one can take cruciatus day after day. You would die. You know you would, Sirius.”
Sirius remained silent, racking his brain for what to do, where to go. Maybe James could help them? He was always saying they could come to his house if it ever got really bad. Well, technically, James never said they, he said you. Regulus wasn't included. Regulus had never been included in any of the escape plans Sirius dreamed up while staring up at his ceiling. Which, of course, sounded bloody horrible, considering Regulus had just commited a fucking murder to save Sirius' life. He killed his mother, their mother. To protect Sirius. Who had been far from a good brother these past few years. Besides he couldn't get the Potters mixed up in this. Peter's mother hated him. Remus was out of the question.
Regulus leant his back against the bush, his eyes rising to the moon. “Do you think she’s really dead? Did I really kill her?”
“I don’t know." Sirius mumbled. Everything hurt. Running had been a mistake.
“What are we going to do?” Regulus looked at his hands, staring numbly at his blood-soaked hands. "I don't know."
"Are you okay?"
“Damn it! I don’t know, Reg!” Sirius suddenly screamed. Regulus withdrew like he had been scalded.
“I don’t know.” Sirius said again, his shoulder shaking. "I swear I don't know."
“Boys.” Reprimanded a familiar voice. Orion, dressed very properly in his dark coat stood tall in the middle of the street, his wand at the ready. “Stand up and get yourself together
“Get behind me- get behind me-” Sirius mumbled, attempting to shove Regulus behind him but instead Regulus pushed him back down, taking a protective step in front of Sirius.
“It was me.” Regulus said, his voice didn't tremble. “I killed Mother.”
“No-” Sirius pushed himself up. “No- it was me. I killed her- Reg had nothing to do with it- he wasn’t even in the room.”
Orion’s eyes shone, he intook a breath. “Calm yourself and listen.” He hissed. “My wife passed away from a sudden illness in the night. The healers did everything to save her but it was to no avail. Both of my sons were asleep at the time. ”
“No.” Regulus blinked. “I hit her with the cand-”
“You’re mistaken, Regulus.” Orion crossed the space between them in two strides, he placed his hand on Regulus' cheek which made Sirius cry out and Regulus flinch.
“It's natural to be confused, dear Regulus. You’re just so upset because you lost your dear mother so suddenly.”
Regulus frowned, looking at the blood on his hands. “No-”
"Help up your brother, Regulus. Sirius tripped and fell down the stairs which is how he injured himself." Orion kept his voice level as he spun the story to the two boys.
Silently, Regulus helped up Sirius, who clung to Regulus’ arm pathetically, watching his father with venomous eyes. Regulus kept a pyschical barrier between the two, having no doubt his heavily injuried brother would duel their father in the middle of the street without a second thought if it meant protecting the two of them.
“What are you doing?” Sirius asked. “What do you want?”
“I just lost my wife, I won’t lose my sons. This will not be how the noble house of Black falls.” Orion said, determindedly. “Be quiet and be quick.”