Next Stop [Edward]

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora hated Diagon Alley. That much had been established, however, today was turning out quite well as Callidora had just spent a fair amount of time in the Quill shop. She had walked out of the shop the first time empty handed and had to return moment after walking out the door and get the items she wished for. This included several beautiful and expensive shades of ink, a very nice quill, some sealing wax, and a large supply of parchment, again, high end.

Leaving the shop, she looked back, forcing a glare at the person she left, though it was the exact opposite of how she felt at the moment. She felt lighter than air but could not show it as it was a secret how he made her feel. A very well kept one.

Turning to the street, she decided her next stop was to the Apothecary. It was one of her favored shops as she loved Potions. She loved the idea of making something out of seemingly nothing and she excelled at it. She had to dodge a few people to get there which was more of a task than she made it look in high heels.

Entering the store, she looked around, allowing her face to fall from the glare it had been while she was in a more public and populate area such as the street. Now she was smiling, making it look like she was truly that excited about the store. She loved the store but not that much. She could have bounced around or run along the aisles excitedly but more was expected of her and she would not disappoint.

Going to a far aisle she started picking up jars, herbs, and all sorts of other ingredients. She would probably walk out of the store with one of each item if not two. For now, she was looking at the ingredients for the Draught of Peace Potion. This was odd considering the girl standing before the ingredients seemed to have no problem at having peace with herself and those around her but then again, looks just might be decieving.

[edward]

He needed to get out of there. Especially with what happened last night. his house was a complete disaster. And he had the scars to proove it. Edward was hardly able to stand, or breathe, and with the cuts upon his arms 'n chest who could really blame him? Wearing a sweater to cover up the bleeding, he stumbled into the Apothecary, hoping to find something that could ease all the pain.

Adrik, his father, had another episode last night. Ended up with Edward in the basement, screaming. Of course, everything that went wrong in his Old Man's life was automatically his fault right? The only thing Edward would ever fear was his father, and it was worse because only three months ago he practically admired the man. Well, the both ignored eachother...but that's how he liked it.

Edward wanted the relationship his sister had with their parents. Both were invisible to the other. They simply just lived under the same roof. And until this summer it had been like that. They simply fed him and housed him. But now both his parents were having fits, and his mother was practically going crazy. Shoving him into all these stupid programs, and trainings. Going to work at the ministry with his father...

And now when Adrik was pissed off, Edward took the hit. Once the dungeon downstairs was never even touched! But it was used plenty now. And Ed was quite familiar with crucio. Other such spells used upon him that caused bruises, and cuts that couldn't and wouldn't fade for days.

Swallowing, he felt one of his knees buckle, but he quickly caught himself on the closest wall. His skin was pale and slick with sweat, and if anything he had another fever. The only good thing about any of this was the factor that none of his friends were around, and that his parents thought him to be sleeping.

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora was very aware of her surroundings, threatning to curse any mud blood or half breed that dare enter her presence so when Edward stumbled into the store, she was aware of it. Of course she was holding a jar of Ashwinder eggs and reading the jar carefully so the only part of her attention that went to her stumbling friend was her hearing.

She turned her face partially towards Edward, though her eyes were still on the jar. Flammable - they will ignite a dwelling within minutes of being dethawed if they are not frozen and stored correctly. She read, her lips moving to form the words silently. Of course this was a very basic warning but it was a very good one. Not like the ones on the knives in the corner that said Caution. Sharp. That was a little stupid. What else was a knife suppose to be? If it was dull it was no good. Callidora was tempted to write 'Dull = No Good. What is the opposite of No Good? Good. So what is equal to good? EXACTLY! SHARP = GOOD.' but she figured it would be disrespectful.

Making a mental note to buy the jar before she left Diagon Alley, she turned her attention to Edward just as he found himself against the wall. Callidora's nuetral face quickly turned to one of utter disgust at the site of Edward. She was disgusted with him, merely what had happened to him.

She moved to him. "Edward. What happened?" She asked, looking at the boy she knew from school and better than Druella and Belvina realized. She looked him over before conjuring a chair and pushing him down in it. She then levitate the chair, keeping it low to avoid attention and she moved him to a less populated section of the store.

She then kneeled so she was about the same height as his knees. She placed both hands on his knees, more for comfort than her own balance and she asked the question again. "What happened to you?" She asked, her eyes locked on his and filled with worry. Part of her hoped it was a gang of half breeds or muggle borns so she could go after them but in the pit of her stomach, she had a feeling about who had done it and she didn't like it in the least.

[edward]

How'd he end up in the chair? Where was he? Was he still in the store? Such questions fluttered through his mind. It wasn't enough that he had to be in actual physical pain, he realized there was someone familiar sitting before him. Someone he actually knew, and someone who knew him too. Very well...

"I-it's nothing, Calli..." He rasped, eyes closing. However this chair appeared, it relieved the stress and tension from his legs. His whole body, and he was letting himself relax into the wood. Right now he felt like just falling asleep, but every moment he dared loose the muscles in his back he cringed.

At first Edward figured that a sweatshirt would cover the large cuts, but the red was beginning to seep through, and slid down his arms so that small little trails came under the sleeve and onto the top of his hands.

Breathing was shallow, he wasn't dying, so nothing to worry. But he sure as hell felt like things were ending. He just wanted the damn pain reliever, and then go home and sleep.

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora looked at him, clearly not believing him. She looked at the sweatshirt and uses a charm to cut if from him body, looking at his arms. She tossed the bloodied shirt on the ground. She would mend it and clean it before she allowed him to walk out, if she allowed him to do so.

She looked over the wounds, her eyes worried and her face not liking it. She stood up and looked around. There was no one in the store, otherwise she would've had to run them off. She went to the cashier and told her to take a break before locking the store and casting a illusion charm over the windows to allow her to work undisturbed.

She returned to her friend, transfiguring the chair into a bed where he could lay down and he would be propped up. She went to work immediately. She could have easily cast a spell on him to make the pain go away but she was not that good at charms. Instead she cast one to numb it a bit.

She levitated a cauldron to a stand and levitated them both to her friend's new bed. She used her wand to pull the ingredients off the shelf and she started immediatly on the potion, working solely from memory, which she had a very good one. "Don't be foolish enough to lie to me Edward." She said, her tone harsh and repremanding.

She added ingredients into the potion, allowing him one more chance to repsond truthfully before she got the truth serum ready. She would pull up another cauldron and the pain soddened boy would never know the difference until he started blabbering his deepest secrets.

She glanced back at him, not sure if he saw or not. It was a warning glance and whether or not he saw it, she knew he heard it in her tone, though he might play stupid and push her. Truthfully, she was looking foreward to a chance to use the serum. "What really happened Eddie?" She asked, using Druella's pet name for him though it was really only a nickname. Of course that was better than her pet name for him which had been Pookie, which she might just call him if he didn't straighten up.

[edward]

He was a bit too delerious to really understand what was happening. The fever was going to his head, but he still had enough sanity to actually stay firm. Sure he was in horrid shape, but he couldn't tell her! It wasn't anything, really...ok, it was definitely something. But if he couldn't tell Mal or 'Rion, how could he tell Calli?

Edward in haled a hell of a lot when the pained seemed to fade. It wasn't gone completly, but enough so that he could actually lie down and not hiss from agony. Dammit! His father really did a number on him this time. But the second he heard that name, the pet name, that caused him to cringe.

Nobody ever called him that! It annoyed him to no end! Strange being it was the only thing Dru ever really called him, but it didn't much bother him when it came out of her mouth. Just everyone elses. And Calli knew it. She was just saying it to get to him, and it was sort of working.

"Calli..." Managing to finally open his eyes. Turning his head over so that his cheek rested against the pillow, however it got there was beyond him, "I'm fine, just some cuts 'n bruises...I can handle it..." No he couldn't.

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora conured up the other cauldron, immediately setting to making the truth serum. The pain potion was already done but she would get the truth out of him and let him suffer a bit for lying to her. She had the potion fixed in a matter of minutes, poured into a glass and was handing it to him.

She forced him to sit up, not wanting him to choke on the perfectly brewed potion. She put the cup to his lips and tipped it for him. "This will help." She said plainly, not lying to the hurt male, shaking her head out of his sight line. It will help me figure out what really happened. she thought to herself, waiting for him to accept the drink.

She had wrapped one arm around his shoulders force him to sit up. That in itself took alot of strength considering that Callidora was a good deal smaller than he was. "You look like you tried to commit suicide." She said disbelievingly at his words, knowing better.

[edward]

Edward took the potion willingly, and as she helped him sit up he downed it. Unaware of what it really was, he felt a tingling inside his throat that made him curious, but otherwhise he didn't feel very different. Maybe it took bit to take real effect.

"You look like you tried to commit suicide." And that Edward scoffed at, "Sometimes I wish I would." It was nearly two seconds after that he realized he had actually said that out loud. That was something he never ever would've admitted to anyone, ever! Why the hell did he just blurt it out like that???

Eyes went a bit wide, he turned his head immediately and tried to talk his way out of it, "I didn't mean...what I meant to say is I wish I wouldn't have to think about it...the possibilty...its just so out of the question..." He felt the lie tightening his throat---also to mention it was the lamest excuse he'd ever created. He could just hear Mal laughing in his head---but he'd managed to get it out anyway. The only question was if she'd by it? And why he actually blurted out the truth?

It had to be his fever!

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora watched her friend. "Why?" She asked. "Why do you sometimes wish you could?" She asked, glad that they were getting somewhere. She shoved more of the serum down his throat. She kept the conversation casual, as if she had no part in his sudden truth spree.

Her tone was light and caring and her eyes matched. "Edward." She said, movign to sit on the table she had made for him and sit so she could look him in the eye. "Tell me what happened." She said clearly, knowing that the amount of potion she had given him was enough to get the truth from him.

She looked at him, waiting for his story to emerge from his lips. She scanned him over, admiring his features before going back to the seriousness of the situation. His life had not been taken but it damn near seemed like it and that worried her.

[edward]

Edward couldn't tell her. This was something he had to endure by himself! He'd done it alone the past two months, he could wait a little longer! Then he'd be at Hogwarts, and it would all be over...

"I pissed off my father..." Swallowing, he was trying to come up with a lie to push this off with, but instead only more of the truth came out, "He tried to get me to come with him to the ministry, but this time I told him I wouldn't go..." The more he wanted to lie, the tighter his throat got, and yet the more he spilled, "the next thing I know I'm in the dungeon and I'm screaming..."

His hand flew over his mouth, he forced his lips to seal tight. He wasn't going to say another word. He wasn't sane enough to realize what might be causing it, at least not in this exact moment, but right now he was too bothered by the raw and fresh memories that were suddenly flooding him. As they consumed his thoughts, he felt the need to spill them. But he wouldn't let his hand move.

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora held down his hand, prepared to hold down the other hand should it try to take over. She would allow any ramblings to exit his mouth before she asked her questions as she did have a few. Three to be exact. They were simple and two of them were actually relevant.

Callidora forced Edward up again, preparing to grab the real potion for pain. "Your father did this to you?" She asked, looking him in the eye. She knew he had enough potion left in him to not be able to resist telling the truth though she was surprised at how well he did in the condition he was it but that just went to reinforce the knowledge that he was a powerful wizard.

She waited for an answer, twisting her body to reach the other cup. She turned and looked at him again. "Why did he do it? She asked, swishing the potion in her hand. Again she waited for the answer, jinxing both his hands down. The Truth Serum tended to cause rambling so she wanted to get the basic facts rights.

After he answered, she prepared to let him drink the real potion. She would give him it before asking the question. "This is the last of it." She said, tilting his head back as the potion poured from the glass and down his throat. It tasted pretty good, thanks to Callidora. Normally, it would be utterly nasty but she had found a way to make any potion taste good.

Now the last question. "Do you love me?" She asked, keeping a very well practised blank face on though she wanted to laugh a bit. She had waited till the potion had taken affect so he could laugh too but she planned it right, he would have to answer truthfully. It wasn't what he believed, it was what was fact.

This last question was merely for her amusement before she started the argument with him that was sure to follow.

[edward]

He felt ready to simply puke. Not because of the potion, not because of the truths he was spilling, but because he was simply ill. When Calli pulled the hand from his mouth, he was relectant. Edward couldn't tell her any more! He always kept these kind of secrets to himself, and for good reason. Of course, up until this summer he never really had secrets as dark as this--not about him personally. Or physically...whatever...

Your father did this to you? Her question actually stung him. For some odd reason, Edward wanted to believe this whole summer had been a nightmare. Nothing but some crazy dream that his insane brain imagined up, "Every time I piss him off, Calli..." Revealing that this indeed happened before. Which was making him stress out! Why was he telling her all this?

But her next question was the biggest of them all. The thing that had silently been driving him crazy! Why did he do it? He wanted to slam his hands over his mouth, not exactly knowing why he was talking about all of this, but knowing he wouldn't be able to prevent himself that much longer. Eventually, as predicted, his mouth opened, and things just came out, "If only I knew. He just gets mad at me for the smallest things, and the next thing I know I'm some worthless piece of shit, a damn son he wishes he never had...and he curses me so many times, I can just feel there are nights that I've actually forgotten...like apparently one night I had Dru over for dinner, but I don't recall it...ya know?" Looks upon Calli with worried eyes. A fright inside that he couldn't hide.

"He's driving me insane, and its scaring the shit outta me because I really have no idea why!" Suddenly there was something unleashed inside him. Ontop of whatever was causing this spill, he had a need to tell it all..."I just want it all to stop, Calli. I can't take it that much longer, but I can't tell anyone--I just can't, and I don't know why I'm telling you, but I'm going to end up in some Mungos room if this doesn't stop..." He was running out of air, lungs couldn't catch enough breath. Chest was heaving up 'n down, heart about ready to jump from his chest with its fast pulse.

And it took Calli a little while longer for her to except what he said, or maybe she was just giving a final stir to the potion, because she simply grabbed another cup full and poured it down his throat. He was beginning to get suspicious, or he would've...if he hadn't just spilled his whole dark heart to Callidora he might actually be worried she did something.

And as he was trying to figure things out. The chaos in his head only irratating the migraine, his ears hear the final question, Do you love me?. Eyes closed as he felt the pain easing away, and as he began to catch enough oxygen, the words just came out, "Never stopped." The headache a bit to big for him to consciously remember exactly admitting that.

Of course, the twist in his stomach took hold in the next moment, he felt a white hot heat enslave him, and before her potion could take much more effect, he turned himself sharply on the bed, and heaved over the side, opposite of Calli...but still, the acid in his mouth only made him want to do it again.

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora listened to the answer to her first question, her face went blank. That bastard did this before! She thought. She looked at the wounds on Edward's body. She felt her heart tighten and her stomach fall. It was all she could do to keep her hands steady.

The Potion was filled to the brim and she was glad to get the full cup out of her hand, not sure if she would keep her hands from shaking. Callidora's hands didn't shake often. They only shook when she was utterly and unbelivebly angry or when she was very upset. Sitting there now, she was both. She was angry with Adrik Potter for doing such a thing to his son, leaving him in such a state as well as Edward for not telling her, or at least someone. Then she was upset, seeing Edward in such a state. It was heartbreaking. Utterly, tottally and completely.

She had listened to everything he had to say about hsi father then she had hoped that the question would make him laugh a bit, not catch her off guard. She stared at his back for a moment, her own heart racing now. She expected something more along the lines of 'I love Dru. You know that Calli.' but not his answer. That left her shocked as she had never expected it.

Once she came back to herself, she stood up and turned herself facing the bed and him. She ran her fingers through his hair lightly before leaning down and kissing the back of his head lightly. "Neither did I." She said, walking over to the cauldrons she had used and she started putting the objects away. Instead of using her wand, she carried the objects to their appropiate places, an odd move for normal Callidora.

From the silence it was obvious that she was thinking. Her lips weren't parted, not even in the slightest. She could be heard sighing, her footsteps stopping occasionally as she stopped to think upon one subject a little more than another.

Edward is Druella's Stupid! Why did you tell him that? What about Abraxas? You love him don't you? The thoughts just raced through her head as she put away the objects. Then she was hit with the biggest question of all.

What now?

[edward]

He heaved a total of four times, before his stomach finally just gave up. Collapsing back down onto the bed, his eyes closed and he allowed himself the privalege of breathing. He could feel his lungs actually trembeling inside his body. Swallowing continuously, he felt that white hot heat taking over him from head to toe. And he didn't really understand what was going on--it was the fever, but Edward wasn't really aware.

His thoughts drifted over everything he spilled, most of it. And in the end Dru consumed his thinking. Right now he couldn't wish for anything except having her beside him. Taking care of him. She'd come over and done it three times before. Just with the knowledge that he had a fever, and not knowing anything else. But right now he was definitely missing her. He hardly ever went a day without seeing her, and suddenly being away from her this past week 'n a half was making him love sick!

While his mind was in a different reality, Edward's body was reacting to his super high fever. He was beginning to shake, and his eyes were closed. Teeth gnashing together bit, mostly to hide the whimpers he was desperate to set out! A sweat dampening every part of his body, and those cuts upon his body were stinging, "C-Calli!" He called out, not knowing where she was, but needing something or someone to help him! Because this hurt too damn much!

[Callidora Wilkes]

Callidora snapped from her thoughts at her name. She dropped the ingredients that she had been putting away and rushed to Edward's side. She scanned him over, curious to know why her healing potion had not worked. In fact, it appeared to make things worse for him. She glanced over him frantically, putting her hand against his forehead.

"Dammit" She muttered. She turned and glanced quickly at the shelves, her eyes not reading the ingredients but more recognizing them in their jar or for their shape. Her eyes quickly found the moonstone and an appropriate potion came to mind. She left his side, rushing around and grabbing the items she would need, silently glad she would not need to grab another cauldron.

Setting herself up she looked back at Edward before getting to work, her hands moving quickly to prepare the ingredients and place them in the cauldron. She did what she could, now they had to wait. It took five minutes of sitting before it would be ready.

Looking at the cauldron she frowned and walked to Edward. "Hold out for five minutes." She said, sitting herself of the table. If this did not work she was taking him the St. Mungos. She wrapped her arms around him and held him, not sure what else to do. Hot tears fell from her eyes onto his forehead. How could that bastard do this to him? She thought.

She grabbed her wand, pressing the tip to Edward's temple, deciding there was no other way to make it stop quick enough. She muttered an incantation and pressed the other end to her own temple. She could not take away enough of his pain to make her dislerious, though she would've gladly done so but she took what she could, easing his pain.

She shut her eyes, still holding him as pain seared into her skull. She gasped but did not move. "That damn bastard!" She said, meaning to keep the words to herself as she suffered from the fever that had Edward calling out for her. "Five minutes" She said, repeating it over and over again, waiting for the potion to be finsihed. She would give him back his headache then so she could cure it. For now, she wanted to ease his pain.