Et in hora mortis nostrae

Subject: Et in hora mortis nostrae Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:34 pm

The week of exams had been... boring to say the least.

As if Mimosa hadn't already been distracted enough what what had happened on Sunday, now they had to start on their exams. The girl couldn't understand people like Seema and Squid Boy who stayed up late studying as if they cold cram some knowledge in their heads at the last minute but there it was. Though admittedly, Squid Boy's attention now remained torn between his book and Mimosa, but the witch had not given any indication she wanted a repeat of Sunday night.

Because she didn't.

When the final timetable for OWLs and NEWTs had been posted, Caherine had dramatically declared Mimosa lucky because the younger witch would finish all her exams by Saturday whereas Katherine would have to stay behind until the following Thursday for Arithmancy. Not really caring about Catherine, Mimosa had conveyed this information to her Jacques who had agreed to pick her up on Sunday and promised they would spend the entire day in London to celebrate the end of her exams before heading back to the palace.

Mimosa was once again set to visit India for the summer (just for fun) and this time, Jacques had promised to stay with her for a few weeks. The young witch was looking forwards to that more than anything else. Spending all that time with him would ensure all the lies and rumors about him would be dispelled. And he would tell her she was his favorite again and again... The thought made her spirits instantly lift as everyone rushed to check their roll number and find their seats for the exams.

Monday was Transfiguration and Charms, both subjects the brunette knew she performed exceedingly well in because the examiners were tripping over themselves to meet her. In her Charms practical, the old man taking her exam merely told her "Just, cast any spell you feel like dear, and please give my regards tot eh Lord and Lady Clement." Mimosa had obliged and cast the Alohamora charm, unlocking a cabinet and releasing a bunch of papers that would need to be re-stacked in order again.

Tuesday had been potions and DADA. One again, Mimosa had excelled because that was just what she did. Though the potion they were supposed to be brewing should have been a light blue, the examiners had reassured Mimosa that her thick, gloopy green concoction worked just as well, no need to worry dear. She had gotten full marks in the defense practical though when she had managed to wandlessly boil a Doxy instead of casting a shield as instructed. It was the effect that mastered after all.

Wednesday was the most boring day of the week with History and Astronomy scheduled in. Not that it bothered Mimosa of course, she had written her answered as briefly as possible bore resting her head on her desk and falling asleep. the teen witch had woken up with the bell that indicated the end of the exam.

Thursday marked the beginning of electives. with Ancient Runes in the morning and CoMC in the afternoon. Mimosa had finessed her own exam in the morning and then been separated from quid Boy who had to go to CoMC. She didn't mind, time alone sounded good right now.

Friday was for Divination and Herbology, meaning Mimosa only had one paper that day. She head tried to find Miss Azalea before the exam just to see i she could borrow soem lip gloss again but Gaspard had told her Miss Azalea quit. The thought of her Head of House leaving without telling Mimosa se th child on edge. How rude!

All students were given Friday off to take a breather, but students being silly, spent most of the day studying. Not Mimosa though, tired of being cooped up indoors, the teenager had made her way to the grounds, Karan insistingly by her side since he didn't have exams. In the end, it hand't been so bad. The Desi boy always liked listening to her talk and Mimosa liked nothing better than talking about herself, so he was pretty good company.

On Saturday morning, Mimosa had her final paper in the form of Muggle Studies, a subject she was certain she aced because it took her only one of the two and a half hours given to complete. The witch left the great hall with a skip in her step, practically bouncing all the way to the Slytherin common room where Katherine, Constance and Emily had their books spread open for Arithmancy.

"I'm done!" she announced as they simultaneously groaned into their books. "I'm going home tomorrow, My Jacques is coming to get me" It was a mark of how stressed the girls were that even mention of Jacques Clement didn't make them look up from their revision.

With no sympathy lost for her classmates, Mimosa returned to her dorm and launched herself into bed, taking up her phone and texting everyone that she was done. Clara told her how proud she was of the young witch, Ashley in LA squee-d hard with her and even Michelle sent her a bunch of flowers and cake emojis. The witch called up Mercy's text window which had been blank for a year now, thought better of it and dismissed the chat. If Mercy didn't want to talk to her, that was fine.

She probably had another best friend somewhere, and that was fine too. Mimosa didn't need her.

Mimosa didn't need anyone, except her Jacques.

The teen model must have been in her dorm for over an hour when she heard footsteps. An annoyed Emily poked her head in, clearly sent to deliver a message.

"Jacques Clement is here, I think he means to pick you up."

"What... No, he said he'll come tomorrow."

"I really have to go back to studying but Prof. G says he's waiting in the Entrance Hall for you." With a shrug that clearly stated "do whatever", Emily disappeared again, propelling Mimosa out of bed.

Jacques must have wanted to surprise her. He would know how much she wanted to be out of here. Once again, he knew everything and was the bestest person in the whole wide world

Forgetting the fact that she was only half packed and that her phone was on charge, Mimosa bounded out of her dormitory and raced down to the Entrance Hall, her little feet pounding the flagstone floor just enough to hurry but not enough to hurt her.

As she rounded the final corner, her Jacques came into view, making her entire face light up with a beatific glow. In her usual style, the child didn't stop, instead speeding up and jumping at the last minute to land smoothly into his arms.

Or so she thought.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Sat Mar 20, 2021 9:59 am

The wedding plans had been on full steam in the last ten days. His Azalea had picked out the style for the wedding that would be hosted in the grounds of Murray Manor. She'd chosen the colour scheme that the day would entail -- not that there was much room for movement in and around the Murray colours, but the accents had been chosen accordingly. The paper for the invitations had been chosen, and the design for those had been sent off with the designers accordingly.

The guest list had been reviewed and agreed.

Everything was falling in to place easily, making the head of the Murray household feel more alive than he had been for the months before. Ethan had been excited at the prospect of the union, his excitement turning to talks of his Maman's plans for the big day. Everything was just as it should have been.

Until the call had come.

Joshua Murray had not been naïve enough to believe that the Palace of Versailles would be quiet on the matter. After all, his Azalea was part of the largest family in Europe, and they had not received permission from them to be wed. Not that Joshua Murray required anyone's permission to see himself and his Azalea wed. He held all power over the witch, so what the Clements did or did not say would not be of any consequence in the long run.

But it had made his next steps in this process change drastically.

An almost fully concocted Polyjuice potion had gone missing from a small potioneers apothecary on the Friday morning after Jacques' call. Word had been sent to the Ministry of the theft, but there was nothing the on-hand Aurors could find to tie the crime to anyone.

Saturday had come in to being with as much haste as the rest of the week, and his Azalea had been kept busy with further preparations for the wedding, or Ethan, both ensuring she had no time for anything else. Leaving Joshua Murray enough time to unfold his own deeds for the day.

Entering Hogwarts had been surprisingly easy, nobody questioned his presence as he past through the gates and headed directly up to the castle. Everyone seemed more than happy to help him, actually, the request for Mimosa had been easy enough of a passing Slytherin, which left Joshua Murray just enough time to stand and take in the building that had been the first place he'd laid eyes on his Azalea. Yes, it might have been in the grounds, but there were plenty of memories within these walls, too.

The waiting did not last long, though. Perhaps ten minutes was all it took for his message to arrive safely with the child, and for said child to appear. Joshua had turned towards the witch, curiously looking her over. The child did not resemble her mother, really, she had taken after her father quite considerably, a shame, really. His brief assessment was cut short though, when the child launched herself at him, directly towards his chest. Joshua remained unmoved as the witch all but headbutted his chest and back to the floor with little and less grace.

"Mimosa." Joshua greeted, not really caring for the look of confusion on the child's face. "We should get going."

Without hesitation Joshua put his hand on the witch's shoulder and led her out of the castle in to the grounds. Her mouth was moving quickly with words that the man did not care to listen to. Something about why he was here today when they had arranged for them to leave Hogwarts tomorrow. Something about their plans for London, and what they were going to do over the next few days. Shopping lists ensued, but the head of the Murray household wasn't listening at all.

It went on, and on, and on.

Until finally they were outside of the gates.

"You're very quiet today, Jacques..."

"That's because talking is a waste of breath." Josh countered, not at all in the tone that the witch would recognise as familiar to the Frenchman that the man was impersonating. But, before the witch could reply, the crack! of apparition filled the air, and instead of standing in the Scottish Highlands, they were instead transported back to the Murray Manor.

It was too easy.

The man's hand came to rest on the child's shoulder in that moment. Cold in the exact manner of the man who did not understand the emotions of everyone around him. Was imperceptible to any emotional change in the child beside him, much too intent on the final destination. The stairs were taken, and they moved off to the right towards his Azalea's room. Josh's fingers dipped in to his jacket as he walked, withdrawing a small vial from his pocket. Flipping the lid off the top of the vial, the man drank from it carefully as they neared the room at the end of the hall.

In mere seconds, the face of the French heir would disappear, and in it's place, the cold, angular features of the Lord Murray would come in to view. Just in time for him to knock the door, his fingers keeping the hold on the child beside him.

He didn't wait, though.

The door opened in that moment, his Azalea's back was turned towards him, only aiding in making the surprise much more prominent in that moment.

"My A-Azalea, I brought you a present." Josh announced, getting the older witch's attention as the smile contorted his features.

How could he not smile, his Azalea now had no reason to leave. She had everything she needed right here.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:16 pm

"Hang in there, help is one the way!

The rolled up chit of paper that had arrived with Leafy that morning was all that was keeping Azalea sane in her gilded cage. Nothing had outwardly changed about the suite she was being kept in. The room was as spacious and airy, as filled with luxuries as it had always been. Now though, everything was cloaked in the amorous realization that the witch was not allowed to leave her lavish prison.

But help was on the way. The message clearly contained Jake's messy, slanting script. What he would do, the brunette couldn't fathom but she knew he would do something. He wouldn't just leave her here.

At least, she had to believe he wouldn't.

"Maman!" Ethan called out, holding up a flower from the vases that got replenished every day with fresh blooms even if no one other than the family entered the suite. "Look... Azalea."

The witch tried to smile, managing a half grimace as he went to take the flower from his hand. He was a child, non of this was his fault.

"Now now, it's not nice to pluck flowers from their home, Ethan."

The blonde toddler looked up at her, considering first the witch reaching out for the flower and then the flower in his grasp. The child withdrew his hand then, seeming to make up his mind.

"Mine!" he declared with a satisfied grin.

Something twisted inside her painfully as at the declaration but Azalea forced another smile. "Alright, just this once then." And with that, she picked up the child in her arms, still clutching to the plant that would die soon because it had been torn from its environment and forced to fulfill a role it was never meant to.

The former potion mistress didn't hear the door open as she was siting in bed, Ethan adjusted in her lap telling her of all the flowers he planned to pick. The first sign she noticed of them no longer being alone was Josh's slight stutter, a sound that was slowly starting to make her blood run cold.

"My A-Azalea, I brought you a present."

The witch wouldn't have turned aroudn if it wasn't for the vocie that followed.

"Miss Azalea? jacues- why are we-"

"Mimosa?" The movement was so sudden, Ethan was jostled from her lap, landing harmlessly on the bed. A slew of emotions crossed the child's face. shock, upset, bewildered, disdain and finally settled on anger.

"You're... not my Jacques...?"

"Mimosa, sweetie, it's alright," Azalea confirmed as she rose from the bed to the child standing in front of Josh. Intentionally drawing the young witch way from his unforgiving gaze, she tucked Mimosa by her side, murmuring reassurances of everything being fine. Mimosa didn't seem scared, which could only mean the child didn't know what was going on.

"What is the meaning of this Josh. Why is she here?" For the first time since she had been held captive, there was a sign of resilience in Azalea's voice. It was as if she had been waken from a very long dream.

For the second time in her life.

And she wanted answers.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:33 pm

"Mimosa?"

Joshua simply watched as his Azalea cast their son aside, hurrying over to the doorway to... not greet the two of them warmly as Joshua had expected her to. Instead, she had snatched the child from his side, and brought her to her own side, talking in a manner to reassure the child. Why? The man did not know why she would do that, it wasn't as if he had plans to harm the child. The child was a bargaining piece, the final piece to the puzzle of making his Azalea see no reason to leave.

The questions that came from the child's lips proved her to have inherited her brain from her father's side. The useless points she was making that of a small child, but if this would make his Azalea happy, they could find a tutor to aid her. A tutor that would hopefully right the behaviour of a child who was supposed to be of their blood. Josh's attention, though, was not held by the child, instead turning back to his Azalea, holding her gaze as he waited. Watching for the sign of happiness that he knew was supposed to come with the bringing of his Azalea's eldest child.

But it didn't come.

"What is the meaning of this Josh. Why is she here?"

"I would have thought that was obvious." Josh replied, not in a manner to be flippant, but in the genuine confusion of a man who had believed he was giving his fiancée everything she could have wanted. Azalea's lack of reply and the general fuss around the child made the man continue. "If you have everything you need here, then you no longer have to leave the Manor.

"Your daughter is now with us, so we can move forward. As a family." Josh stated, as if he'd been talking about a plant they'd just acquired, and could keep with their own whim. "Which rooms should I have made up for her?" He asked, as if this was already a done deal that they had discussed. As if the witch before him would simply just fall in to place with everything he was saying, as she had done so many times before.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:51 pm

"I would have thought that was obvious."

The dread that had been slowly solidifying inside Azalea hardened into an iron knot at his words. Did that mean..?

"If you have everything you need here, then you no longer have to leave the Manor.

Once again, his explanation was met with an incredulous gaze, even as understanding dawned on Azalea's features. Unlike her daughter's the witch's features were not as symmetrical, more sharp and angular, more practiced to emotion and strife.

"Your daughter is now with us, so we can move forward. As a family."

He knew... of course he knew. And his solution was to abduct the child too? For the first time in the eyars she had known Jshua Murray, Azalea realized how mentally sick he was.

"She has a family," the witch replied tersely, gently leading Mimosa to a chair and sitting her down before making her way back to Josh. Keeping her voice low, she continued. "She can't live here, this isn't her home." Her yes flashed with anger as she looked on at the man. "And neither is it mine. You can't just keep us here against our will Josh. Sooner or later, you will have to let us go."

As she spoke, the witch realized why she hand't been as confrontational before. The man in front of her was no longer the hurt party. Everything she had let him do to her until now - and she could see very clearly what he had done - was because of her own guilt of being unfaithful. But nothing she could have done justified his actions towards Mimosa.

And she would not stand for it.

"Oh, this is all a game!" Mimosa's voice floated from the chair, an air of victory in alongside the statement. "I get it now, Jacques arranged a game for us all!"

Both adults ignored her comment, continuing to stare each other down. Even Ethan was quietly observing the situation from his bed.

"I don't want to marry you," Azalea finally managed. "I don't want to live here in this glorified cage... And I don't want to be anywhere near you!"

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:06 pm

"She has a family,"

Josh's reply came in the form of a nod, and the movement of his eyes across the room to show that it was here. He didn't need to argue with words to get his message across.

"She can't live here, this isn't her home."

The words were moot, they had no affect on the man they were aimed at.

"And neither is it mine. You can't just keep us here against our will Josh. Sooner or later, you will have to let us go."

"Maman..."

Ethan's soft word was just that, hurt but ever present in the room. Josh didn't have to say a word in reply to the witch as she moved her daughter to a chair and rounded back on him. Perhaps ever so slightly a sparkle resonated in one of the man's eyes as the rush of adrenaline flooded through his veins as his Azalea moved back before him. Easily missed, but there for the briefest of seconds.

"I don't want to marry you,"

The amusement danced in Josh's eyes in that moment, almost gleeful in the response to the statement his Azalea had thrust towards him. The man said nothing once more, waiting for the witch to get to her point, so that he could join the dance.

"I don't want to live here in this glorified cage... And I don't want to be anywhere near you!"

The blond stepped forward in that moment, his hand reaching up to the witch's face to gently push back a lock of hair that had escaped it's place. Gently tucking it back behind her ear, the man brought his lips close to her ear as he lowered his own voice to meet the same volume she'd used towards him. "I know you want to believe all those things, but... the choice is no longer yours to make, my A-Azalea."

The scream pierced the air in the next second from the chair in which the child had been made to sit only moments before. High pitched, and filled with pain.

It wouldn't last more than five seconds.

But the point would be made as Josh straightened up.

You didn't get to choose when you walked away from the Lord Murray.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:20 pm

Having known Josh for some time, the witch knew he wouldn't react in any way expected of someone else in the same situation, particularly not in an emotional manner. Instead, as he moved closer to her, touching her face as lightly as a butterfly's wings, Azalea felt the cold grip of terror upon her.

"I know you want to believe all those things, but... the choice is no longer yours to make, my A-Azalea."

Frozen in fear, the witch couldn't have uttered a word if she wanted to, not until Mimosa's shrill screams pierced the air.
The brunette whirled around to face the young Slytheirn in a daze but it was too late. As soon as the screaming had started, it stopped. When Josh had the time to reach for his wand, Azalea would never know. But the damage was done.

Mimosa lay prone where she was sitting, one of her arms bent at an impossible angle, denoting a broken wrist. The child looked green and even in unconsciousness, her breathing was labored.

Tears sprang into Azalea's eyes as she looked on at the child, the message very clear. If she had ever thought she had any power... she now stood corrected.

This was why Mimosa was sure.

Not to make Azalea happy, but to insure her compliance.

Joshua Murray now held all he cards.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:30 pm

Josh's eyes never left the witch before him. Even when her eyes left his to look to the child, Josh's eyes remained on the witch. The resilience that had started to show had been squashed in only a matter of seconds, and the affirmation that this would be all the witch needed to stay had been cemented in the male's mind in that moment.

Bringing the witch's face back around to him in that moment, Josh gave her a moment to understand the situation.

"You need to clean yourself up, you have your dress fitting shortly, remember." Josh reminded gently, not waiting for an answer because he knew he wouldn't get one. "Don't be late." Was his final comment, the underlying notion that if she were, there would be consequences that would follow. Still nothing came from the witch, but Joshua didn't mind as he leaned forwards to press a kiss upon the witch's lips. Fully, and in the manner that would denote that she was his to do with what he wished.

As he pulled back, Josh's eyes moved from the witch to their son. "Come along, Ethan. Your mother needs to get ready."

The small boy did as he was told, moving obediently from the bed to his father's side. Joshua turned on his heel then, vacating the room with his son closely by his side, and without a look back towards the witch he'd left standing numbly in his wake.

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Subject: Re: Et in hora mortis nostrae Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:46 pm

Azalea remained rooted in her spot, not hearing anything. It was as if Mimosa's screams had silenced the rest of the world around her, the air in the room to thick and heavy with the realization of how dire things really were.

Things began to take shapes and sounds only when Ethan's name was mentioned. And even then, it was only in time to see the boy leave with his father, the striking image of the taller man. In a daze, she finally walked over to Mimosa, still unconscious from the pain.

On autopilot, the witch held a palm over her daughter, diagnosing Mimosa's condition. A craft she never knew she possessed resurfacing when it was needed most. Later, Azalea might ponder if she had any healing training in the past but for now, Mimosa's prognosis revealed several broken bones. No wand at her disposal, Azalea could do nothing but sit by the child's side, applying salve and fashioning splints from the medical cabinet.

Mimosa slept through it all as her mother worked, sinking further and further into despair as she helplessly tended to her child's wound. Without much conviction, she called for Leafy when she was done, dispatching the vine on yet another round, this time all hope associated with the stowaway message gone.

"He took Mimosa, she's here, please come get her ASAP."

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