Another year older

[Kailie Styx]

Kailie grinned as she ran down the sidewalk, as fast as her little legs could take her. She did not get much time with her daddy, but she still loved him. She was a daddy's girl and was proud of it. "Daddy, daddy! Right here is a good spot!" She hopped onto the bench, struggling before sitting upright. It was her birthday, and she couldn't wait to see what her daddy bought for her. Though she was used to getting more presents during Christmas though. Kailie's bright blue-gray eyes sparkled. There was no telling what color she would have when she was older. Kailie just smiled at her daddy, and waited for him to join her.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Needless to say that the Death Eater was tired. However, it was a day without exams and such, and he ventured away from the school. It was just for one day, while the teenagers were in Brightstone. And besides, Kalif rarely was out with his daughter. He watched her run, as he walked down the side walk with his tight fitting black robes and gloved hands. His eyes were solid black, and have not changed in hue for several days. Kalif did not care anymore. Namina was out of his life.

The Death Eater sat down beside his daughter, and pulled his hand out of his pocket. He bought a silver locket in the shape of a heart. She was five, and she would like anything. Kalif finally spoke, "Happy birthday, Kailie. You'll get the rest of your gifts when you are back at the Manor." Kalif couldn't force a smile. Even when his children were getting older, he still didn't bother a smile. He looked eerie enough as is. He held the gift out to his daughter, for her to take.

 

[Kailie Styx]

Kailie wiggled in her seat, and kept that huge smile on her face. She couldn't wait to see what she had! Even though she would be happy with anything. Kailie clapped her hands excitedly, and when he pulled out the necklace, she gasped, "Daddy! It's so pretty!" Kailie took the locket from her father, and glared at it while she tried to open it. Once she unlatched it, she opened up to see a moving photo of Kaleb on one side, and Jaken on the other. Kailie did not understand why she had no more mommy or big sissy anymore.

Kailie was too young to experience death. Kailie wiggled out of the seat on the bench, and hopped onto the sidewalk. She giggled, and took off running, "Can't catch me daddy!" Kailie was always full of energy, and always running off. She here, she was running until she hit someone full force, and made her bounce back on her bottom. Kailie dropped her locket, and she was too busy rubbing her eyes with her little fists to notice.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne's eyes were gleaming their blood red colour.
She had finally decided on how to get rid of the old man and had begun looking for the items she'd need.
Adrianne wasn't going to make it a known murder- It would be an accident and, should anyone find the old man, they'd simply believe that due to his poor eyesight, he had made a mistake. A simple one which killed him.
This thought made Adrianne smile slighty, a dark smile.

Adrianne had her head raised proudly, her eyes watching the people ahead- But missing the ones below..
She felt something hit her legs and Adrianne paused her walking, blood eyes rolling down to the little girl on the floor.
Adrianne noticed something fall from the girl's hand and proceeded to pick it up.
She gave a warm smile to the girl. Nothing could annoy her today.
She held the locket low, infront of the little girl, waiting for her to take it back.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif simply stared at the little girl with his soulless, black eyes. He was actually relieved that she liked it. Though it never took much to impress Kailie. But when she started that chasing game, then it rather sent him out running after the little girl. Kalif rolled his eyes when she took off running, and Kalif hesitated a moment before standing up. He dusted his robes with his gloved hands, and started walking after Kailie.

He released a sigh when she ran right into a woman. This happened quite often. Kalif folded his arms across his chest, and waited for Kailie to apologize and take the locket back like the sweet Kailie she was. Or rather, acted to be half the time.

 

[Kailie Styx]

Kailie gasped, "My locket!" But her eyes went to the woman's hand. Grinning, she took it from the hand, and put it over her hand and wore it like a necklace. She glanced up at her daddy, and knew that she would have to do the usual. "Sorry and thank you, lady." Kailie stood up on her legs, balanced, and got a good look at the woman. She tugged on Kalif's robes and whispered rather loudly, "She has red eyes!" How easily amused Kailie was... Though now, she clung to the leg of her father that stood at a height of six feet six.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne watched as a tall man with a dark look about him stood by the girl.
She noticed the girl looking at her blood red eyes. She often got strange looks because of their abnormality.
Adrianne half smiled at the girl, her head turning towards the man. He reminded her of someone, but she wasn't sure who.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif put his hand to his head, and rolled his eyes when she had to point out the obvious. Kalif had half a mind to send her to Chavdar's shop, but then it occurred to him that he was at the wrong street. Kalif muttered in an icy voice, but half tried to make sound half-way friendly, "Sorry about my daughter..." Kalif absentmindedly put his gloved hand on his Mark, before relaxing his arms on his chest.

Kalif patted Kailie on the head, after she had found a way behind him and still clung to him like he was a lifeline. Kalif spoke once more, "I am Kalif Styx, for the record." Kalif had no idea how he was going to walk with a child hanging on him, even though she was quite small for her age. His expression was slightly annoyed, and it could be easily recognized if someone had seen his father or uncle.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne's eyes were sparkling. She felt quite good inside.
"Don't worry about it," Adrianne said, noticing this little movement the man made.
Adrianne smiled.

Adrianne gave a slight nod of the head as she heard Kalif's name.
"I'm Adrianne Sedgwick." She thought he looked evermore familiar once his expression changed.
Adrianne found the little girl very cute and Kalif very.. Well, Adrianne mentally slapped herself.
She clutched her hands in front of her, comfortably resting them on the dark robes she wore.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif narrowed his eyes slightly. Though the Death Eater was loyal to the group, he was working undercover for the school, and did not know any of the newcomers. Kalif released yet another sigh, and shook his head at Kailie. The girl seemed rather nervous, and he had no clue why. He may have been the girl's father, but he still knew nothing that went on in that girls mind. All she wanted to do was play, all the time.

Kalif responded, "Pleasure." He was short of words, and wasn't much on talking to strangers. Kalif mused, "For some particular reason, I have heard your name before... Do you perhaps have any idea why this is?" Kalif glanced down at the girl hang off of him, and and wondered how long it would be until Kailie brought up the courage to actually stand beside him or even near him. She rarely did this.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne stood tall and firm. Her height was no match for that of Kalif.
She wasn't sure how to say how he probably knew her name without letting others know.
"I was the one having a party at the Poison Ater the other night." Adrianne said, her voice a little icy so's not to attract party enthusiast's attention.

She looked down at the little girl. "Your daughter, I presume." Adrianne said, smiling down at the child.
Her blood eyes were saying many things at once. It was hard to tell what she was really thinking.. Unless you were a leglimens.
"She's inherited your good looks."

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif's glanced at the other people walking. His stare alone could frighten people if he wanted. But it was tense enough for now to just stay away. Kalif thought for a moment, trying to remember. He had received a letter from Arnost a while back, and it said something about a party... And he dragged Asparuh along to it. From there, Asparuh went and did the deed that Kalif had not mentioned. But it was for the best.

Kalif nodded, "I thought Arnost mentioned that once before..." Kalif shrugged and had a look on his face that basically read that he didn't care. Kalif nodded, and glanced down at Kailie who was peeking around and staring at the woman. Kalif immediately shifted his stare, quick and almost snake-like, but it took him a moment to even respond. "Kailie actually looks more like her mother than me. But if you honestly say so." Kalif wasn't much to respond to compliments. Some would say that he responded better to insults than compliments.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne clicked on hearing Arnost being mentioned. She knew that was one of the twins- That was the brother of the one who had cruio'd her.
She smiled fondly of this memory. It hadn't exactly been a pleasant memory as such but it made her remember the power inside her, the raw destruction and death the beast inside her could bring. She'd hidden away her darker self for so many years and that had been the first time she'd shown it.

Adrianne had the urge to ask about the mother. Where was she? Adrianne thought about kids of her own- She'd.. well, she'd like to think she would care for them but.. Adrianne had a feeling she would raise her children in a very different way- Disipline would be number one.
"So.. Kalif, what do you do for a living." Adrianne could feel her insides turning over. Her eyes darkened a little.
She couldn't control this darkness. Sometimes it would just happen. But her whole appearance changed slightly. She seemed somewhat more beautiful, yet more deadly.
Her voice had become cold and judgemental. She couldn't look down at the child. She could feel the need to hurt someone.
Soon, a soothing voice inside Adrianne hissed, a few more hours and you will kill.
These thoughts somewhat seemed to play across Adrianne's face for a moment or two until she took a deep breath and tried to foccuss.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif wondered if this was the kill that got away. The one that had potential, so said the Dolohov woman he had never met. And he wasn't one to care to either. But Adrianne was an ally, perhaps, but Kalif still needed to be on guard, no matter where he was at. Changing his name and moving off sometimes wasn't a sure way to go. But it managed to give his family the wealth and peace they deserved. For the time being...

Kalif answered, "I work as the Herbology Professor at the school." Kalif was not one to notice the outside looks, even though his ex-wife was beautiful in every way, even the slightly touch could calm Kalif down. But she had power over him, and that was just not meant to be. Kalif narrowed his eyes at the woman, and tensed up himself. Kailie got behind him as well. Kalif's arms remained firmly on his chest. There was something off about her, and he wasn't about to let Kailie get harmed.

"Is there something wrong with you?" Kalif was blunt when he was asking questions, and did not care whether or not he was sounding rude.

 

[Adrianne Finch]

Adrianne realised what she must be acting like.
"No, no." Adrianne said quickly, "I'm fine." which was an outright lie.
"Sounds like a facsinating job." Adrianne said, though her heart wasn't in it.
She decided they had talked long enough. Much longer and Adrianne would be un-able to control herself.
She had yet to have her first kill and excitement flooded her veins.

Adrianne smiled down at the little girl, reached into her own pocket and took out a couple of galleons which she handed to the girl. Adrianne didn't look back up at Kalif. "Don't spend it all on sweets." She smiled before turning on her heel and heading off to the Leaky Cauldron, turning her head back briefly to Kalif, bloody-venom in her eyes.

 

[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif saw through the lie, but chose not to say anything, because he could have easily been wrong as well. Kalif did not know what to think of the woman. She gave his daughter some money and shook his head. Today was just off for him. With a smooth motion of his arm, he lifted Kailie into the air, and carried her easily with just that one arm. Kalif sighed, and said, "Let's get you to Chavdar's shop, and call it a day." He started walking in the direction of which he was heading. Kalif did not even spare a glance behind him.

 

[Kailie Styx]

Kailie chirped when the woman gave her money, "Thank you!" Kailie waved her goodbye, and played with the money in her hands. She then felt herself being lifted into her daddy's arm, and she put one arm around his shoulder. She giggled, and put the money in her pocket. She felt rich! Kailie laughed, "Yay, uncle Chav's!" Kailie buried her body with her father's and yawned sleepily as she felt the motion of him walking.