Cursing loudly, Gustavas grasped his arm, the wizard’s touch had been amazingly painful to him, in fact, it had caused blisters to appear where the wizard’s bare flesh had touched his own. “What the hell are you?” Gus questioned as he kicked the wizard in his face. “You’re no ordinary wizard.”

“No, that would be the infamous Sirius Black” Lucius sneered “he escaped from Azkaban nearly three years ago. The only wizard in history ever to do so.” he explained as he signalled to one of the death eaters. “Moss, isn’t there a standing warrant for his capture and punishment? The Dementor’s Kiss, isn’t it?”

“He’s mine” Gus said quietly as he loomed over the injured wizard, watching as Black tried to find the strength to regain his feet. “Bring the Gangrel” he added as he twisted his fingers in Black’s long hair and half drug the wizard to the wall across from Harry. “I want her son to see this” he said as he threw the wizard against the wall and chained him securely.

Gus sneered as Cash struggled against the half dozen or so death eaters that were pulling him toward the same wall. All he wanted to do was kill Gustavas and stop the pain he was inflicting on his clan, first Harry and now Sirius. It simply wasn’t right, and if Angel should show up and see her family in such dire straights…well Cash cringed at the thought of her reaction. “come on Olia, where is Angel? That spell can’t still be working, its got to be almost worn through by now.” Cash thought as he surveyed the situation. Cash looked at the group of men holding him, it really wouldn’t be much of a problem to subdue them, but Gustavas was another matter entirely. Forcing his body to go completely limp, Cash waited as the confused Death eaters relaxed their grips.

The moment they did, Cash went into action. He quickly snapped the necks of the two closest men as he flung off the others. His talons once again appeared as he turned to face Gustavas, who was attempting to get to Harry and use him as a living shield. “Not a chance Tremere” Cash snarled as he leaped between Gus and Harry. “Not this time, not my clan, not ever again.” Cash swore as he avoided several cursed being hurled by the remaining death eaters.

“Don’t be so sure of yourself Gangrel.” Gus replied as he gracefully avoided one of Cash’s deadly blows. “You have a fatal weakness, you know that don’t you?” he taunted “you take the idea of ‘clan’ far to seriously. You actually believe you should surrender your life rather than allow a child of the clan to come to harm.” Gus sneered, and even after all these years, you haven’t figured out the truth. They don’t care if you live or die Methuselah, you’ve become a joke to them.”

“Lies,” Cash spat “That’s all you’ve ever known Tremere. My clan has protected me just as I protect them. But I don’t expect you to understand anything as selfless as love.”

“And since when has self-sacrifice and love been the same thing?” Gus replied as he managed to get past Cash and grab a long pike from off of the wall. “Tell me little prince, Do you love the Gangrel? Would you die for him?” Gus asked as he aimed the pike at Harry’s chest.

Harry looked up and saw the large pointed spear-like weapon being aimed at him. He glanced at the wall to see his semi-conscious godfather weakly struggling against his chains as Cash was left alone to protect them as best and he could against such overwhelming odds. If only mum was here, Harry thought as he waited to feel the pike tear through his body at any moment. He wanted to see her one last time. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, how much her love had meant to him, if only he could have lived long enough to met his family. Or better yet, if only she and Sirius could have been his parents, he felt a pang of loss as he recalled his dream of a very pregnant Cat and a wet but smiling Sirius at their home in Hogsmeade.

Harry felt the tears stream down his face as he realized Sirius would never survive the pain and guilt, and if Gus was right, neither would Cat. Not that Harry could do anything about that now, he watched with a cold detachment as Gus drew his arm back and threw the pike straight at Harry’s heart. Harry closed his eyes and turned his head away as the vampyre’s supernatural strength and speed caused the pike to all but disappear in a blur of motion.

After a few moments, Harry opened his eyes, wondering were the pain was, perhaps he was already dead, after all , there was no way anyone could have stopped the pike in time. But the moment Harry looked in front of him, he realized how wrong he was. Standing in front of him was Cash, his arms spread out protectively in front of Harry, protecting him from harm, but paying the ultimate price for his bravery. Harry screamed out in horror the moment he saw the pike sticking through Cash’s body as the Gangrel dropped slowly to his knees, a deep, painful groan escaping Cash’s lips as his hands wrapped around the pike....

orig posted 09 Dec 02

After a few moments, Harry opened his eyes, wondering were the pain was, perhaps he was already dead, after all , there was no way anyone could have stopped the pike in time. But the moment Harry looked in front of him, he realized how wrong he was. Standing in front of him was Cash, his arms spread out protectively in front of Harry, defending him from harm, but paying the ultimate price for his bravery. Harry screamed out in horror the moment he saw the pike sticking through Cash’s body as the Gangrel dropped slowly to his knees, a deep, painful groan escaping Cash’s lips as his hands wrapped around the pike.

Before Cash could pull out the pike, Gustavas was on top of him, pushing the pike deeper into the Gangrel’s chest, hoping to hit his heart. They struggled for a few brief moments as the blood flowed from Cash’s wound. Feeling Cash’s strength falter, the Tremere hoisted Cash up and wedged the pike into the wall, skewering him as the Gangrel’s body twitched painfully in mid-air.

“Cash!!! Cash no!” Harry screamed as hot tears fell down his cheeks. He looked over to see Sirius struggling against his own chains in a vain attempt to help Cash. “Please Cash, don’t die, you can’t” Harry whimpered as he stared in disbelief at the slouched form of his ‘uncle’ as a steady dripping of blood could be heard.

Gus’s laughter rang coldly through the dank room, chilling Harry’s very soul with the sound. “One down and one to go.” Gus remarked casually, “that is until my new playthings arrive. I‘m so looking forward to meeting the Weasley girl. But until they arrive, … .he will do nicely.” Gus continued as he walked to Sirius, a look bordering insanity flashing in his eyes.

Sirius was barely listening to what Gustavas was saying, he was too busy staring at his friend’s limp form hanging from the wall. Sirius felt his silent tears stream down his gaunt face. Cash had been his anchor since the day he arrived at Hogwarts, from the moment they met, Sirius knew that he and Cash would be friends, and he had lost far too many friends over the years. “I’ll see you dead, you monster” Sirius said softly as the Tremere stood before him, knife in hand and a cigarette between his lips.

“Somehow, I think not” Gus mocked as he placed the blade right below Sirius’s left eye. Catching a tear on the blade, the Tremere studied the salty drop for a moment before slapping Sirius across his face. “Tears for your loving friend? How sweet.” he taunted as he grabbed Sirius’s face roughly, forcing him to look him in the eyes. “Hmpft” Gus snorted “you certainly cry easily enough, let’s see how prettily I can make you scream.”

So saying, Gustavas tore open Sirius’s robes, exposing the wizards bare chest “So, you’re the infamous Sirius Black, the only man to escape from Azkaban….not very impressive, are you?” he asked as he plunged his knife into the bright flames of a nearby torch. Gus smiled widely as the blade glowed red hot “So, the Methuselah thought to mark you and the boy as one of his did he?” he asked as he pressed the blade against Sirius’s flesh, branding him with the mark of Cain.

Harry shouted and wept as the Tremere tortured his godfather, over and over again Sirius was branded until the smell of burning flesh turned Harry’s stomach. He didn’t understand how Sirius could withstand the pain, not once had he screamed, in fact he had barely even whimpered. . . .

Sirius forced his thoughts away from what was happening to him, he had to find something to latch onto, something to give him hope. But all he could come up with was the numerous conversations he and Cash had had over the past six weeks. He played them over and over in his mind. And always focused on the same one, “I will see you two married if it’s the last thing I do.” How long ago had Cash spoken those words? How much longer could they hang on. Cat or Albus had to get to them and fast, or it wouldn’t matter anymore. Sirius once again tried to reach out to Cash with his mind, but heard only the faintest of sounds, but still were there was sound, there was life, at least for now….

“Stop it, just stop” Harry begged “you’re killing him, stop….please.”

Gus turned towards Harry and grinned evilly, “That is the idea. Although he’s not making it much fun. Perhaps a change in tactics is needed. Placing the tip of his blade near Sirius’s heart, the Tremere made a deep scratch from the breastbone to his belly. He laughed mockingly as Harry averted his eyes and sobbed for his godfather.

Lucius sneered as he stood next to Harry. “Don’t turn your head, it will ruin the show.” Malfoy insisted as he grabbed Harry’s face and forced him to watch Sirius’s torture.

Harry winced as he saw how deep some of the cuts had gone, several of Sirius’s ribs seemed to be jutting out at odd angles. Harry felt the colour drain from his face as Gus made another deep cut into Sirius and chuckled with a wicked glee as the blood seeped from the edges of the wound and flowed down the wizard’s chest……..

Elora clasped her hands in joy as her tribe cheered loudly. “This is it? This is Scotland?” she asked breathlessly as Frank helped her down from the caravan.

“Yes, these are the lowlands,” Frank explained “Hogwarts lies between the lowlands and the highlands, which is were we hail from.”

“How long until we reach your sister from here?” Fallon asked as she and Dimitri approached Frank. “Will we get there before the snow?”

Looking up into the sky, Frank shook his head, “Not likely, this storm is blowing in fast, but then again, what else would you expect from Scotland.” he joked. “I would say you’ll arrive within the next five days or so, provided the snow does not become too deep or the temperature too cold.”…

Cash moaned softly as he felt the blood dripping from his body, he was so tired and so weak. But he had to hold on, Angel would be here soon, she had to be. Her son was being threatened and the love of her life was closer to death than Cash wanted to admit. Cash closed his mind to the agony that he was feeling and witnessing. He needed to get help or they would all be dead soon. Gathering all his strength, Cash gave one last mental scream before he lost consciousness, hoping that his clan had heard him and would be able to rescue Harry and Sirius before it was too late…

Sirius looked up to Cash’s form as the Tremere cut into him again, he was positive he had felt Cash reaching out for assistance, Sirius simply prayed someone had heard him. Trying to keep from screaming out in pain, Sirius tried once again to think of happier days. The day Harry accepted him as his godfather and agreed to live with him, the night Cat had allowed him to hold and comfort her after he found out about her mother’s death, the habit she had of kissing him softly on his neck as they cuddled together, gaining strength and comfort in each other’s arms. Sirius’s mind was brought back to the here and now as he heard Harry pleading with the Tremere to stop torturing his godfather.

Sirius turned his head to look at Harry, his poor godson, why was life so cruel to him? He had never done anything to deserve this, he was simply born, nothing more. Sirius took advantage of the Tremere’s distraction to catch Harry’s eye, he wanted to make sure Harry knew he was still with him, if they could just hold out for a little while longer, someone, somewhere had to be on their way. It simply could NOT end like this…..