Ruined

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette closed the door to the nursery behind her softly. All the kids were put down for their nap and thankfully as of late they had been going to sleep without much of a fuss. It had been a long day and now that night had settled in she could imagine that they were all pretty tired. If they had put up a fuss Nicolette didn't know if she'd really have the patience or energy to really put up with it. Ever since the feud between Theodore and Alphonse things had not been right. For her and for anyone's life it had affected in the end of it all. Mostly it was the death that impacted people. Nicolette was a full fledged Death Eater and she knew very well what death and the killing of another felt, hell she killed plenty of muggles and Muggleborns in her day. But when it was the death of someone she knew it felt more personal for some reason. No one had predicted anyone to die. For the most part it was assumed that Alphonse would just become scared and back down and no blood would have to be shed. But the fool's pride made it difficult for anyone to really win this and desperate measures had to be taken. The fight between Arnost and Alphonse was merely an escalated form of what was supposed to happen. It was only supposed to be a fight and Theodore was supposed to take his father's place. But what ended up happening was Theodore getting his ass handed to him and having to involve everyone else that shouldn't have been involved in the first place. Those that did get involve before serious help came ended up befalling some serious injuries or even death. Like herself for example, that f*cking bookcase would have never hit her if she didn't feel the need to rescue Aleyha. Her and Theodore both owed her a lot for that and she didn't even think they realize how much suffering she had to go through to keep their sorry asses safe. Then she also had to watch a close family member of hers die, she was fond of Arnost. He knew how to handle her sarcasm well and he didn't let himself become weak while still having fun. It was a shame that he had to die and honestly it sort of depressed Nicolette. Then there was the many health issues that had come from the bookcase. See when it had fallen that bookcase was about the length off the entire wall and was just as all as the room itself was. That room was huge. The bookcase was made of a heavy wood, filled with books and other heavy objects. When it had fallen on Nicolette it had pretty much crushed her. Not enough to kill her, but enough to break many many bones in her small body as well as destroy some of her organs and such. It was a bloody mess inside there and if Axel hadn't come and healed what he could, the percentage of being dead just as Arnost was would have been high. But even though he had healed her, there was some things not even magic could fix. Nicolette had been there to watch people go into hysterics, watched the bodies become cleaned up and everything before someone offered to help her get home.

Walking into her and Kalif's bedroom, Nicolette sighed and reveled in the feeling of the floor against her bare feet. Kalif had yet to come home and she wasn't sure if he knew about any of this. If he didn't then he should consider himself lucky. It was a nightmare. Flopping onto the bed she groaned out into pain, her inside's felt like fire. Things were messed up down there too, by the description of how bad it was too, it had destroyed her ability to have anymore children. Not that she needed them anyways but it made her feel like less of a woman and like that was all she was really for in the first place. 'Stupid bastard couldn't just die without ruining my life too could he?' Nicolette thought. A house elf came in to offer her some food since they realize she probably hadn't eaten in awhile and she just told them to set the food aside, she'd get to it later maybe. Once it left she made sure all the lights within the room were turned off, then she pulled the covers out and crawled underneath them, fully ready to start ignoring the world.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

After hearing about the tragedy of Arnost's death, Kalif figured that the man would not ever stay down for too long, even though he was buried now. Kalif knew better than to think that they had seen the last of Arnost. Kalif was not going to bet on this however. Some people could move on after Death, and that was the end of that. Raisa went and she stayed gone, which may be a relief to some, but she was a glorious Death Eater, fighting in the wars that came and went, until she had no breath in her left. Kalif right now was in his office - having brought his work from the Zhefarovich Manor to here just minutes ago, with the door closed and he had wondered how the fight had occurred, glad that Alphonse Snow was dead, and the Snow Family seemed to be in a lot better hands, though even Theodore had a lot of growing up to do. And Kalif would have to keep an eye on him which was not what he planned on anyway. But he was basically ordered to keep an eye on Theodore. Kalif was currently writing away, the scratches of his quill against the parchment, writing out plans and everything as he filled in for his father's place as he was on 'vacation' right now until he can come back and assemble the proper funeral for Arnost Zhefarovich. However, he was still writing down the same information, though addressing to different people, on when that would be, an estimated guess anyway.

Notifying his family, even those at school, was difficult enough. How could he really be preparing this all, without it really affecting him? Suppose he was saddened by the loss, but Arnost and Kalif were never really close at all. The silence in the house, his manor, was nice from time to time, but with his wife around, Kalif did not think that she would be completely silent. This was unusual for her. The children seemed to be down for their naps, which was good because they were all growing up. He thought that after Kailie, he would have been done raising children, until Nicolette came along. And now, their latest kid was Lanithro Styx. Just months old. He had a long life ahead of him, anyway. At least they would have a good mother to attend to all their lives. Kalif did not have that luxury. Not his real mother anyhow. Kalif glanced up when he realized that things should not be this silent, and Nicolette should have been bugging him at least. Kalif let out a sigh and he stood up from his spot, pushing his chair in, and waving his gloved hand over his desk. All the papers filed away, the ink bottles closed and the quill retreated onto a stand. He left his office, closing the door behind him as he walked the long hallway, his black robes sweeping behind him as he walked. He opened the door to his bedroom, as an elf snaked by. Kalif noticed that Nicolette was on the bed, crawled under the covers. This was not natural. Kalif folded his arms and he stated in his monotone voice, "You've been silent as of recently. Not that I am not relieved, but if there is something wrong, you should at least tell your husband."

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette's mind didn't even register that someone had opened the door and walked inside the bedroom, her mind was in a complete haze as it played through her mind the exact moment she let that bastard ruin her, over and over again. It was like a movie and someone was feeling awful cruel and hitting the rewind button over and over again once the image was done playing. She was able to remember vivid image images of her trying to even hold the bookcase up. The weight was too much and her meek attempt to save herself was wiped aside like it was absolutely nothing at all. Her enemies would have laughed watching her. How silly she must have looked trying to stop something that outweighed her by thousands of pounds and was far more massive than her. Honestly she wasn't sure if even the mighty Asparuh himself could have withstood the weight. At least it might have crushed him less than it would have her. That brought Nicolette to her second memory of horror that she couldn't just seem to forget. It was that she had been conscious and able to hear everything as she remained under the bookcase, bleeding to death as it destroyed god only knows what inside of her thin frame. Alphonse had broken her most prized possession other than her family and her locket, her wand. Then he threw it to the floor as a sign of disrespect. Her mother had saved that wand for her and to have it broken and thrown to the floor even in her state made her crave for his blood to be spilled. Even amongst her pain and her wild running thoughts she remembered hoping that Arnost would tear that man apart, limb by limb. At least he managed to do what she wanted, but at a terrible price. As if it couldn't get worse she started to think. Nicolette finally was pulled out of her haze when she heard a voice. It almost made her jump in surprised, but it only took her mind a moment to realize that it was only Kalif speaking to her. Her husband. She never thought she was going to be able to see his face or hear his voice again. God was she glad that she could. The same with her children, all of them. Except for Kaleb as he was at school, but if he had been home at the time she would have been just as skeptical. But she remembered holding every single one of them close. Telling them that she loved them, and then kicking back into mother mode and telling them to refrain from tearing the manor down while their father was gone. A moment passed and she finally took in what he said. Either he was actually concerned over her or he was just trying to piss her off. She hoped it was the first one but after the accusations and cruel words from those who blamed her for the incident, she realized that some people just didn't care. Her death would have been of no nuisance to them.

Nicolette lifted her head up for a moment, the covers. As much as she loved him and figured he deserved to know, she just downright figured that he did not really care and she didn't want to go through the event. Nicolette found it useless to explain, how she lost her wand, she was nearly crushed, her pride was damaged, fingers were pointing at her from all directions, and the hit had not only taken away her ability to have kids anymore it royally messed her up inside and she wasn't sure all the damaged had been fixed. Her golden eyes met with his onyx ones for a moment, but she was not able to keep eye contact for long. Her eyes then lowered and and she sighed before she laid herself back on the bed and winced. "Leave me alone." Was all she stated before she pulled the covers back up and rolled onto her side, so her back was facing him. Nicolette just wanted to sleep and be left alone so she could mope in peace. Besides she was hurting enough to make even him probably wince. It felt like her insides were on fire. Nicolette figured that he would enjoy the quiet and get back to work. He was always complaining that he wanted her to shut up and leave him alone all the time. He was getting his wish, so what was his problem?​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif rolled his eyes before he reached down with his gloved hand and tore the sheets up and off the bed, slinging them across the room. Kalif took a seat down next to his wife, absolutely loving the fact that her mind's guard was not up, so he could just penetrate through her mind like swiss cake. Kalif would have loved the silence, but he did not like change well, even if he did like the change better. Instead, he mused and he put his legs up on the bed, leaning against the head of the bed. Just letting her know that he was not going to be leaving anytime soon. Kalif murmured, "So, let me get this straight, you want me to leave you alone, but in a way, you want or feel less of a human - no, a woman." Kalif tapped his fingers against his arm once he folded them across his chest. Sure, it was rather rude of him to do so. He did not want to really go through her mind, and talk to her like that, but it seemed like it was necessary. He continued on, "If you want some potions for your pain, I can have something whipped up. Also, don't think for a moment that I am not enjoying this, because I am." He was enjoying this in a way, because he knew that she did not appreciate him going into her mind like it was a book, though he kind of was in a way. He was a well accomplished Legilimens, and he was emotionally and mentally close to Nicolette, which just made it a lot easier. Even if he did not feel it to be something that would bring across as strength in the Zhefarovich family, but there was nothing more but strength because if he were to see Nicolette hurt, one would see a side of Kalif that no one else had ever seen, other than Asparuh and even he was a little weary of Kalif like that.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette was not thrilled when Kalif tore the sheets up and off the bed because she could no longer use them to hide underneath so she didn't have to look him in the eye. He took a seat down next to her and for a moment Nicolette wondered if she should just get up and leave the room to avoid him. He even brought his legs up on the bed and rested his back against the headboard which pretty much signaled that he wasn't going anywhere. She had a hunch that he had peered into her into her mind too, he may have seen everything that happened to her by this point. When he spoke to her it confirmed that he had gone through it, he had pretty much summed out exactly what she was feeling both mentally and physically right now. But instead of confirming with him and saying what she felt Nicolette decided to remain absolutely silent and remain turned away from him. She didn't want to confirm that he was right, exactly on the dot that she wanted him to leave her alone but she felt like far less of a woman than she had before, she felt like a fool for losing like she did, and she was so angry at herself and everyone else. Nicolette could hear him tapping his fingers against his arm and she huffed out angrily. Why was he still here when he knew for a fact that she wasn't kidding around and she really wanted to be alone right now? 'Perhaps he thinks I'll actually talk to him....psh.' Nicolette thought to herself knowing fully well that he could probably hear what she was thinking. He was being a good husband and she knew that, but she wanted to be alone and she wanted to let her misery fix itself. The pain was becoming unbearable though. Kalif offered to whip a potion for her pain and all she did was shake her head. There was nothing to fix this, it hurt all over the place. Had he even seen what it was that caused her to be in such pain, and who was the one that caused it? Turning to look at him once more she made sure that she was facing away from him and buried her head under her pillow. If she waited long enough she was sure that he would just get tired and go back to work.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

The silence was just something that ensured him that he was right. Kalif was right about this because she did not deny it even in her mind. Kalif just kept his stance on the bed and even folded his arms across his chest to ensure that he was sticking around no matter what she would say or think about it. He knew that Nicolette had been through a lot for a while, ever since that large battle, and he knew the extent of her condition. He was left really concerned about it. Also, he was left out which made him rather irritated that he missed out with Alphonse dying. He really hated to really miss out on that. Seeing him die in her mind was good enough though, but there was a black spot in her memory as well. Kalif would have preferred to be there, of course, but he would take it as he could. Kalif shook his head and he murmured, "If you would call Aleyha's stupidity losing, then yes, but that was not of your own doing. And no, I don't think that you will actually talk, but this would have to do anyway." Kalif glanced over at her, his onyx eyes peering at her. Kalif thought about taking her pillow from her and slinging it across the room because she was going to have to face him one of these days anyway. Kalif told a house elf to bring a potion anyway, and if he had to, he would Imperio her to drink it. He would have to make her drink it somehow, because she was in a lot of pain, and she needed some help with it. What person wanted to suffer through that without help? Kalif shook his head and thought that it was just moronic in his opinion. "By the way, Nicolette, I don't have to be back at work for a while. I can keep this up for however long it takes." Kalif smirked lightly, before it faded to his cold, expressionless face once more.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

He still refused to leave her alone. Obviously this was going nowhere because he wasn't going to leave and she wasn't going to give in as easily as she usually did with him. He was usually able to get her to give in and admit that something was up, but this time she really wanted to be left alone. It didn't help that she was in enough pain to kill people over. Make them suffer as much as she's suffering right now and maybe she could call it even. Her made a statement and she breathed out and rolled her eyes. He could read her mind so it wasn't like the silence was too bad of a thing. Did Nicolette regret saving Aleyha from the bookcase. Not really, she did what she had to do in order to protect her family and that meant being willing to sacrifice herself to keep them safe. But a part of her felt that if Theodore had been less of a lazy little rat then Alphonse wouldn't have been as prepared as he was and this entire mess could have been avoided. No one ever really listened to her advice anyways. A sharp pain hit Nicolette's insides again as she shifted and sighed out loud, why was Kalif really in here bothering her? He was constantly telling her when she did talk that he wanted her to shut up. But now that she actually was quiet and out of her hair he wouldn't leave her alone, men were so weird. Kalif ordered an elf to get a potion anyways and Nicolette rolled her eyes, she was taking that. He could try and force her all he wanted but she couldn't. His last comment set her off though, well if he wanted to play like that then fine. "Whatever." Nicolette snarled as she sat up and pushed the pillow off to the side. Sitting up quickly like she did hurt but she ignored it and stood up from the bed. Without any other word she opened the door to the bedroom and closed it behind her. Her legs carried her down the hallway and to a random bedroom that she had never been in before. Slowly closing the door behind her, Nicolette figured that she would be alone now. Nicolette approached the bed in the room and ran some fingers through her hair, she was tired. But her thoughts were racing. She had so many opportunities to kill Alphonse in the past but for some reason she was stupid and let it go. Seeing him die now was like a dream. But was an eye for an eye really worth it? Laying her back onto the bed she sighed out, how would she fix this mess. Was there a way to fix this mess? Probably not.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Making her give in was something else, but Kalif had enough confidence to float a ship as large as the Titanic. Kalif would end up having her tell him exactly what was wrong, without him having to resort to the spell and the wand use. He would have preferred that greatly. Kalif did not really like the idea of using any sort of spell on her just to get exactly what she was feeling right out there. There was a good reason why he was doing this to her, and he knew that she was suffering. Adding this onto it might not be called 'good husband material' but Kalif really did not care. He was going to see what was going on with her if that was the last thing he would ever do. She did not regret saving Aleyha, so that was a good thing. She protected her family, and Kalif owed her that because that was really his job, to protect the family. He was the head, but he would have to agree with her, that if Theodore would have been a little less obvious, then she would not be as hurt right now. Something in him was causing him not to go after the half-breed and tear him limb from limb. Kalif found this to be more of a challenge, and he smirked even more when Nicolette got up - rather painfully too - to move to another room. Like that was going to help her at all. Kalif could locate her in any room of the house. He closed his eyes and focused, which room? She did not walk too far so it was a room in this hall. Ah, he knew just the one. He focused and he apparated into the bedroom with Nicolette in it. He stared down at her as he was standing now, and he shook his head. She was not going to end up winning this. "You've been silent for a while now. You have to remember just who you were dealing with." Kalif did not care what was wrong with her body. She was alive, but telling her that would not really matter. Not in the state of mind that she was in anyway. Kalif was relieved that Axel managed to save her life, but why would he want to do that? Axel was not really the type to go out of his own way to save someone else. He was a cold-hearted killer, so there was something more in this than Axel was letting on. Kalif did not think that he had feelings for Nicolette. Perhaps he was just looking out for the family, same as Nicolette. Nicolette did not really know Aleyha, yet risked her life to save the young albino Parselmouth. Kalif folded his arms across his chest, staring into golden eyes, his own black orbs gleaming mystically.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette didn't even get five minute's of a rest before Kalif Apparated himself into the bedroom with her once again, my god was he persistent today. He then told her that she had to remember who she was dealing with. Of course she knew who she was dealing with, she had know Kalif from the time they were eleven years old and entering Hogwarts. But he knew her also. He should know very well that she was just about as stubborn as he was and she wouldn't go down without a fight. Or in this case she wouldn't go down without a struggle. With a growl of frustration she hurled the thickest pillow on the bed right at his form before she ripped off the covers and crawled underneath them. If he hadn't been in the room and she wasn't worried about her having to get up and relocate herself again, she would have changed into some pajamas. He was going to get the hint that she wanted to be left alone. He had already read her mind so he knew exactly what had happened and why she didn't want to talk about it. Hell he could even see that she was thinking about this now, so why the hell did he keep on following her and making it worse. 'He hated when I talked and bothered him before so why doesn't he enjoy himself? This makes no sense. Things would have been so much better for everyone if Axel had just left the damned bookcase on me.' Nicolette was giving herself a headache by this point and she wished Kalif would wander off and do something. As much as she adored him she knew he had to have some things he wanted to get done. Paperwork, that weapon, there was tons of things he could be doing. But he was in here. Was he trying to show her how annoying she was when she bothered him? Well he made his point. She would certainly never bother him again. "Screw you." She muttered under her breath and buried her head into the pillow. If he wanted to stand in here then he could. But she was going to sleep and she was going to find a way to may the hurting stop on her own. Mentally apologizing to him for her harsh words she breathed out.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif glanced down as the pillow just bumped his chest and fell onto the floor without even a motion of being harmed, and neither was the form that she had thrown it at. It was better than a curse, he had to be thankful for that, however he was not. He was thinking of something else, something along the lines of getting her out of the bed and making her stop feeling so sorry for herself. Regardless that he was a cold, cruel man, sometimes he did look after those members of his family that needed tending to. Nicolette had the highest priority for multiple reasons. After catching on to what she was thinking, Kalif's expression suddenly changed, darkened to something more fearsome than his usual, emotionless and statue-like expression. If it was one thing that got under his skin, it was thoughts like that. Kalif's tone was dagger sharp, and colder than a glacier, "I suppose that is how it goes, then. Thinking you would be better off dead. That sounds utterly selfish. You get injured, pride is hurt, and now thinking that. Imagine what your children would think, if they knew the thoughts running in your little mind right now. Imagine what they would have gone through if their mother had died. If you truly want to leave our family, say or think it now. Otherwise, shape up, and face the fact that you not being able to have children again is such a relief to us because we cannot handle anymore."

The Death Eater paused for just a moment, "Don't be such a pitiful whiner just because circumstances did not happen the way you anticipated." Kalif did not care how harsh and cold he sounded, because that angered him more than anything else. The thoughts of having Nicolette vanish and abandon her children. It was the reason why he did not want her in his home the night she went after that mudblood. Kalif did not want to point that out, but he thought that she was being the biggest baby over this event. So, she did not get to kill him, and she could not have kids. She had six already, was that not good enough? Kalif sure as hell did not want anymore. This was like a blessing to him. "Now get up, take a healing potion and stop throwing a tantrum like a pathetic Auror. And if you think once more, just once, that you are better off not being saved, you will be thrown out, memory purged of everything you hold dear. Surely you don't want a repeat of what happened last time with the encounter of that Mudblood." Kalif was aiming for something here, seeing if she understood clearly what he meant by every single word that he threw at her. He was in his darkened state of mind when he was this mad. She should notice the signs.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette wasn't all that surprised when Kalif started to go off on her, his darkened expression was an easy warning sign that he was probably going to act like this. It wasn't clear what had set him off but surely it had to do with something she had been thinking as she had said nothing to him for the past half hour that he had been bothering her for. Nicolette sat her thin body up from it's laying position and she narrowed her eyes at her husband as he spoke to her bitterly. Everything he said was probably the worst thing Nicolette could hear from him ever. Well there had been worse but this wasn't really the time for her to hear such harsh words. It sunk in deeper and deeper until Nicolette couldn't help herself any longer and she sat up fully and pushed her body off the bed so she was standing to her full height on the carpet and starting at Kalif pure disbelief. "Are you it's the family your worried about? Or is it because I'd be leaving you?" Nicolette asked with a raised eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. A part of thoughthoped that he would be more upset if she died but she wouldn't be with him anymore. But perhaps that was just wishful thinking on her part. The look in her eyes was darker but it still held the obvious signs of affection and hurt within them. "Your the one that is being selfish Kalif! I would never purposely leave my family or my babies. And if it means anything to you, which it probably doesn't. I would never leave you either!" Nicolette didn't really think he was being selfish. But she just wanted to use something that maybe struck him, she didn't want him to fully know the truth about everything anyways. But everything else she said was entirely true. Nicolette would never intentionally leave her children, she'd fight to the death for them. The same with Kalif's sake, even if he didn't appreciate it. He was the last thing that had gone through her mind before Axel saved her from the bookcase. But then again he wouldn't know that would he? Finally a sigh left her lips and she moved from the spot she was standing in and towards the door. "I'm not drinking that stupid potion, and since you seem to like bringing up the past your lucky I dare don't bring up any of you past mistakes Kalif Styx. Goodnight." She stated with a huff as she turned the knob and hurriedly opened the bedroom door. She would go somewhere else to sleep because Kalif was going to make it hard to do anything. At least she had talked somewhat.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

A cruel, cold smirk curled along his thin lips when his plan had worked, to get her so angry that she would have to go off on him, and that she would get out of bed just long enough to figure out what she had done was a good thing for them both. Kalif just stared down at her and he did not say a thing but instead with her staring into his eyes, it was easier to read exactly what she was feeling against the words that she was saying. This really came in handy, and he was relieved and proud that he had learned it from his father, the power to read minds. Sure, what he had said may have hurt her, but she was already hurt so this much was just what some would call 'tough love' and it must be done. Kalif used this technique often, but this was the first time he had ever used it on Nicolette, and now she was getting the bigger picture. He would not say what he was thinking, or what he was worried about. Kalif said shortly, "You know the answer to that one, if you thought long enough." She would know why he was upset, because it was not one or the other. It was both. He was the head of his family, and also, there was the thing with being married to Nicolette and how he regretted ever being with Namina because of Nicolette now. She made him feel like that, and well, Namina was the biggest mistake he had ever had in his life.

She even accused him of being selfish, yet in her eyes, he could see that she did not think that, so he did not let it affect him in the least bit. Instead, he threw the argument right back at her, "Yet, you wish you would have died, and that is wishing to leave in the same purpose. Why not say what you really think, because your mind and your words are disagreeing." Kalif shook his head, and he quickly shut the door before she could even step out with his gloved hand. It had shut with a soft slam, but there were no sounds from other beings in the other rooms, and Kalif shrugged, "I own up to my mistakes, and really don't care for them. I will force that potion down your throat if I have to, to make sure that you are taken care of. However, until you tell me what is going through that mind, voicing it at least, you won't be going to sleep, and you won't be leaving this room." Kalif was showing the side of possessiveness that Hades often showed when it came down to women. Hades received a lot of his traits from Kalif without even knowing it. Kalif continued on, "Besides, at least getting you mad ended up working in making you talk. Wonder what else I can poke at to make you talk more. I could bring up that Thomas Hensel is in the Ministry, or even that Moon fellow." But that might end up backfiring because that man really got under Kalif's skin. It was because of him why Alexander Moon was dead anyway.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette paused and turned her head to the floor when Kalif responded that she knew the answer to her question if she thought long enough about it. Of course he wouldn't flat out say what he really felt, he was going to leave her to find the answers. "I see." She muttered her voice drifting off in a sort of daze. He didn't wan to admit it but she knew how he felt, or at least she thought he did. Without realizing that Kalif could probably be reading her mind right now and seeing all of what she thought, she began to wonder sometimes how he really did feel about her. She thought it was love but he was so secretive with what he said when it came to how he was feeling. Did he love her? Nicolette wanted to believe so and if anyone asked her if she loved him of course she would say yes. From the very moment she met Kalif back in school there was something there. They hadn't figured out their feelings for one another back then but years later during school she knew there was something and sooner or later she was going to find herself within his arms. But things didn't work out to her favor and when she came back he was already with Namina. That was a shocker and a kick to her stomach. She was nearly beaten to death at home and could not return because her injuries were so severe. The one thing that she looked forward to coming back to was Kalif and he was with some girl. It was probably one of the worst memories ever. Realizing that Kalif probably was seeing all of this she apologized and ran some fingers through her hair. Her anger was increasing again and now more than ever did she want Kalif to go away. So she could things through her mind sorted. Tucking some of her hair behind her ear Nicolette breathed out and sat back down on the bed. Not even aware of how lovely she looked right now, Nicolette felt disgusted with herself and the way she was acting. Still she needed to think things out so without another word she stood to leave the room.

"Shut up." Nicolette told him not wanting to admit that she knew he was right and she was saying things to him that she didn't mean. But if she admitted that she felt like she would be giving in and then she would look like she wasn't serious about this. Kalif closed the door with his gloved hand and prevented her form leaving. Nicolette tried to shove past him to get through to the door. "You can't force me to stay in here! And you can't force me to take some stupid potion, I don't need it! I told you I don't want to talk about it! What is there to talk about anyways? I was almost killed, I'm hurting, and I'm pissed off, and so frustrated! What more do you want from me?" Nicolette asked as she approached Kalif, just inches from him and her golden eyes gazed up into his dark ones. He was so much taller and built than her. He could rip her in half if he wanted to. Nicolette waited for a moment and sighed. For a moment she figured she was going to head back to the other side of the room, but then Kalif dared to bring up Alexander. "Don't you dare bring him up, unless you'd like me to remind you about how I was together with him once, and how he once put his hands all over me....and tried to pretend like Damianos and Nicolas were his...to get me to marry him." Nicolette shook her head and thumped Kalif of the arm roughly before she turned away and waved her wand to conjure herself some clothes to sleep in. She felt dirty now because she hated thinking about Alexander and when she dated him. She was thankful he was dead and she was with her true love and her babies now.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif could not help but roll his eyes at what he read in her mind. Did she need to question whether or not he loved her? Kalif had grown up in a world full of darkness and mistrust. He barely knew what the word was. He never said it to his children, and they never said it to him. He never said it to anyone, not those three words except when Hades managed to trick it out of him somehow. That little man can get any information that he needed, and somehow it worked to get his step-mother and father back together. Kalif pointed out almost lazily, "You should remember the family I was raised in, the father I have. And that idiot of a step-mother I had also. Do you really think that I would know or understand what the concept of 'love' is? All I know are the human emotions, which are strong, and which would cause me to be weak. And nothing I feel causes me to be weak, including what I have drawn to you." In fact, it made him stronger, it made him everything else that was good in the strong Death Eater. He had power, he had Authority, and he was going to keep what he had. Soon he would have the throne, perhaps not for too long, but he would have it regardless. Kalif then read her mind once more to see Namina, and he narrowed his dark, onyx eyes to tell her that he was not pleased with what he was seeing in her mind. No, he wanted to see future resolutions, not mistakes. But she apologized which was a good thing, but he was unaware of the kick to the stomach that she received when she was younger and saw him with Namina. She was always his second choice, that Ravenclaw girl. She was not really anything to him, but he knew that he had something drawing him to the Slytherin girl, Nicolette at the time, before she vanished and could not be found, which worried him slightly.

But that was all in the past. His lips curled into a thick, cruel smirk because she was proven wrong, though she did not seem to want to admit it as much. Kalif smirked even more when she tried to shove past him in order to get the door open with him in the way, but that did not seem to be working out in her favor at all. She seemed to be getting frustrated which was what he was wanting. "I am doing just that, forcing you to stay in here. And one way or another, I will make you take that potion, whether you need it or not. Point was, you are not dead, Alphonse is. And the weakest die young, remember that." Kalif had strong points with that. The weakest do in fact die young in his opinion. Why else would Alphonse had died before really reaching a good, ripe age? Kalif narrowed his eyes, his anger boiling when Moon was mention more and realized that he did in fact have his hands all over Nicolette and once tried to take his babies and claim them as his own. Kalif's jaw had hardened and he had to remember, that Moon never touched her like he had to make those children even though at the time, he was convinced that Nicolette had somehow seduced him into having that night together. There was so much tension going on, blood had spilled so there was really nothing more that he could really do about the blood and that time. Kalif smirked evilly and he murmured, "I would also like to remind you that Moon never got that far with you as I had somehow when I injured him. And you are married to me, and he is also dead due to my orders." Kalif approached her, his wife, as she got some clothing in order to get dressed into something more comfortable. Once she had however, Kalif was behind her and he lightly pushed her onto the bed and he smirked. "Still weak though, falling so easily..." Kalif was merely taunting now.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette should have figured that Kalif would respond the way he did to her question. He wasn't raised up to understand or come to accept the concept. But Nicolette didn't know if she fully believed it like she wanted to make herself believe. A part of her believed that they all knew very well what love was but tried to shield themselves from it because it was hard for them to agree with the fact that there was a force out there that was more powerful than they were. With that fact alone there wasn't much she could blame on them. Having an uncontrollable force out there more powerful yet destructive than anything else human kind have ever known was sort of scary to face. "It's alright, I don't need you to tell me. I already know how you feel, it's easy to tell just by the way you spoil me rotten." Nicolette teased lightly. The first half was true. She didn't need to him to tell her because she already knew how he felt about her and their history together. There was no need for him to say it or for her to go digging around in his mind. Just by his actions and speech alone he often proved it to her, and for anyone but her or those that knew Kalif well, they probably had no idea what he meant half the time. Be he didn't completely spoil her rotten, just slightly. Mostly with his actions of letting her get away with ninety percent of the things she did. No other person but her and possibly Hades could get away with harassing Kalif like she did, hell she could be obnoxious as she wanted to be and she was sure he'd still love her in the morning. Though it'd probably end up with the two of them fighting somewhat similar to how they were now. Nicolette could see Kalif narrow his eyes at her recent thoughts and even though she apologized she kind of wanted to hit him for being a jerk back then. For some reason she really wished the dumb b*tch had died sooner. Thank god Asparuh sent her and Prodan's loser of a life sent them where they belonged, in a grave. If given the chance Nicolette would have to show that lowly bred woman a thing or two about being a good wife and not having that whole saint thing as a cover-up for what she really was. Nicolette knew better than to play that game.

"Stop being so bossy Kalif, you sound like my dad." Nicolette rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest after brushing some of her hair out of her face and recrossing them. Even if he did just want to help her she wasn't a child and she didn't always need help or someone helping her fix her problems. If she couldn't heal this herself then what was the point of her ever learning how to take care of herself all those years ago? Mayhaps she was getting old and wasn't as capable as she used to be. It just made no sense to her. Then she heard Kalif begin to get defensive and she listened to him point out that he had gotten further with her than Alexander, that he had injured him, and that she was married to him. Plus Alexander was killed on his orders. Nicolette knew Kalif was the better man but it had still amused her to see him act like that. Even if he tried to claim that he never got jealous, she knew he did. "I'm glad I chose the right man then." Nicolette replied softly, there was still a spark of anger there but it was on there because she was upset that he would not let her out of the bedroom, he had to let her out sooner or later. Eventually he would have to go to work or something. Nicolette was not bent on ignoring him until he left but then she felt someone lightly push her onto the bed. Nicolette turned her body around and let her mouth drop in horror. That was uncalled for! For a moment she considered kicking him or doing something, but that anger of hers wasn't really calling for aggression that wouldn't phase him. Instead she decided that she'd show a thing or two to her husband about his attitude. Nicolette didn't say a single thing to Kalif before she leaned up and reached with her skinny arm to grab a hold of the front of his robes and pull him down with her.​

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- Time Passes - ​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

It was the following few hours when Kalif had pulled out a book and started to read it while his wife was curled up next to him in the bed under the covers. It had taken him a little while to find his clothing however it was as if he had not taken anything off to begin with. Kalif had brought in a servant to bring in a bottle of potion that would help Nicolette's pain and suffering that she had gone through. Everyone needed a potion or two, even he had done it. Kalif let out a soft sigh and he thought that things had gotten better and nothing was held back this time because he knew that Nicolette could not have children again, and he did not want to risk it. Kalif had no other choice but to try to wake her up. He shook her shoulder to try to wake her up. Kalif muttered, "Wake up, cat." Kalif could not help that he enjoyed picking on her for being an animagus. And now she could no longer tease him about his job at the school because now he taught a better subject. Something that would help students because he had the knowledge of the Dark Arts as well as defending against them. He had both because at times, there were things he expected. Like Asparuh going nuts and trying to come after him for something unknown. "Wake up and take the potion to help speed up your healing." Kalif turned the page in the book, wondering if Nicolette would wake from her slumber.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette was in the midst of a very nice dream. It was a strange dream involving her and owning her own pastry shop. Since she had been living with Kalif for a little over five years and slowly over that period of times she had waned herself from the majority of sweets. But that didn’t mean she didn’t miss having them, especially sugar cookies. Oh those were the best. Having an entire bakery full of them was literally like a dream come true for her. But it appeared that Kalif didn’t care what kind of dream she was having because she felt him shaking her shoulder and telling her to wake up. He was such a dream crusher. Slowly her golden eyes shifted open and looked around the room before she yawned loudly, and rolled over so she could look at Kalif through her half-lidded eyes. Nicolette could see that he had a book in his hands to he must have been reading the past couple of hours while she was asleep. She could also see that he was dressed. ’How that man is not out cold right now is entirely against me.’ Nicolette thought to herself as she yawned again. He had completely tired her out and she wasn’t even sure if she had enough energy to respond to him right now. Kalif told her that she needed to take her potion so speed up the healing process. ”Too sore and tired...maybe later.” Nicolette told him with a wink. She could see the potion with him but she still didn’t want to take it, so the excuse, even if they were truthful, would have to do. ”I still don’t see why I have to take it at all, I’m perfectly fine. Except for the bruises you just gave me.” She replied with another yawn. Maybe a potion would fix that but she really didn’t want to take anything, she could handle herself.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Kalif did not even want to know what type of dream she was having, but all he knew was that she needed to take her potion. In order to help heal the damage that was done to her stomach, she would need some potions and some assistance. He would have taken them anyway. No matter how pride would have interfered. Kalif narrowed his eyes at what she would say and he smirked lightly because of how she was so amusing to him. She was too tired and sore, but she also winked at him. Kalif had half the mind to yank her up to make her sit up and wake up. That would teach her to wake up when she needed it and when she would have to do what he said because it would be better for her own sake. He did not know why she did not appreciate it often. A potion was not anything to be afraid of. It was not really anything to think of being weak for. Even the Dark Lord himself needed potions, did he not? Kalif thought that pointing this out would prove useless. Kalif rolled his eyes at what she said and thought that it was useless to argue against him. Because sooner or later he would end up getting what he had come here for. He had two vials with him thankfully. "Nicolette. It would help with the healing process. Do I have to drink it just for you to drink it as well? It won't prove weakness, even Voldemort had to drink potions." Kalif had to use the reference, and thought that maybe that would get her to drink the damn potion. Asparuh rarely drank potions so he did not think pointing that would would be useful at all. Not in this situation at least.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette was already beginning to fall asleep, but as her eyes began to drift open she noticed Kalif smirk and sat up to look at him with slightly narrowed eyes. "What the hell are you smirking about?" Nicolette usually found herself being uncomfortable when Kalif was amused like that. It often meant that he either found something amusing or was going to do something amusing to him but somewhat obnoxious for her. She didn't trust him when he smirked like that but it was only because she had been around him long enough to know what those kinds of smirks meant. With a gentle roll of her eyes Nicolette was suddenly unsure if she wanted to know at all what that smirk meant. So instead she pulled her sore body up all the way and kicked the covers off all the way so she could search for her dress that she had on last night. Or the pajama's she had brought. But man were her things scattered across the room. Was she really that out of it last night or did she get her head slammed against the headboard one too many times last night? Nicolette finally found her dress and threw that on along with brushing some fingers through her hair so it looked a little bit more decent. Then she flopped back down onto the bed and heard Kalif sort of make a bargain with her. If he drank a potion would she drink a potion? Nicolette almost wanted to bite out that Voldemort was a half blood anyways so of course he would nee a potion from time to time. Oh but she knew better than that, Voldemort was beyond powerful even with his blood. So maybe it wasn't too bad? "Fine then. You drink some of it first then I promise I'll drink the damn thing. Goodness...I'm a healer...yet why is it no one trust's me to heal myself?!" Nicolette huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Kalif owed her for this, because this was annoying and it looked weak for a healer such as herself to have to go through this when she knew how to heal herself and she obviously wasn't dying.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

The woman was now questioning, and Kalif was smirking even more now than ever. She was questioning him and his reasons, but she should know that when he was smirking like so, he could very well do something different. However he would save what he wanted to do later. Kalif looked at the floor around to see her clothing scattered. He did not remember which piece he had thrown either, but a spell could very easily bring her things to her. One should feel awkward about having a woman next to him completely undressed, but this was his wife, and she was covered with blankets so it was not awkward for him. Kalif saw that she pulled her body up, and then got dressed, thankfully. He did not really want her to stay undressed all day that was for certain. Kalif watched her sit back on the bed, and what he said seemed to be making more sense to her. Kalif reached into his robes and he pulled out the two vials, and handed his wife one of them. He popped open the vial and he muttered with a subtle smirk, "Because you are doing a poor job by moaning all the time. No results, so that is why I don't trust you to heal yourself." He raised the potion and then with one gulp he had finished it at the same time as his wife. That was good, so that she would be one step closer to being healed. Kalif put the empty vial to the side, and he smirked over at his wife, "Now you should be feeling a little better, and now you will know what I was smirking about." He gave her a shove so hard that it should knock her straight out of the bed. Kalif himself rose up and he adjusted his robes before he apparated out of the room, to the living room down the stairs, knowing that he probably just made his wife even angrier, but it was all for amusement.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette set the empty vial aside and rolled her eyes, before dropping them to look at the mattress beneath her. She hoped he would stop nagging her about taking the potion now. When she heard him tell her that since she was now feeling better, he would show her what he was smirking about. Bright Golden eyes perked up as Nicolette got excited that Kalif was going to show or tell her something exciting. But instead she got a hard shove that ended up knocking her off the bed. Nicolette landed on the floor with a loud thud. 'I should have expected no less from him.' Nicolette thought with another roll of her eyes. Her eyes stared him down as he adjusted his robes and Apparated out of the room. It must have been like a game to him because he should have known by now that she was not only going to get up, but she was going get him back for that. With a grumble Nicolette pushed herself up and brushed her bangs from her eyes. With a sly smirk Nicolette focused herself and formed herself into a white cat. The same form she had been using for years. And with that she slipped out the door and headed down the hall and down the stairs. Nicolette knew that Kalif wasn't fond of cats. But she absolutely thought it was hilarious when she pestered him in this fluffy form of his. Besides, it was easier to move around and a lot easier to get away instead of getting caught. Crouching down, Nicolette's eyes picked up the sound of Kalif's footsteps. Which was another plus of being a cat. She could tell who was moving around by the way they moved. Golden eyes gleamed as they locked onto their prey, oh yes, his feet. A moment of waiting...and then she was off like a rocket. Immediately her small paws swooped themselves around his ankle as she tried to attack him, via cat form. She figured it wouldn't work too well, but she was cooking another plan up just as she executed this one.​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

Walking in the living room, Kalif was expecting that Nicolette would be coming down here at any time, but he did not know when or in what form. Kalif knew very well that his wife loved to be in the form of a cat from time to time. Kalif hated cats, and any sort of animal that made noise. He even hated the little kitten that he bought for Nicolette a while back, named Mischief. The fully grown cat loved to hang around Kalif too much when he was home, and every day Kailie had to take some medicine to help with those allergies to cat fur. It was amazing that his daughter Kailie was going to be going to school next year, and there was no telling which house the girl was going to be in. She had Slytherin running through her veins as well as Ravenclaw. There had not been a Gryffindor in the family just yet, however Kailie might be the first one. He would have to just guess at it. Kalif stopped pacing the living room when he heard some steps going down the stairs. They were not human, but they were animal. It was either Nicolette or Mischief. Either way, if a cat tries to latch onto him, he was throwing it across the room. He hated it when an animal came to him. Eyes turned downward, a white blur, and Kalif's swift reflexes caught the small cat in mid pounce. Nicolette would have to work better at her stealth skills, some of which he would admire if they were not always used on him. He raised what he had caught in the air so that he could look at the white cat. He was careful not to hold the cat too close to his face, and he shook his head. He was actually holding the cat with the skin on the back of the neck. It never hurt them, but it just made them motionless for a bit. He smirked lightly, "Got to do better than that." He found himself wishing that Nicolette could and would be pregnant right now, just so she couldn't transfigure herself into a cat.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Nicolette's golden feline eyes gleamed brightly as they stare into Kalif's dark ones. She had to work on her stealth skills a little bit because she had been caught far too easy this time. Being caught quickly felt like a sign of weakness to her and she didn't pride herself on being weak. Then again after years of being together and putting up with her antics she could guess that maybe she was just too predictable when it came to being a nuisance to Kalif. Nicolette figured she might as well just bring her human form back out and get him back some other way because being a cat limited her a lot. Not only was she a lot smaller than he was, but she couldn't really do much while being held by the scruff of her neck like she was. It didn't hurt her as a cat but apparently turning into a human wasn't the best idea she had ever thought of when it came to her plans to thwart Kalif. Without even thinking of the consequences Nicolette immediately shifted back into her human form. Only to be shocked and horrific that being held by the scruff of her neck as a cat didn't work too well as a human since now his long fingers were wrapped around her throat. Air was only cut off for a moment or two before she was released and dropped onto the ground. Landing with a loud thud. "Ow!" Nicolette whine out when her back landed on the hard floor. She would have rather hit the floor then be in Kalif's grasps like that but damn did it hurt. He didn't want to hurt her though so that must have been why she was dropped to the ground. Thankful as she was Nicolette was also fearful that her back was going to be sore for quite awhile. Still laying on the floor she stared up at her husband. "Why do you have to be such a party pooper? Pushing me out of the bed was so uncalled for." Nicolette rolled and held her hand up and out to Kalif. As if to tell him that she wanted his help getting up off the floor. Her back hurt though and she was still feeling sore from earlier activities. But would he actually help her up or would he torture her and make her get up on her own?​

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[Professor Kalif Styx]

When Nicolette had turned back into a human, it had Kalif by surprise when he had her by the throat which made him immediately drop her onto the floor. He did not want to choke her to death. She had been his wife for years, and he did not want to ruin that right now anyway. He did not want her to die by his hands, that was for certain. Kalif looked down at her and he folded his arms across his chest when she said that one word that indicated that she was hurting. Kalif mused, "Would you have wanted me to keep choking you? I could have done that rather than release you." Kalif shrugged once but he knew that he would not want to keep doing that, even if she wanted him to. She seemed to like laying on the floor, and wondered how long she was wanting to stay down there for. She seemed to be sore, but nothing was broken, not that he could tell anyway. He stared down at his wife with the golden eyes before she said that pushing her out of bed was uncalled for and he was a party whatever. And then she extended her hand out like he was going to be the one to help her on her feet. As if he would do that. Kalif allowed his arms to drop to the side, and he stated coolly, "I would not say that it was uncalled for. However, as you did not request me to push you out of bed, so meaning that staying in bed was uncalled for as well." Kalif shrugged once more before he debated on helping her onto her feet. Instead, he bent down and he lifted his wife into his arms and set her onto the couch. At least that will feel better than laying on the floor. Kalif folded his arms across his chest, and he debated on what he was going to do. He had forgotten the work that he was getting to. Well, he was not going to help her onto her feet, that was a definite. However, it seemed like it was a stroke of luck, when Lanithro started to whimper, up in his room. Kalif inquired, "Are you going to keep pushing your luck today, or should we see if Lanithro is awake?" Kalif looked observantly over Nicolette and thought that she would do fine with walking upstairs.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Although Nicolette was happy her husband didn’t continue to choke her even as she changed over, hitting the floor like that was uncomfortable. Her being grateful was sort of smothered by the pain she was feeling. Watching him carefully as he stated that he could have kept a hold of her instead of letting her go and shrugged right afterward. ”I doubt you would’ve.” Nicolette stated when it came to Kalif harming her in such a way. Kalif was actually gentle with her when it came to the way he handled her. Well, gentle to how he treated and handled most others. Even though they mess around and harass one another, he had never fatally harmed her. Though she wasn’t a Legilimens she felt that it probably would have hurt him to do something like that. Well she hoped so. Family members were dying off left and right within the Zhefarovich family right now and Nicolette was actually worried because death was entirely unpredictable and she didn’t even want to think about who would possibly be next in the line-up. This was her family and she didn't like thinking that one day they may all be apart. Nicolette wondered if Kalif ever thought about dying. If he ever wondered when his time was. Hopefully not because then she would feel less stupid about pushing the subject out of her mind whenever she could. Nicolette waited for her husband to take her hand and help her but instead he decided being a smart ass was a better idea. Dropping her hand to her side she narrowed her eyes at him. "Bite me." He always had to turn what she said around so she looked like the idiot. If Nicolette would she would pinch him right then and there. It probably wouldn't phase him one bit but it did get him going and that was probably the biggest way they bonded. By arguing and dogging on one another for various reasons. It probably sounded like a weird way to bond but that was just how it went. Nicolette was surprised when Kalif bent down and lifted her into his strong arms. For a moment she tensed up worried he was going to mess with her again and drop her but instead set her down on the couch. A thanks left her lips and she let her golden eyes flick from the floor to his tall form softly. She was going to ask if he was going to quit with his attitude, knowing fully well that would probably get him going, but she could use a good argument. But instead she heard her youngest baby whimper from upstairs and she sighed. Nicolette pulled her thin body from the couch and smirked slyly at her husband. "Not quite. But I guess I will have to deal with your attitude later or something. Come on, let's go check on the baby." Nicolette snorted and flicked some of her hair behind her shoulder. She took a head start and headed towards the stairs. Normally he was a very quiet baby so Lanithro probably needed something or was just missing his parents.
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