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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 1, 2008 13:40:42 GMT -5
It only made Michael worse. Now there was a man downstairs, in Diagon Alley, that was looking for them? Michael took his hand from his chest and ran it through his hair, only to lay it back on the bandages. So where had Dare gone? It didn't make sense that Dare would go out to shop with someone there looking for them. His eyes widened, maybe the guy had come up and Dare had been in the hall? No, that didn't make sense either. Scenario after scenario presented itself to Michael's mind, and though he discarded many of them, some stuck. "How long have they been gone?" he asked, the fact that Markise had been asleep not really sinking in.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 1, 2008 16:53:25 GMT -5
Markise shook his head lightly and his brows creased, Michael's panic rubbing off on him. "I don't know," he answered. "I was sleeping. It couldn't have been long though, right? Ariel isn't back yet and he was just going to the bank. Diagon Alley's not that big, is it?" Markise wouldn't know, not having been through it himself. He looked up at Michael, hoping that was enough and knowing it wasn't.
It was as he glanced away that his eyes caught on a flash of something that didn't blend in with the even tone of Michael's skin. His eyes paused, widened, and in a flash he looked away again, his heart racing a mile a minute. That was the Dark Mark. He was a Death Eater. Or was he?
Dare had to know, Markise couldn't imagine that he'd find out something like that so easily and Dare would have no clue. In either case, Markise was even more determined to stay on Michael's good side and, though it took him some moments to make the connection, he started to wonder if it was Death Eaters after Michael and Dare. Markise didn't notice the quickening of his breathing. "We have to find him," he said softly, terrified by the thought that something could have happened.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 1, 2008 20:34:40 GMT -5
Michael blinked, then nodded and straightened. But where could they look? He kept his hand on the bandages at his chest, eyes wide as he thought. His breathing wasn't coming as easily as it had been. He ignored it. "Any ideas?" he asked, his eyes swinging back around to Markise as he took a step towards the door. He was drawing a blank for ideas where they could look, though running through Diagon Alley was a good possibility in his mind, even with the pain in his chest.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 1, 2008 20:44:23 GMT -5
Markise shook his head, unsure. "I don't think Dare would have gone far." It was hard to think of where he would be, though. Markise struggled beneath his layers of cloaks for a minute before he was able to move enough to kneel. From there, he grabbed the seat of the chair to help him up, knowing he'd get dizzy again as he stood. His free hand rose, steadying his head before he could focus on Michael again. "I could look in the hallway," he volunteered. "I'll put my hood up." Markise's hands slid out from beneath his cloak and tugged his hood up again, pulling the hem as far forward as he could manage. There was, of course, Ariel's cloak, but Markise had forgotten it, and it lay pooled on the floor beside him.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 1, 2008 20:50:27 GMT -5
Michael blinked, why would Markise need his hood up? It almost clicked in his mind but he couldn't get it to come to the front of his thoughts with all of the other things running through his head. He still wasn't quite sure why Markise was there, though he accepted it and moved on to the larger issue of why in the world Dare was gone, and where he was if he was so scared of the man downstairs.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 1, 2008 22:11:53 GMT -5
Markise approached the door slowly, his fingers twisting into the cloak at his sides. He was terrified. What if the man was still out there? What if he saw Markise? What if his hood fell down? Markise had never been as brave as Dare... Dare. One hand caught a fistful of cloak and brought it up under his chin as the other curled around the door handle. He pressed it and opened the door just enough to peek his head out. Then he sighed and turned back to Michael, pained relief written on his face. "There's no one there."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 1, 2008 22:24:39 GMT -5
Michael walked towards Markise, pulling his hand from his chest and putting it on Markise's shoulder to pull him away. "Let me," he said, gripping his wand tightly and trying to get his breath back under control. He wanted to go find Dare, his mind had one objective and he wanted to go and get him...wherever he was.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 1, 2008 22:27:56 GMT -5
Markise turned back toward Michael with his brows arched high. Lifting his hands to Michael's shoulders, he pressed gingerly, then leaned back against the door to close it. "You might want to get dressed first," he said, gesturing lightly toward the expanse of skin that Michael was showing. Not that he disapproved of the view, but this was neither the time, the place, nor the person. Markise's gaze skipped away from Michael over to the puddle of cloth on the floor. "At least put on Ariel's cloak and cover your hair, all right?" God, Dare was going to kill him if something happened to Michael.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 10:41:19 GMT -5
Michael paused, then looked down and followed Markise's gaze, only then remembering his state of dress. His left arm instinctively tucked into his body and he bent and reached for the cloak, a wave of dizziness coming over him as he bent over and grabbed it. The pain in his chest told him that he shouldn't go out, but he pushed it away as he slung the cloak over his shoulders and looked up at Markise.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 2, 2008 10:47:56 GMT -5
Markise's brows creased, but he seriously doubted that he was going to blow Michael off. He looked like he was about ready to collapse, but something told Markise that if he tried something, suggesting Michael wait here for example, it would just be a waste of breath. And testing whether he'd gotten the theory of petrificus totalus right would probably get him murdered. Michael didn't look quite sane right now.
Markise decided not to press his luck. He turned to the door and peeked out again, relieved to see nothing but the empty hallway. He didn't want to leave the safety of that room, didn't even want to be awake actually, but there was no way he could let a seriously injured and barely dressed Michael wander around hunting for Dare. Even if he wasn't afraid of what Dare might do if that happened, his own conscience wouldn't allow it.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 14:10:29 GMT -5
Michael's right hand stayed glued to his now burning chest as he came up close behind Markise, using his left hand to settle the cloak around him better while still trying to hold his wand. Wide eyes darted down the hall, what if that man was there? He didn't see anyone, but as he went to give Markise an impatient touch on his shoulder, he heard a loud thump followed immediately by a string of curses coming from the door across the hall. "What was..." His eyebrows creased as his hand tightened on his wand and his eyes focused on the door.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 2, 2008 14:18:29 GMT -5
Markise had jumped at the sound, his heart thundering at the sudden break in the silence. He might have scrambled back for the room he'd just left if it hadn't been for Michael's ridiculous question. It was noise, that's what it was, and furious... Markise blinked as the remaining noise filtered through his panic. Then his brows drew together. "It sounds like Ariel," he said softly. His gaze followed Michael's to the source of that sound. Was it Ariel? Markise didn't at all have the nerve to knock on that door--what if it wasn't Ariel?--but he did call Ariel's name, hopefully loud enough to be heard in that room without drawing attention from others.
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Post by Ariel Logan Callahan on Dec 2, 2008 14:22:59 GMT -5
Ariel was still muttering angry profanities at the chair that had been his literal downfall when he heard a familiar, but soft voice. He glared over where Dare was and then turned his eyes to the door. "Get your ass in here!" he called, loud enough to be heard through the door. He refused to acknowledge that Markise would see him with rabbit ears and stone shoes and glared at Dare, challenging him to do something about Markise coming in.
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Post by Markise Sterling on Dec 2, 2008 14:28:34 GMT -5
Markise's eyes widened, but that was definitely Ariel, so he obeyed the summons despite his fear and pushed the door handle. When it swung open, his eyes widened further, and his lips parted. Ariel had rabbit ears and cement shoes. His gaze had gone immediately to the source of Ariel's voice, but as he moved forward to help, he saw Dare from the corner of his eye, slumped on the floor. His heart stopped, and he couldn't seem to make himself move.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 14:41:04 GMT -5
Michael looked around the hall before pulling the door to his and Dare's room shut and following Markise. "Is Dare-" he was stopped short by the sight of Ariel on the floor with ears. He blinked. His eyebrows came together and he looked around the room, trying to get his breathing under control. All attempts at that failed, though, when he saw Dare there against the wall. He only paused for a moment as he debated going after Ariel, then went and fell to his knees beside Dare. "Dare? Are you okay? What happened?" he asked, without giving enough pause for an answer.
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