Blasphemous Rumours (Cleo/Adara)

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo was a little thrown by Adara's actions and she couldn't help but think that maybe she didn't dserve it all. "It's ok Adara" she said softly, soothing the girl. She bit her lip, there was no way she could ever tell Adara she was working for her father.

[Adara Snow]

Adara held Cleo a few moments longer before recalling herself and pulling away, resuming her seat with a blush. "I am sorry," she said, brushing away a tear with one hand, "but it is frightening, and I cannot seem to control myself." She found herself watching the skies already, awaiting the reply from her father that she knew would come.

[Cleo Frost]

"Don't worry" Cleo replied. She brushed away a lock of hair that had fallen across her eyes as she studied Adara. "I understand, I have done it before, I know what to expect and my tears stopped a long time ago" she continued, hopping her words would help Adara calm down.

[Adara Snow]

I know what to expect. Adara's mind latched onto that phrase, and her gaze dropped, seeking Cleo's. "What can I expect?" she asked, hoping she had not misunderstood. Any information, good or bad, would be appreciated. At least she could prepare herself, if that was indeed what Cleo had meant.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo drew a breath, how could she explain, withtout totatlly freaking her out? "Well, they like to be in control, they think they're in control. But your refusal will rattle him, he doesn't think that you would do that, from your description" she added, she didn't want to get into how she knew Herr Snow. "He will try and stifle you, suffocate you, anything to get back the control he craves. It's what my parents did. They've given up know though" Cleo said with a sigh relief. Her parents had stopped a long time ago, which was how she could get away with blowing several thousand galleons on jewellery alone. "My parents have simply stopped caring now"

[Adara Snow]

Somehow, Adara could not imagine her father giving up, but Cleo's words gave her hope, all the same. That was, until the second owl arrived. Adara smoothed the parchment just flat enough to read the words; You will come to me immediately. The consequences otherwise will be severe. She stared, biting her lip between her teeth, Cleo forgotten again as she fought against rising panic. "I will not!" she said, struggling not to withdraw, but to write another note and send it off. Her hands shook as the owl took off into the air.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo grimaced at the note and Adara's reply. She could just imagine the quiet fury rising up in Herr Snow. "Adara remember I am here" she said quietly, unable to offer anything else. She couldn't sit still any more and she rose. She began to pace, chewing her lip as she thought about all the promises she always made, ones she couldn't keep. She had promised to do her best for Adara's sake. From talking to Adara, Cleo knew the best place for her was at Emilian's side.

[Adara Snow]

Adara barely heard Cleo. She was beginning to withdraw, though she struggled against the loss of thought that would bring. She needed to think, she couldn't afford weakness now, even if it saved her sanity. So she blinked, and forced her gaze to follow Cleo, forced herself to wonder what thoughts were going through the other girl's mind as she paced. "Are you all right?" she asked, her mind segmenting things off so that she could focus on Cleo.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo paused for a moment to looked down at Adara. "I'm fine, just a little anxious about things" she admitted. She knew she shouldn't be, that it was Adara's business, but her deal with Herr Snow set her on edge and she for some reason felt that she would soon be called away and her secret found.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded, accepting Cleo's words without question. "Do not worry for me," she assured Cleo. "I am safe in the castle, and Emilian is safe in his shop." She only needed to remind herself of those things, and she would be all right. Her father could not enter the castle, nor could he hurt Emilian, with the spells the Headmistress had put up to protect him.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo nodded, "I should take comfort in that", she said. She forced herself to sit down, to at least look calm, although her heart was hammering in her chest and had leapt into her mouth. She swallowed, and took a deep breath to calm down.

[Adara Snow]

Adara was watching Cleo, and though she had seemed to calm down, she could still feel the tension that she knew was not entirely her own. She assumed that it was Cleo's worry over her, and only liked Cleo more for her concern. Without knowing of Cleo's meeting with her father, there was no other reasonable conclusion. "I will be all right," she told Cleo again, eagerly taking on the role of comforter, since it was an easy distraction. "He will realize that he cannot control me, and he will stop," she said, the words far more hopeful than they were realistic.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo's glance flickered over to Adara and then skittered away again. She feared she would be able to see the truth in her eyes and Cleo's fear. "We shall have to hope" she said softly. She forced her hands to remain still in her lap, keeping calm.

[Adara Snow]

It seemed forever before the third owl arrived, and Adara's shaking fingers struggled to untie the scroll and smooth it against her lap. You will not have time to send word to the boy. It is already too late. Come, and I may spare him, it said. Adara's heart seized, and the world threatened to fade, black edging her vision.

[Cleo Frost]

Cleo knew immediately something else had happened. She got up so she could read the parchment over Adara's shoulder. Her stomach dropped at the words, she could only imagine what Herr Snow was capable of. "Oh Adara" she whispered. She gathered in the girl in her arms and held her tight, trying to help her cling to something, anything. It was a side to Cleo that hardly ever surfaced, she could be compassionate and Adara's situation was tugging at her heart strings.