"Well, Draco? Any progress?" asked a chilly voice. Morana sat at the head table, her curly hair tied in a burn but they still looked like if you lied, they would suddenly come alive and strangle you like a tarantula. Everyone was sitting at the meeting table, their heads down. No one dared to look up.
"M-my lady. I have done my best. I have examined her every move but nothing seems like you. She is just a stupid girl. She doesn't have your awesomeness." Draco said, hoping this would butter the crazy woman.
"Well you are right Draco but you must find out soon. 2 months have passed by and still no luck." she hissed. "You see the poison in her? It will only last till the end of the year and if she isn't dead by then...I will die...but don't get your hopes too high, Draco. If you fail, I will drag you both with me!"
"I-I will not fail, my lady," he said, keeping his head down.
"Draco, my soul exists in her strong parts like her eyes or hands or legs. Only those. Her rest of the face doesn't matter because it isn't a strong fighting part, but her eyes...she holds a strong and confident gaze. Her hands work perfectly with a sword and a wand, both and her legs...she runs fast and quick and is quite hard to defeat in wars." She said, holding a faraway look as if she was reliving something.
"war? w-when d-did you battle with h-her, my lady?" Draco asked carefully as she didn't like being asked questions. She sharply turned towards him as if someone had just insulted her hair personally, but then she controlled herself.
"Years ago...when she was 9."
"9?" Draco asked. He knew he was pushing his luck too much but he couldn't help but wonder, how can someone fight in a battle with a sword when they were only 9? unless of course, he was the Black Knight from avengers. He literally imagined a 9-year old Aria, bursting into a battle and shouting in her small, childish voice. He would have almost laughed if he wasn't sitting in front of Morana, who was giving him a vicious look. She glared at him for a few seconds before regaining her posture and calming down. Maybe she thought he needed information for his task. Draco was thankful for whatever it was. He didn't intend to die at such a young age, especially only because he asked a question.
"Yes...I would have returned quite early if it wasn't for her. I, 7 years ago, had tried to return through another body I had chosen...but it resulted in a battle, she fought without a wand as she wasn't trained for magic. She had a sword...but she fought quite well. Many foolish people hated me and her grandmother was one of them. She turned me down and betrayed me. They were the only family I trusted, but...anyways you are the person I trust now, Draco, I don't want you to turn me down." said Morana and played with her wand to hint me of the consequences. "There were wand duels as well as sword fighting in that war....and somehow they won, but I wasn't going to give up, am I? they were foolish to think that they won."
"y-yes my l-lady. I-I won't turn you down. Not even in my dreams." Draco said.
"Well, you better not," she laughed getting up. "DISMISSED"
Draco quickly got up from his chair and went to his room, but suddenly stopped when he heard screams from downstairs. It seemed to be coming from the dungeons. Usually, Draco wouldn't have cared less. He had even heard his former professor, Gladstone's screams too, but he couldn't do anything more than be sorry. But this one sounded new and as if it belonged to an old woman.
He slowly made his way towards the source of the voice. He recognized his parents and a woman who was present during Morana's meetings. She was a crazy woman who Draco liked to keep his distance from. Draco didn't remember her name but usually, she was the one who gave Morana crazy ideas. Morana wasn't present anywhere and Draco was pleased.
They all seemed to be standing inside one of the cells. Draco couldn't see who they were towering above but the screams told him the person was in pain. He walked a little closer to see what was going on. He knew he shouldn't be here but his curiosity took the best of him. He had expected or at least hoped no one would notice him, but can our life be simple? nope.
Hearing his footsteps, all the three turned to look at him. Draco froze.
"Draco?" asked his mother. "what are you doing here?"
"um..." Draco thought of an excuse but he was couldn't think properly under the intense look they were giving him. "I-i heard screams so..."
"Oh!!! Poor Draco worried for someone?" said the crazy woman walking towards him. The moment she moved. The person, whose screams had attracted Draco, was visible. She was an old woman with grey hair and ragged skin. She had tears on her cheeks, but her eyes refused to say that she was scared. Her eyes held a firm and brave look. She was collapsed on the ground by the pain.
"yes? what are you doing here, Draco?" asked the crazy woman, her fingers playing with her wand.
"I told you" he replied.
"But well, screams are normal, aren't they?" she said and cackled.
"Draco" called his mother, "Go to your room"
"Yes" added his father. Draco looked at the woman on the ground. She was looking at him...no not looking but glaring. It looked like she was angry at him. Looking at that, Draco had no desire to save her. I mean, come on! Everyone here hates him, why should he be here? Draco turned to leave but was stopped by the crazy woman, again.
"Oh come on!! Cassy! Why leave the fun? Draco will join our interrogation. Let's see what he is capable of?" She told his mother, Cassandra. He wondered what sort of connection did she have with his mother to call her 'Cassy'.
"I don't think that is importa-"
"Oh shut up Cassy! You are boring!" she said and turned towards Draco, "How about you join us, Draco? The old idiot refuses to say anything, how about you get it out?"
Draco thought a bit. He had no intentions to be Morana's pet and get information out for her, but maybe...the old woman had some information that could help him fight Morana...
"Fine," he said, and the crazy woman cackled.
"You see, Cassy? He has some courage in him!!" she said. My mother was shocked whereas my father held a blank expression.
"Will anyone hear me further?" he asked, his tone angry. Everyone went quiet so he continued, "I will interrogate her in person. I want to do it alone."
His mother raised her eyebrows almost as if she suspected my plan. His father knit his eyebrows together and the crazy woman narrowed her eyes.
"Why alone?" she asked.
"My wish" He replied, boldly. He wondered where he all got the courage from.
"I think we should leave it to him...my son has got some sense." said his mother and looked at him as if saying: all the best. The crazy woman protested but his mother cut her off and soon enough they were alone. The old woman glared at him not breaking eye contact. Draco walked towards her and raised her eyebrows.
"Come on tell me, who are you?" he asked, calmly but firmly, leaving no room for further arguments.
"Why should I tell you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. Her voice was hoarse due to the amount of screaming.
"Because I asked" shrugged Draco. "Now, answer my questions quickly. We haven't got much time."
"A-Alice Rosewood," she said. Draco raised his eyebrows more. S-So this lady was-
"You are right. I am Aria's grandmother" she confirmed, looking at his expression. Draco didn't know what to ask further. Aria already hated her grandmother. what should he ask?
"Why do you treat Aria so badly?" he asked her. The old woman's expression turned bitter, but she kept quiet.
"Why aren't you answering?" he asked.
"I-I am protecting her from you, evils," she said bitterly. "as much as I hate her, I need to protect her. I warned her that you are one of the Morana's servants!! But she never listens to me, does she? Just like her Grandfather."
"Grandfather?" he asked.
"Yes. He hated Morana than anything. Morana had forced our son to become her servant. Ever since he hated her, but he was k-killed just like my poor son." she said.
Draco let that sink in. So, Aria's grandmother knew that he was Morana's servant. She had tried to warn Aria, but she didn't listen. He wondered if her grandmother is protecting her so much, then why hate her?
"Why do you hate Aria so much?" he asked again. But she still didn't speak. She kept her gaze hard and her lips sealed shut. He went closer to her so that he could at least whisper.
"Look, I am against this evil-idiot-Morana. I don't like her. Like your son, even I was forced to become her servant. But I have enough guts to go against her. I am protecting Aria." He whispered. The old lady looked at him skeptically. "She is my friend and she trusts me. You can too"
"How can I be sure of that?" she asked.
"well, I haven't killed her till now, have I? Especially when I was assigned to." The old lady thought a bit...she seemed to be deciding how much to tell him. He gave her time. Finally, after a while, she unsealed her lips.
"Morana has transferred her soul into Aria," she said
"I already know that" snapped Draco. He was getting impatient.
"Well, do you?" she asked, amused. Draco rolled his eyes. "But do you know where does it exist?" This caught Draco's interest. He raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner.
"Where?" he asked.
"Which do you think is the most beautiful part of her?" she asked. Draco imagined Aria in his mind. Her hair was the perfect length, perfect color...Her laugh was free and happy...her eyes were like a blue river floating in the middle of a green forest...
"Her eyes?" he asked. Her grandmother smiled victoriously.
"Of course" she mused. This confused Draco only more.
"How can it be her eyes? They are beautiful like a goddess's eyes! Not evil like Morana's!" he exclaimed.
"Her soul does not show up always," her grandmother said."But it does when she feels angry or evil...any emotion that matches Morana. Otherwise, don't worry dear, she carries her own beautiful eyes."
"S-so why do you hate her? you have always been mean to her!" he asked.
"Well...that is because she was the reason my family ended and she also carries the soul of my family's murderer." she hissed.
"Okay...I got what I wanted. I assure you she will be protected and I will avenge you" He promised her. She smiled...not a bitter smile, but a true warm smile. He nodded and left. He saw his parents and the crazy woman arguing about something.
"I am done. She refuses to say anything. She doesn't even know anything but please don't kill her...she might contain more information." he told them. They all had their own different reaction but they left anyway, except his mother.
She raised her eyebrows at Draco asking him a silent question. Draco smiled and nodded. He had got superb information and now his only task was to find one thing: How to cure the vicious poison.