Hideous Luck

[Audel Lesley]

Just above the Poison Ater, Audel was stuffing clothing into a bag furiously and glancing around, jumping at every noise. It shouldn't be as nerve wracking and difficult to move houses as it was for him, but it had been made worse by the fact that he lived directly over his father's restaurant and that Effie had insisted that she come over and help, despite being near ready to give birth any day now. Audel had insisted that she stay at the manor, and Effie had only needed to turn on the puppy eyes and he was sunk. "Damn the woman," he grumbled to himself, throwing a black shirt into one of the bags. They were all black, of course. Everything in his wardrobe was either black, grey or white. Effie had threatened him with shopping once and he knew that she fully intended to do so (with him) at some point in time. Yet another thing to dread. If Audel had had things his way, he would have been moving items home a bit at a time. But his schedule did not allow for time luxuries such at that. When he wasn't working on those two days of the week, he was with Effie at the manor and attending her every need. The last job was self-inflicted, since his fiance did not approve of him waiting on her hand and foot but he did so regardless.

Close to the point of desperation, Audel had monitored his father's routine to the point of obsession and found out exactly when he would be out, and would get the moving done all in one go. Audel was a not a sentimental person and he took no personal objects or furniture. There was only his papers, his clothing, his books and a few basic toiletries. It would take less than an hour if everything went to plan, and so far it had. With only a few shelves to take down, Audel was ready to take one last floo to the manor when disaster of the foulest kind struck. Fate had truly wiped its *rse with his life that day, where no amount of preparation was going to save him. "Effie, can you find that Spellotape for me?" called out Audel, before the door swung in off its hinges. Audel swore, dropped the shelf on his toe, swore again, turned around and swore for the third time as he saw his father enter. It didn't take Albus Dumbledore to figure out what was going on. He was caught.

 

[Acwel Ater]

There was a considerable amount of noise on the floor above and Acwel had had quite enough of not knowing what was going on in his son's life. His eldest boy was positively the most bland person that he ever had the misfortune to create, and since when did Audel ever take mysterious days off? There had to be a girl involved, though how he had managed to keep it secret from his siblings for so long, Acwel couldn't guess. Oh, they knew there was definitely a female involved, but his son was his son after all; there had to be a bit of Ater craftiness in there somewhere. He couldn't be exactly like his mother as Acwel was beginning to believe. Incompetent in dueling, never cracking a cruel smile even once ... sometimes he wondered whether the child was even his, if it wasn't for the dark stare that father and son shared. In some ways, he was slightly proud of Audel's secret-keeping skills - but not when it was taking him away from work. Irritated at having to investigate, Acwel made his way silently up the spiral staircase in the back room and waited at the landing, hearing voices on the other side of the door. One was definitely female and the other most certainly his son. He grinned wryly to himself, but it faded from his rugged face when there was the shifting of boxes. Surely he couldn't be moving without alerting his father? It was almost like ... sneaking away. Surely not, especially with the amount of noise he was making. Audel was the soul of discretion, so why would he dare be so careless in hiding his plans? Acwel had returned from a business trip that had been canceled two hours earlier. His routine was off and Audel wouldn't know it. A faintly foul look began to creep onto Acwel's face. Secret meetings, skipping work, female company, and a sudden move? Perhaps this woman was not one that he would approve of.

Abandoning the silence, he placed a firm but non-violent kick onto the door which promptly crashed open, making his son start and swear. Acwel stared him down, not impressed. "Well, boy. My apologies for interrupting your rendezvous out of here, but it seems you neglected to mention this fact to me." Audel, if possible, went from ghost-pale to almost vampirish in complexion, what little colour his blood offered him now draining from his face. Acwel did not approve of the display of emotion either, and was soon to see exactly why his son went so white. Finally noticing the woman in the small kitchenette, his own face became pale, though his with fury. If he understood correctly, that was a Snow whelp - and she was pregnant. The silence was deafening. "I don't think-" Acwel broke it suddenly in a voice which brought the room down several degrees, "-That you understand exactly what you've done, Audel Ater." 'Snow,' he saw rather than heard his son whisper. 'Audel Snow.' Without warning, Acwel backhanded the boy across the cheek, barely moving otherwise. His son barely flinched, but he could see the pain and fear in his eyes. He was right to panic. This was going to get very ugly, very fast.

 

[Effie Kingston]

Despite the fact that Effie was pretty sure she was about to pop at any time now due to her being very far in her pregnancy she demanded to come along with Audel when he went to go get this things to bring back to the Snow Manor. She felt that it was something he shouldn't be doing alone though and in case he was encountered by any of his obnoxious siblings she wanted to be around to make sure they didn't harm him or give him any trouble. Sure she was pregnant and probably wasn't the scariest looking person alive right now but she did know some magic and she was also very linked to her family and allies so in case she needed help she could easily get them to help, as long as they were around. Audel was muttering something to himself as she packed his bag which caused Effie to smile softly, he was adorable even when he was being grouchy so she had no choice but to ignore his attitude and continued to work on helping him pack his things. Thankfully he didn't have a lot of stuff so they wouldn't be here for hours upon hours packing and such, she was already a little tired since it was a chore for her to move around now due to her size. Despite her being ready to pop she was still fairly small and appeared to be more than five or six months right now, still the weight was hard to deal with all the time. But it was exciting to thin that soon enough she would be a mommy. "Spellotape? Um..um..ah here it is!" She grabbed ahold of it and waddled over to where Audel was, just when some man bust through the door and walked in. It only took one look for Effie to recognize who this man was and she felt the Spellotape fall from her hand as she gasped in shock, Acwel Ater had arrived and chances were that his arrival was going to make things very ugly for him. Effie didn't want anything to happen to Audel but surely the moment Acwel laid eyes on her he backhanded Audel and Effie's temper rose, which was rare for her to ever do.

"HEY! Don't you touch him like that!" Effie hissed, her different colored eyes flashing as she walked over over to her Fiance and immediately put a small hand onto his cheek where he was slapped at, she was tempted to give him a kiss on the cheek to but felt it would be wrong to do in front of his father. Casting Audel a quick apologetic look she removed her hand from his cheek and turned around, true she was afraid of him but she wasn't going to let him purposely hurt Audel.

 

[Audel Lesley]

Audel's face barely even moved when his father hit him; hitting Audel was like punching the side of a train carriage; rattled but without reaction. Nevertheless, he felt the force of the blow shudder throughout his entire body, then the gentler sensation of his fiance's hand on his cheek. Rather than calming him, he became more inwardly agitated. "Effie," said Audel in a low voice. "I think you know who this is, and you can see that he knows who you are, too. I'd like to settle this alone. If you would exit, please?". In other words, 'Get out if you know what's good for you'. It seemed harsh to brush her off as he did, but he couldn't have her staying with his father who was quite dangerous when agitated. Audel didn't mind what happened to him, but if anything happened to Effie and the babies, he would never forgive himself. If he made her angry, perhaps she would leave in a huff. Unfortunately she knew him all too well, and would probably see through his flimsy attempt at protecting her. His father looked irritated with his lack of response and hit him again, this time on the opposite cheek. Audel's head snapped back but otherwise did not move, returning to his previous position. Knowing Acwel, he wasn't very angry yet and the backhands were just a warning for now- an 'explain yourself before I become truly fierce'. He took the warning to heart and began to explain.

"Father, this is Effie Snow. She is my fiance and presently carries my two children. I take it you recognise her last name, so I think you'll understand why I have kept this a secret." Audel's eyes grew very hard and his features more firm. "Can we please settle this when she isn't present? None of this is her fault." he said calmly. So it was established that Audel had eloped with the child of a rival Death Eater family and got her pregnant. He had also changed his last name without his father's permission. If Acwel became aware that he wasn't going to become a Death Eater either, things would truly get out of hand. Audel was no fool; as soon as Effie left, he'd be getting the beating of a lifetime. It wasn't something he wanted her to witness. Audel could hold his own against anyone who deigned to fight him, but against his father he couldn't raise a hand. Would Effie leave in time?

 

[Acwel Ater]

There was just something about his oldest son that infuriated Acwel. He reminded him of a cold, unfeeling statue. Acwel remembered the few, satisfying times when he had broken the statue to reveal the shy, shivering person that was Audel. It happened less as an adult, but he could still remember the day when he has tortured his son into a gasping wreck. Acwel had been both elated and disgusted, having thought he'd taught his son better but pleased that he'd finally been able to pull the silent image off of him. Acwel would do that today, regardless of his fiance's presence or not. The foolish boy should have known better than to try to hide from him. Acwel would flay the skin from his back. Audel had the gall to speak out again after being hit a second time, and Acwel regarded him with remorseless indifference. What did he care about the woman or what she saw today? He would enjoy showing her how weak her future ex-fiance could be. Without a second glance towards Audel, Acwel moved towards the blonde woman practically attached to his side and gripped her wrist firmly. He pulled it up till she was almost off her toes and inspected her like she was a hank of rotten meat. "So this is what you have betrayed your family for..." he said softly. Suddenly Audel's hand was on his own and gripping as hard as he was able. Tired of his inspection, Acwel obliged by releasing Effie and stepping back to gaze upon his boon of a son.

"I think we should let your beauty decide what she wants to hear, don't you?" said Acwel, running his eyes over her once more. "Would you like to stay and watch?". He turned, and so smoothly that it could have been dancing, he sunk his fist into Audel's stomach till the indentation remained seconds after his fist had left. The boy made no sound, but crumpled in on himself and staggered back with a rush of air from his lips. Having distracted him sufficiently, Acwel turned to wrap his fingers around the woman's throat and toss her onto the sofa like a feather. "Why don't you sit down?" he said coolly.

 

[Effie Kingston]

Effie blinked looking almost hurt, she was obviously very taken aback that Audel had said that he wanted her to leave and that he had said it to her as if he were doing nothing but brushing her off as no one. She had thought that he loved her enough to know that it hurt her to be treated like that, like the way her siblings always treated her whenever they thought she was just a waste of space. Her hand slowly moved from his cheek to rest limply at her side, if he wanted her to leave the room to talk to his father than she had nothing to do but to comply. As much as she wanted to shout and ask what his problem was and everything, he had never treated her like this before and it really hurt to have him start now when her hormones were clearly not on the right track. The moment she turned to leave though she heard what Audel said to his father and froze, he was trying to get her out of the room to protect her from Acwel. He was only doing this so he wouldn't risk her life or their babies' lives, how could she think of him being so rotten to her without any reason. 'I have get out of here then if Audel is actually that worried.' She had only managed to get one or two steps when Audel's father spoke up, his voice so chilling and harsh compared to his sons, she hated listening to him speak. He called her beauty and then asked her if she wanted to say, honestly she wanted to so she could try to keep Audel safe but at the same time she would rather be far away from Acwel with the anger he had right now. Then the bastard punched Audel and Effie's eyes filled with worry as she watched, she needed to go and help him. "Aud-eep!" She squeaked in fright when she was grabbed by the throat and tossed onto the couch, Acwel told her to sit down but what upset her what that he was beating on his own son and just tossed a pregnant woman. Once she allowed herself to recover from the shock she noticed that she felt a semi-sharp pain in her gut, it made her wince a little and she wondered if that was the babies way of saying that they didn't like her moving around so much.

"W-what the hell is your problem? I've heard you were a pathetic excuse of a man before but now I can see why, beating up on your own son is horrible! Are you just that much of a bad father or did you have something horrible and fowl crawled up your arse and died!?" Effie may have been quiet and proper most of the time, but deep down she was still a Snow and this was her speciality. She did not like being handled like that nor did she like watching her husband suffer because his father was heartless. Effie hoped she struck something in him, maybe it would save Audel a moment or two.

 

[Audel Lesley]

Damn, but his father's punches hurt. There was no point in his dad developing any defense, since once punch from him could usually fell a man. He gathered all of his strength from the core of his body and released it explosively, going for the places that hurt the most. Something gave when fist met gut, for Audel didn't feel punched so much as crushed. He gasped immediately, feeling blood in the back of his throat and barely having time to marvel at how swift his stomach was injured when the brute took his wife by the neck and threw her. Audel straightened with effort and gritted his teeth, a feral look sliding into his eyes. Acwel was smirking at him; that damned half-smirk that was more contemptuous than an open one. Audel's breaths came hard and fast as he fought to urge to simply grab a kitchen knife and slam it into his father's abdomen. Never in his life had he hated someone so purely as he did then. Effie was shouting and Audel winced, cutting through at the end. "Effie! You do not understand what is going on! He means to kill you and the children! Merlin, please, please leave!" he bellowed, clenching his teeth as his midsection twinged again. He hated being so cruel to her, but the undercurrent of begging was plain to hear. He didn't care what happened to him, as long as his wife and children were safe.

Acwel did not seem to think much of the woman's insults and stalked over with a predatory gait that made Audel's hair stand on end. Audel made to intercept him but he was knocked aside and just had time to glimpse Acwel snarling and pulling his wife up from the couch by her hair. Something snapped in him, then. Effie was released as six feet and five inches of pure fury cannoned into Acwel. Audel went for the throat instantly, wrapping his hands around the b*stard's neck. No one got away with that disgusting treatment of pregnant women, least of all of his dear one.

 

[Acwel Ater]

The stupid bint was a feisty one, Acwel had to admit. Her words enraged him and a terrible, non-compromising anger filled him and called him to act against her. His son was right; he did mean to kill Effie, and for her insolence he would make it agonising. In his moment of blind fury, he neglected to account for the fact that his son was still up and after his blood, so he was slightly surprised when he was knocked to the ground. Acwel was built slighter than Audel, who had brute force on his side, but Acwel had years of experience that his whelp had not. They tussled for a moment, Acwel trying to break Audel's grip and Audel still determinedly choking the life out of him, when strength gave and he managed to kick his son in his injured stomach. The man's fingers loosened and Acwel took the opportunity to pull him over, chest flat onto the ground. It was so easy it was almost laughable, but his son's weakness was no laughing matter. He was smiling but inwardly Acwel was sickened by the ease of overpowering him. It was nothing to just pull one of his arms behind him and press a knee into the small of his back. Well and truly pinned, Audel grunted and swore many times, eyes flicking over to his unworthy woman in desperation. "Yes," crooned Acwel, not bothered in the slightest by the powerful struggles beneath him. "She will die after this, and the small ones, too. Someone must pay for your crimes; it's such a pity that such a stain even had to exist. I might have liked to see my grandchildren, if they had been from one I approved of."

Bones creaking, Acwel pulled the arm in his grip tighter and making his son moan in fear and agony; he knew what was coming next. "But no. You thought you were such a sly creature, hiding your filthy deeds from me ... but a father always knows, and I know you too well, you pointless waste of my flesh." Acwel made sure to lift his eyes to Effie's as he gave a tremendous heave and broke the Humerus bone of Audel's upper arm. He did not relish in the scream torn from the dark haired man's lips; indeed, he was saddened at the lengths he knew he'd have to go to to teach his wayward child. Audel had a powerful will, and a broken arm was going to be the least of his problems if he did not cave and let nature takes its course - Effie had to go.

 

[Effie Kingston]

Of course Effie was afraid when Acwel told her she was going to die after this, but for some reason she felt more afraid for Audel and her two children than she was for herself. She figured that it was mostly because of the small fact that she had been threatened before, by her own father at that! Valere had never been shy when it came to death threats towards others. Audel's warning to her to please leave rang through her mind over and over again as she weighed her options carefully, in the end she realized she couldn't just leave him there like this. "Audel, I'm not going to leave you here like this!" She hissed back frightfully, a soft whimper coming out of her lips as she watched his father harm in such a way that it made her feel sick to her stomach. It hurt to see him suffer so much because of her and the rules she had help him break in order to be together. And Effie felt so helpless because she was sort of unable to fight if she wanted to make sure Acwel didn't try to harm her unborn children or her too badly. But there had to be something to do to stop the man before he killed the man that she loved because of her. Suddenly a thought came to her and she knew it might be able to her, carefully she got off the couch and whistled once she was semi-near a window. And within a moment's time a small silvery white colored owl came through the window, it was Effie's pet owl Ellie and so far the only pet that had not tried to bite her then run away. The owl usually followed her around whenever possible, she wasn't sure why but it had always done it and still continued to do it today. "Okay I need you to take this to the Snow Manor, give it to anyone you can, particularly to one of...well one of them. Go!" Effie shooed the Owl and watched carefully as Ellie flapped off into the distance, by one of them she meant most likely to bring one of the Death Eaters of her family because she knew that our of anyone they'd be the most likely to be able to handle themselves and not be afraid of Acwel. Particularly she prayed the Owl give it so someone who was older and scarier than Acwel but really she'd be grateful for anyone who could held save Audel. Now that help was sent for Effie couldn't take hearing Audel cry out in pain anymore and knew she had to do something, summoning her wand she knew exactly what she would do.

"Stupefy!" Effie cast out a simple spell that she hoped would hit Acwel, it probably would not do much to the man at all except possible bide Audel some time to maybe get away so she could protect him or fix up those injuries. Even though she was so thankful that he was tying to stop Acwel from killing her, she was upset because he was putting himself on the line to keep her safe and she didn't like it. Effie hated feeling so weak and helpless. "Stop hurting him please!" Effie begged as she held her wand up again a few tears starting to escape the brown colored eye of hers, she didn't know what else she could do or say to stop the man from hurting Audel. He could really hurt her if she wasn't careful enough.

 

[Audel Lesley]

The thought came unbidden through the blinding sea of pain. Why was it that as tall, burly and strong as he was, Audel could barely raise his hand like an infant against his father? The two men were nothing alike in build and stature, for one was lithe and striking like a snake and the other reminiscent of a bear. Acwel's hands were like claws as they dug into Audel's pale coffee skin and began to pull his arm into such an unnatural position that it was agony even before the bone gave. If he couldn't just see through scrunched and tear-filled eyes, he couldn't have said which part of his arm was broke since the pain stabbed rhythmically from his fingers to his forehead. In all truth he had been through worse pain but his strength was failing even now. Desperately Audel tried to drag himself onto his knees, seeking out Effie with his free hand. Acwel need not have pinned him any longer and he felt himself released, but not from searing ache in his right arm.

Stupefy! said someone. Effie stood crying, her wand pointed at his father as Audel swayed on his knees trying to see through the shadows of near-unconsciousness. "Effie!" said someone else using Audel's mouth. It couldn't be him; the sound was not deep or cold as it ought to have been, but desperate and broken. He cursed Acwel for his swelling of authority just by the brute violence towards his son. Audel's singular goal was to protect Effie, both from Acwel's wrath and the sight of her fiance cowed and tortured before her. He was going mad with pain and frustration; lashing out with his left arm, Audel rose briefly enough to swing his arm at his father's calves, sending him off balance and concentration. One choice moment could divert the spell that would kill Effie, for surely it was bound to come. Audel the injured bear knelt lopsidedly and prayed for his future wife's delivery from his own father; there was nothing he could do now.

 

[Acwel Ater]

Moments before Effie's spell hit him, Acwel turned his cheek and it blew past him like a hot bullet. He cursed and touched his cheek probingly. From the outside, a red line that was not quite a burn and not quite a cut drew itself from the corner of his lips to the beginnings of his left ear. Friction burn was probably the least and last of all attack spell effects, but the gall from which it came sent a deadlier heat through his body and stoked the crackling fire of his fury. Could these wayward children not be tamed even by this torment? Perhaps he had underestimated Audel's determination. His wife ... fiance, or whatever the tart was, she was a handful as well for a pregnant woman. Acwel would wipe her remains from his shoe for the cheek of it. He lifted his wand to begin inflicting her intended fate, but his lower legs gave way slightly as a bicep with surprising strength left in it hit them. He gave a cry of rage turned his hand to his son. "Does your insolence know no limits?" roared Acwel.

Within a few minutes of him entering the room, Audel had suffered stomach injuries and a broken arm. If that wasn't a good enough indication of his sincerity, he'd have to up the standard. All the while, Acwel stayed under the impression that the couple had brought their woes entirely upon themselves. His son knew that he'd have to make an impression before Acwel started beating, and he'd blown it with his petulance, making it all the worse for his partner as she watched Audel hurt before she died. No, Acwel wouldn't kill his son. But the relationship had to end with the children and this lesson was going to be one he'd never forget. Burying his fingers into Audel's hair for one wretched moment, Acwel yanked it up and barely exerted any force to smash his head into the glass coffee table below. Tinkling glass rang in the splits second's silence along with the pattering of blood. Acwel stepped back then paused, suddenly motionless. Had it been enough to frighten Effie into obedience for the sake of her future husband, or was Audel to suffer more of what he deserved? Perhaps his son might even still be conscious, determined to protect his lady. From the clawing of his fingers on the carpet, Acwel guessed he was, and his mood darkened further.

 

[Effie Kingston]

Effie though her own family was bad when they abused people but this was a different type of abuse then the one she had seen so many years ago. While Acwel went for straight up physical torture and stuff toward his son Effie was used to her family just getting into her head and making her feel as if she were literally insane or heading down that path. With a violent heave she repressed a sob when she saw Audel be slammed into a coffee table and still manage to remain conscious enough to move around just slightly. "STOP IT! Stop hurting him!" Effie cried to Acwel as she did her best to shoot out another spell, a more dangerous one this time as it was reducto and she hoped it would actually do him some damage so she could help Audel. Effie was much to kind-hearted to use any spell that could really harm the man but she would try her best to defend the love of her life. Waddling over she crouched down beside Audel and hoped it would not be long before the others arrived to help her out, she couldn't handle this all alone like she was right now. With a small whimper she knelt down next to him and place a gentle hand on his back, as if telling him everything was going to be okay, she hoped it would all be okay anyways. Pushing some of her blonde hair away from her different colored eyes she glared up hatefully at Acwel.

"If it's me you have the problem with then speak to me and stop hurting him. You call yourself a father let alone an actual human being?! Audel has two children coming into the world, would you really be so heartless as to rob him of that, of life,....you owe him more than that you ungrateful bastard." Effie muttered out as a small tear dripped from her eye and onto the shirt Audel was wearing as she continued to place her hand on his back, why was this happening to her? Why couldn't she just have her babies peacefully and be left alone from now on? Did she deserve this? Did Audel deserve this? Were they even going to have a chance at making it through alive with both their children? Effie loved Audel so much so she wanted to protect him but she wasn't able to, the stupid fool should have ran.