From the Ashes

“I’m sorry, what?”

“He’s on the run. From Death Eaters. He-“

“No, I heard you.”


She hadn't exactly been very polite to the woman, though the fact that Kaiden had given Audriana's name to Addie made her feel a little guilty about it. At least she had come through, if one was speaking technically. They knew, now.

The world didn’t quite look the same anymore, if Adrienne was being honest. Everything she had believed about her brother for the past nine years was a complete lie. After only four years at school, Asher had somehow found his way into some seriously messed up bout of Death Eater madness (yes, she was going to keep calling it that. She didn’t care if being seventeen probably meant that she should use better vocabulary. Even for a Ravenclaw, she was too mixed up to worry about it). By the time anyone had found out, or tried to help him, it was too late.

Asher had been on the run since she was ten, if Audriana’s story was to be believed. Addie found that she couldn’t not believe it. Nothing else added up, though she had ignored this fact over the years. More and more as the years passed she would push aside any realistic possibilities, ignoring her Ravenclaw sensibilities and just hoping.

Her parents. Wyatt. They all knew now. They had been in the room when Audriana Swan had shown up, sat down, told the story, and had waited until their questions were finished before leaving silently. It was like she had brought a cloud and left it to rain on the lot of them. He didn’t want to be found. Didn’t want them to get involved.

Adrienne knew she should appreciate his concern, but instead she was just angry. Angry that he had lied, that he wasn’t who he said he was or who he used to be. Furious that he had left without a word or note.

She needed to talk to Kaiden.

Standing for the first time in what felt like hours, but was perhaps only one, Adrienne made her way upstairs to the guest room where her parents had allowed him to stay (mind, Addie knew they were fairly confused and slightly displeased by the whole situation. But at least they hadn’t turned him away. So that was something.).

“Kaiden.” She gasped out, knocking lightly on the door before letting her palm rest against it. “Kaiden, I need to talk to you.”

It was hard to tell if he had done the right thing. He knew this was what Addie wanted, what her family wanted, but he couldn't help but wonder if it had actually been the right thing to do. What if they received news they didn't want, that they refused to believe? He figured that was the purpose of finding out, to finally be out of the dark about what was going on - even if it was unpleasant.

But he couldn't help his thoughts, thinking that maybe everyone would blame him if they got bad news. He was the one who had gotten the woman who would give them the information they wanted.

"She finds people. And things. Especially ones that don't want to be found. If anyone can help you, it's her."

It was pretty early in the morning, but Kaiden hadn't been able to shut an eye all night. He waited and waited, until Audriana was finished and left. But he didn't want to go down, in case they weren't taking things well. He decided it was best to wait until someone, Addie, came up to talk to him or something. It was best to give them their privacy, as much privacy as someone can get with a stranger in their home.

"I wonder if it was right.." he repeated out loud for the hundredth time as he stared at the ceiling of the room, laying in the bed. He closed his eyes and groaned, placing his hand over his eyes as he thought that maybe everyone was angry with him now. That was the last thing he needed.

He heard a knock on the door along with his name and Kaiden sat up quickly. His hair was messy, a few strands standing here and there, and his eyes had small bags under them - it was clear he hadn't slept. The seventeen year old stood up from the bed, ran a hand through his hair to try and fix it quickly, and he walked up to the door. Sighing, he opened it and looked at Addie standing in front of him.

"Is she gone?" he asked her softly, studying her face for any signs of anger or resentment or anything bad.

Addie wasn’t sure whether or not she should be upset or thankful for what he had done. What he had told her. Clearly she didn’t want him gone, and wasn’t mad enough at him to keep away. He was the first person she had wanted to say a word to since Audriana left. When the door opened she knew she was right.

“She’s gone.” She replied quietly, searching his face as he was hers. Instantly, she understood what she was feeling. He had essentially freed her family from their confusion and ties regarding Asher. Did Kaiden even realize what he had done for them? Adrienne doubted it.

“He’s been working with Death Eaters...” The words ended up as more of a whisper than she expected. “Doesn’t want us to find him. To protect us.” Even though the idea was perfectly sensible, it still hurt more than she wanted to admit. She supposed that with Kaiden it didn’t matter if she showed it or not. With her parents it was harder to accept the idea of letting out any fears or emotions she had. They would only worry more if she did.

She glanced briefly into the room he had been given for his stay at her house, mostly just to avoid any pitying looks he might choose to send her way. “We really should have expected something like this. Something… strange, I suppose. It’s better than the alternative, but only just.”

Pulling her eyes away from a bookshelf across the room, Adrienne turned back to meet his gaze. All she could really think to do was stop talking and let it truly sink it and settle. Instead, she let out a sigh before stepping forward and wrapping her arms over and around his shoulders, burying her face in his neck.


(OOC: I’m so awkward. Idk what happened to this post.)

"Are you mad at me?"

He was stupid, there was no doubt about that. She had just found out that her brother was working with Death Eaters. Her image of him had just crumbled away, probably, and he was asking if she was mad at him. Sometimes it amazed him how stupid he could be.

But he wanted to know. He needed to. He didn't want her to be mad at him, but he had found Audriana, he had told her to come and tell them the truth about Asher. Even if it was for the best, Kaiden couldn't help but feel guilty about it. It had been his fault. Kaiden was good at blaming himself for things that weren't as bad as he made them seem.

"I'm sorry that your brother isn't who you thought Addie.." he said, remembering that this was about her not him. She placed her arms around him and rested her head in his neck, and Kaiden wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her cheek.

[OOC: It's okie :3 and sorry this was so bad D: I'm about to leave for work.]