I Despise You.
Title: I Despise You.
Rating: PG-13 for the disturbing factor, I suppose
Word Count: 1,546
Characters: Esmeralda Selwynn, Augustus Rookwood, Medea Yaxley, Druella Rosier, Myrtle Bartlett mentioned
Prompt: 034. Drowning
Summary: Esmeralda is not the sort to sit idly by.
Warnings: Alternative Universe of lumos_founders. Jackie... I am deeply sorry for this. Esmi: I'm not!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. Except Esmeralda, who is pretty much mine and Medea who came from musaic's mind.
Esmeralda was pacing in front of the fireplace, continually checking the clock on the mantle. Selene was stalking nearby as well, her owners agitation having carried over. Only when the flames roared higher and a man stepped out of the fireplace did they stop, Esmeralda's eyes gleaming as she glanced at him. He nodded, smiling. "Go on now, Strawberry," he said. "Selene and I will be waiting up to hear how well it goes." She did not wait to give a reply, but turned on the spot and vanished with a pop.
The sun had only just risen when the bell rang. Augustus glanced at Esmeralda, who arched an eyebrow at him before going to answer it. The black-haired woman on the other side smiled and held up a creamy white rose. "In memory of the gown that you were wearing the other evening, lovely lady," Medea Yaxley said as Esmeralda accepted it and sniffed, smiling in return.
"Do come in, Medea. Druella has not arrived yet, but Aug is in the morning room reading the Prophet. May I take your jacket?"
Medea's smile faded slightly as she handed Esmeralda her jacket, noticing how the other woman was careful to keep from touching her. "Thank you. Shall we join Aug?"
Esmeralda shook her head. "You go ahead, I must get dressed. You're early after all." She turned for the stairs, pretending not to notice that she was being followed. It was only when she reached the door that she turned and arched an eyebrow at Medea. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to help you, of course. We haven't-"
"I am a grown woman," Esmeralda interjected. "Perfectly capable of dressing myself. Now go downstairs and say hello to Augustus."
"But-"
"Now." She earned herself a very sulky look from Medea before she turned away, a sway to her steps that she very rarely used. A smile tugged up one corner of her mouth when she heard Medea sigh as she closed the door.
"Strawberry, darling, you must be off on a mission," Augustus declared as Esmeralda entered the room. "One dealing with men too, I'd wager."
Esmeralda smiled and tsked at Augustus as she bent down to kiss Druella's cheek in greeting. "Augustus, you know that I cannot tell you what I have to do," she chided, pointedly avoiding the strangled noise that had come from Medea the moment she sat down. "Is there anything interesting in the paper this morning?"
"You must put on a jacket before you leave at least," Druella said. "Your arms are covered in goosebumps already and it's much colder outside." Medea started to cough.
"I'll be fine, Druella. I take it that there was nothing in the paper since no one has answered me?"
Augustus sipped as his tea. "I was about to say that one of our classmates was found dead this morning." He held up the paper and pointed towards a small picture of a smiling woman with horn-rimmed glasses. "That Mudblood, Myrtle Bartlett. She was found drowned in her bathtub, apparently she fell and struck her head on the faucet as she was getting in. She was a journalist for the Prophet too, so now they're looking for a new one."
"Myrtle?" Druella asked. "I can't even remember which one that was... what house was she in again? I never did associate much with those outside of our own." She touched Esmeralda's knee. "Except you."
"She was a Ravenclaw," Medea said, eyes on a spot somewhere above Esmeralda's shoulder.
"That's it," Augustus said. "Ah well, one less Mudblood to worry about in the world. This means that none of us will ever be faced with the task of taking care of her if she ever sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong..." He glanced over at Medea with a sly glint in his eyes. "She was forever one to do things like that, do you remember, Medea? Always working her way into places where she didn't belong."
Medea shrugged. "I didn't know her that well."
"Is there any tea left?" Esmeralda asked, nodding to the pot beside Augustus. The man shook his head. "I'll make some more, then, it's not a proper morning without enough tea." She stood, smoothing out her skirt as she did. "Any preference on flavor?"
"I'll come help you," Medea said, standing up a little too quickly. "I have forgotten what you have in your selection." Augustus and Druella began to discuss an upcoming trial as the two left the room, Medea's eyes fixed on Esmeralda's legs while the other woman was doing her best to once again pretend that there was no one behind her. The absolute nerve of some women. As they entered the kitchen, Esmeralda turned and opened her mouth with every intention of seeing how long it took to crush Medea, but she was surprised to find Medea leaning in for a kiss.
Esmeralda held her hand up to stop Medea. “What do you think you are doing?” she asked in a chilled voice.
Medea looked puzzled. “Kissing you.”
“Ah, no.” Esmeralda shook her head and placed a hand on Medea’s shoulder to push her back. “That is where you are mistaken.”
“Esmi,” Medea said in a wheedling tone, trailing a hand over the redhead’s thigh. “It’s been almost three months! You know you can’t resist-“ But Esmeralda had turned around, reaching up for the teapot. “You’re ignoring me.” There was a definite edge of surprise to her voice and a look in her eyes that had not been there for years.
“I came in here to make tea and you followed me. I did not ask you to do that.”
“You’re wearing that skirt.” Medea rested her hands on Esmeralda’s hips, pressing up against her back. “You only ever wear that when you want attention. And the blouse…” She shuddered and buried her face in Esmeralda’s hair. “You know what that does to me.”
Esmeralda turned around, her eyes colder than her voice. “If you’re all hot and bothered, then you can just go sleep with your Mudblood whore. Oh wait, Augustus had that article saying that she had died this morning. How terribly tragic. That must be why you're acting like you want me again.” She reached down to remove Medea’s hands, nails digging in as she leaned closer and hissed, “As though I would ever touch someone who had let themselves be soiled like that.” Medea winced as one of her nails broke skin, a spot of blood welling up.
“There was a reason.”
"I don’t care." Esmeralda spun Medea away, licking the drop of blood off her finger. "Look at that, your blood even tastes tainted now... what a shame, you had come from such a lovely family."
"You weren't supposed to find out."
Laughing, Esmeralda filled up the teapot. "Myrtle never could keep her mouth shut about anything, not in school and not after. Augustus had connections everywhere... very hard to keep secrets from a man like that. Especially if he grows curious." Esmeralda turned, pointing a spoon at Medea as thought it were a dagger, a look in her eyes that said she might very well intend to use it like one. "And he tends to grow curious when he notices that a certain person isn't paying any nighttime visits to his housemate for several months. And yet they aren't at their own either. A few questions here, a few more there and the truth comes out." A smile curled one corner of her mouth. "And then steps need to be taken."
Medea's eyebrow raised and she said slowly, "Myrtle didn't just slip and fall, did she?"
"Oh no, she did slip and fall. Several times actually. She also apologized, begged, cried... and fought quite hard as she was drowning. Ruined one of my favorite robes with all her splashing. You know how hard blood is to get out of clothing."
The smile was slow in coming, but Medea's eyes were glittering before it had formed. "You killed her because I was sleeping with her?" When Esmeralda nodded Medea started to laugh. "Esmi, love, I do adore you and that sensible streak of yours... making sure that it would seem an accident."
"Don't try to flatter me," Esmeralda snapped. "The only reason your face is not in the paper along with hers is because you're not a Mudblood. I almost convinced Antonin to have a little chat with you, but he's busy all week and Augustus objected most strenuously. You're a valuable spy and he doesn't want me to prune you from the ranks."
"Ah." Medea's smile had faded a little. "I think you should know that I was using her the entire time."
"And leaving me alone to my devices without a word of warning... no, Medea, that was not very well thought out. The occasional dance notwithstanding."
"I still adore you, love."
"Right now I despise you. Get out of my house before I go back on my promise to Aug and see to it that your fate is less pleasant than the Mudblood you rutted with." Esmeralda's eyes were bright as Medea started out and the sound of a teapot crashing to the floor echoed loudly through the house.
Rating: PG-13 for the disturbing factor, I suppose
Word Count: 1,546
Characters: Esmeralda Selwynn, Augustus Rookwood, Medea Yaxley, Druella Rosier, Myrtle Bartlett mentioned
Prompt: 034. Drowning
Summary: Esmeralda is not the sort to sit idly by.
Warnings: Alternative Universe of lumos_founders. Jackie... I am deeply sorry for this. Esmi: I'm not!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling. Except Esmeralda, who is pretty much mine and Medea who came from musaic's mind.
Esmeralda was pacing in front of the fireplace, continually checking the clock on the mantle. Selene was stalking nearby as well, her owners agitation having carried over. Only when the flames roared higher and a man stepped out of the fireplace did they stop, Esmeralda's eyes gleaming as she glanced at him. He nodded, smiling. "Go on now, Strawberry," he said. "Selene and I will be waiting up to hear how well it goes." She did not wait to give a reply, but turned on the spot and vanished with a pop.
The sun had only just risen when the bell rang. Augustus glanced at Esmeralda, who arched an eyebrow at him before going to answer it. The black-haired woman on the other side smiled and held up a creamy white rose. "In memory of the gown that you were wearing the other evening, lovely lady," Medea Yaxley said as Esmeralda accepted it and sniffed, smiling in return.
"Do come in, Medea. Druella has not arrived yet, but Aug is in the morning room reading the Prophet. May I take your jacket?"
Medea's smile faded slightly as she handed Esmeralda her jacket, noticing how the other woman was careful to keep from touching her. "Thank you. Shall we join Aug?"
Esmeralda shook her head. "You go ahead, I must get dressed. You're early after all." She turned for the stairs, pretending not to notice that she was being followed. It was only when she reached the door that she turned and arched an eyebrow at Medea. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to help you, of course. We haven't-"
"I am a grown woman," Esmeralda interjected. "Perfectly capable of dressing myself. Now go downstairs and say hello to Augustus."
"But-"
"Now." She earned herself a very sulky look from Medea before she turned away, a sway to her steps that she very rarely used. A smile tugged up one corner of her mouth when she heard Medea sigh as she closed the door.
"Strawberry, darling, you must be off on a mission," Augustus declared as Esmeralda entered the room. "One dealing with men too, I'd wager."
Esmeralda smiled and tsked at Augustus as she bent down to kiss Druella's cheek in greeting. "Augustus, you know that I cannot tell you what I have to do," she chided, pointedly avoiding the strangled noise that had come from Medea the moment she sat down. "Is there anything interesting in the paper this morning?"
"You must put on a jacket before you leave at least," Druella said. "Your arms are covered in goosebumps already and it's much colder outside." Medea started to cough.
"I'll be fine, Druella. I take it that there was nothing in the paper since no one has answered me?"
Augustus sipped as his tea. "I was about to say that one of our classmates was found dead this morning." He held up the paper and pointed towards a small picture of a smiling woman with horn-rimmed glasses. "That Mudblood, Myrtle Bartlett. She was found drowned in her bathtub, apparently she fell and struck her head on the faucet as she was getting in. She was a journalist for the Prophet too, so now they're looking for a new one."
"Myrtle?" Druella asked. "I can't even remember which one that was... what house was she in again? I never did associate much with those outside of our own." She touched Esmeralda's knee. "Except you."
"She was a Ravenclaw," Medea said, eyes on a spot somewhere above Esmeralda's shoulder.
"That's it," Augustus said. "Ah well, one less Mudblood to worry about in the world. This means that none of us will ever be faced with the task of taking care of her if she ever sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong..." He glanced over at Medea with a sly glint in his eyes. "She was forever one to do things like that, do you remember, Medea? Always working her way into places where she didn't belong."
Medea shrugged. "I didn't know her that well."
"Is there any tea left?" Esmeralda asked, nodding to the pot beside Augustus. The man shook his head. "I'll make some more, then, it's not a proper morning without enough tea." She stood, smoothing out her skirt as she did. "Any preference on flavor?"
"I'll come help you," Medea said, standing up a little too quickly. "I have forgotten what you have in your selection." Augustus and Druella began to discuss an upcoming trial as the two left the room, Medea's eyes fixed on Esmeralda's legs while the other woman was doing her best to once again pretend that there was no one behind her. The absolute nerve of some women. As they entered the kitchen, Esmeralda turned and opened her mouth with every intention of seeing how long it took to crush Medea, but she was surprised to find Medea leaning in for a kiss.
Esmeralda held her hand up to stop Medea. “What do you think you are doing?” she asked in a chilled voice.
Medea looked puzzled. “Kissing you.”
“Ah, no.” Esmeralda shook her head and placed a hand on Medea’s shoulder to push her back. “That is where you are mistaken.”
“Esmi,” Medea said in a wheedling tone, trailing a hand over the redhead’s thigh. “It’s been almost three months! You know you can’t resist-“ But Esmeralda had turned around, reaching up for the teapot. “You’re ignoring me.” There was a definite edge of surprise to her voice and a look in her eyes that had not been there for years.
“I came in here to make tea and you followed me. I did not ask you to do that.”
“You’re wearing that skirt.” Medea rested her hands on Esmeralda’s hips, pressing up against her back. “You only ever wear that when you want attention. And the blouse…” She shuddered and buried her face in Esmeralda’s hair. “You know what that does to me.”
Esmeralda turned around, her eyes colder than her voice. “If you’re all hot and bothered, then you can just go sleep with your Mudblood whore. Oh wait, Augustus had that article saying that she had died this morning. How terribly tragic. That must be why you're acting like you want me again.” She reached down to remove Medea’s hands, nails digging in as she leaned closer and hissed, “As though I would ever touch someone who had let themselves be soiled like that.” Medea winced as one of her nails broke skin, a spot of blood welling up.
“There was a reason.”
"I don’t care." Esmeralda spun Medea away, licking the drop of blood off her finger. "Look at that, your blood even tastes tainted now... what a shame, you had come from such a lovely family."
"You weren't supposed to find out."
Laughing, Esmeralda filled up the teapot. "Myrtle never could keep her mouth shut about anything, not in school and not after. Augustus had connections everywhere... very hard to keep secrets from a man like that. Especially if he grows curious." Esmeralda turned, pointing a spoon at Medea as thought it were a dagger, a look in her eyes that said she might very well intend to use it like one. "And he tends to grow curious when he notices that a certain person isn't paying any nighttime visits to his housemate for several months. And yet they aren't at their own either. A few questions here, a few more there and the truth comes out." A smile curled one corner of her mouth. "And then steps need to be taken."
Medea's eyebrow raised and she said slowly, "Myrtle didn't just slip and fall, did she?"
"Oh no, she did slip and fall. Several times actually. She also apologized, begged, cried... and fought quite hard as she was drowning. Ruined one of my favorite robes with all her splashing. You know how hard blood is to get out of clothing."
The smile was slow in coming, but Medea's eyes were glittering before it had formed. "You killed her because I was sleeping with her?" When Esmeralda nodded Medea started to laugh. "Esmi, love, I do adore you and that sensible streak of yours... making sure that it would seem an accident."
"Don't try to flatter me," Esmeralda snapped. "The only reason your face is not in the paper along with hers is because you're not a Mudblood. I almost convinced Antonin to have a little chat with you, but he's busy all week and Augustus objected most strenuously. You're a valuable spy and he doesn't want me to prune you from the ranks."
"Ah." Medea's smile had faded a little. "I think you should know that I was using her the entire time."
"And leaving me alone to my devices without a word of warning... no, Medea, that was not very well thought out. The occasional dance notwithstanding."
"I still adore you, love."
"Right now I despise you. Get out of my house before I go back on my promise to Aug and see to it that your fate is less pleasant than the Mudblood you rutted with." Esmeralda's eyes were bright as Medea started out and the sound of a teapot crashing to the floor echoed loudly through the house.