20 Gif (1/2)
Apprehension filled my stomach. This must be the expert that Crow had been looking for.
Helga lifted her hand and caressed my cheek.
”Don't be so scared sweetie. I'm not here to hurt you.”
Her voice was gentle and almost musical. She gave me an intoxicating smile, then looked up at father coming out of his study.
”Carlo honey, what was so urgent that you needed me to come right away?”
”It's been nearly eight years since I sent you that letter, Helga.”
Father sounded tired and somewhat disappointed.
”Exactly dear!” she disappeared again, reappearing at father's side. ”My, my haven't you gotten handsome!”
Helga made a move to stroke father's cheek, and father stepped back.
”Enough of the bullshit. You read the letter, you know what this is about.”
”Yes, yes… you're no fun anymore.”
With a snap of her fingers, I found myself lying on father's desk, sick to my stomach. Father and Crow were by my side.
”Bloody hag, you really need to stop doing that,” Crow snarled.
Helga ignored him, and with a flick of her hand my shirt disappeared. She moved her hand toward my chest, and smoky black after images followed it.
Her hand disappeared into my chest, and I yelled out in fright. But all that I felt was a chill where her hand should have been.
”What are you doing?!” father yelled.
”Calm down dear, I'm only doing what you asked.”
She rummaged around in my chest for a bit, and I felt cold seep into my soul.
”Hmm, I see.”
Helga withdrew her hand and turned to father.
”Was that necessary?” father asked.
”No, not really!” Helga laughed.
”Helga…” Crow growled.
”Calm down! Calm down. This cutie has a Soul Becoming World constitution, it's quite rare.”
Panic shot through my body. How did she know those words?
”How do you...” I started, but her finger appeared on my lips.
”I'd like to have a little chat with him, if you don't mind.”
”Anything you want to say to Oscar, say it to me too!” father exclaimed. He sounded defiant, but his voice had nowhere near its usual pressure.
”Oh well!” Helga whimsically chimed.
She snapped her fingers, and the study was gone. Sickness surged, my stomach cramped, and I vomited on the snow at my feet. Wait… snow?
I looked around, and all I could see were clouds. But they were underneath us.
Before I could take in the surroundings, Helga patted me on the back.
”There, there, get it all out.”
I vomited all over the snow again.
”Who the fuck are you?” I spat out.
”Manners, sweetie. Now tell, me what are you doing in that child's body?”
Dread filled my heart. She knew. I watched as a deep black seeped into her golden eyes. They were so dark now, that they seemed to suck in the surrounding light.
”Well?”
That single question, spoken in her whimsical tone, terrified me beyond belief. I was going to die here.
Helga's musical laughter broke the silence.
”I'm just toying with you.”
I felt confused, but the fear remained.
”Oh dear, did I break you sweetie? There's really no need to be afraid, I'm a close friend of darling Sirius.”
A guiding light dragged me from my pit of terror. She knew Sirius?
”Yes, I do! You know,” she poked my forehead playfully, ”you wouldn't be here without me!”
The darkness faded from her eyes. I felt calmer now, but I was still very wary.
”What do you want?” My voice wavered as I spoke.
”Honestly, you're really not as tough as I expected,” she tutted to herself, ”I might lose that bet after all.”
”What bet?”
”No need to worry yourself about that sweetie.”
That only worried me more.
”I'm here to give you a little help.”
She reached out, then plucked a sheet of paper from thin air. A puff of black smoke slowly dispersed around it.
”This is a little explanation of your… unique aspects. And a friendly reminder from me not to expose yourself!”
”After all,” she let out a little laugh, ”we wouldn't want you to be captured and dissected too soon!”
This woman deeply disturbed me. She said every word in the same chiming tone, and it was impossible to read her emotions.
”A little lost for words, are we? Don't worry, you can thank me later.” She turned away, then back to me, ”Oh, and try not to die before you reach thirty!” she leaned in, ”I'm rooting for you!”
With a wink and a snap of her fingers, we were back in the study. I managed not to vomit this time but felt very uneasy.
”What did you do to him?!” father shouted.
”Oh, don't worry your cute little face.” She placed the sheet of paper on the desk. ”Here, a little gift!”
Crow picked it up and scanned it for a second. He was startled at the sight of something.
”This… It's the emperor's seal… How did you…”
”Ta-ta my dears!”
With a snap of her fingers, she was gone.
”That damn hag…” Crow growled.