Between two worlds ¦ Amy

[Alora Veda Astor]

New Years Eve, 2028/2029
Somewhere in the early hours of January 1st.

Things had been going well lately in Alora's life, almost too well. She had settled into things with a caution, waiting for things to fall apart. Things hadn't been going this well since...well before everything happened with Sam. At this stage that was nearly two years ago, and although she was still wary of her good luck in life, things had turned around significantly. Apart from signing her permanent contract at Hogwarts for her Professorship; She had let people in again and the world hadn't fallen off it's axis. Things with Shawn, although hurried and intense to begin with, hadn't burned out like she half expected. The relationship had evened out into something quite healthy and enjoyable on her part; but she knew it did just as much good for him. Even if Amy had been repulsed by the very idea of it. The memory of the morning she had let herself into Alora's Hogsmeade flat after that first night shawn lesley ashcroft stayed over still brought a smirk to her face. Between Shawn's easy amusement and Amy's shock horror that her sister had slept with one of her teacher's (and not even one of the good looking ones!), Alora had just stood between them both grinning like an idiot. For once in her life not caring what people thought about her; she knew Amy would eventually calm down, and Shawn didn't worry about stuff like that. As chaotic as it was, she was the happiest she'd been in quite a while.

Amy had eventually calmed down, and even though she didn't say it out loud, Alora had a feeling she actually quite enjoyed Shawn's company at times. Now he wasn't her teacher, she could back chat and debate things with him, and more than once Alora had smiled at how they got along. She'd never have the confidence to say it to her baby sister; but her approval did matter to her, no matter the front she put up.

Her baby sister was another person she had let in; admittedly a lot more begrudgingly than she had let Shawn in, but still. If anything Amy had sort of just crowbarred her way into Alora's life and she had been just sort of forced to accept that this was the way things were now. And yet, Alora wouldn't have it any other way. There was still some taboo subjects between them; like their parents & how andrew ethan astor-shaw had distanced himself from Amy once everything had come out. He had said he wouldn't say anything to the their other brother, and their parents, but things hadn't gone well and Alora felt a lot of the blame for that. She hadn't wanted Amy to lose her life long family just to gain her, even if the baby of the family had just called Andrew a dickhead and told him to grow a pair. That's what she loved about her younger sister; Amy was a lot of things she never had been growing up. A lot of things she was still trying to be, and she admired her for it. Sometimes it felt like Amy should have been the older sister, but now, as she looked at the pale face of her sleeping sister lying in the cramped hospital bed, she was reminded that that wasn't the case. Her face was pale and she looked so young. So small. So lifeless and not herself.

Alora had been surprised when the call from the Healer came through. At first surprised she was down as her next of kin at all, but then the gravity of the situation had set in. She'd been having dinner in one of the restaurants off the high street in the village with Shawn, when she'd gotten the call her sister had been taken in, ringing in the New Year. It had been a shock to be counted as Amy's emergency contact, but even more of a surprise to find she was back in the UK. She had told Alora she was going home for a few days, to see their parents. Alora hadn't known she was back at all. But then the Healer that had called was using phrases like critical period, and watch period and Alora and Shawn had abandoned their meal. Oblivious to the staff now gossiping about something that had been happening on the main street, talk of some sort of attack. Alora was in such shock she hadn't even been able to apparate and Shawn had had to do it for both of them. Had they even apparated? That part of the night had been a blur; on auto pilot she had just allowed him to take over and was ultimately grateful for it. He had been good, to keep it together enough for the both of him. Even now he was somewhere not far away; giving them space enough, but still there for her.

Not that The Healer had been of much use to her. They wouldn't discuss much details at all with her, but stressed it was important that she come down. Now she was here it had made her even more uneasy. Amy was asleep, whether it be by natural forces or potions. There was nothing visibly wrong with her. Alora couldn't work out what was happened, it was frustrating her more and more as her pinched face glanced around the drab room; glaring menacingly at the microscopic germs she was sure haunted the place despite the seemingly rigorous cleaning regime the staff had. They were in a side room. Not a shared ward. This could mean something serious had happened to Amy, or it could be a case of the rest of the Hospital Wing was over run and they had just put her in this room because it was available. It could also have been a case of incredible luck that Princess Amy had gotten the VIP treatment, though it was unlikely, she didn't look in any fit state to fight her corner.

With another glance to her sister's sleeping form, she frowned and nibbled at her lip. She wanted her to wake up, to tell her she was alright, to tell her nothing had really happened; to give her some sort of an answer. But then she looked so deathly pale and lifeless, she needed her rest. She hadn't cried, no she had kept herself together and that would likely only come in the privacy of her own flat so long as she could keep it together, but she was exhausted now; on a come down after being so riled up on adrenaline when she had first gotten here. For a moment she looked to the fancy heeled shoes that lay abandoned by the door. She hadn't changed before coming here, and Shawn had been good enough to transfigure her stylish coat into a more practical sweater, but she had told him not to bother with the shoes. She was comfier in nothing for now. It crossed her mind that she should go and update Shawn, but then there was nothing to update him on since she texted him ten minutes ago. Instead, she decided to push out of the uncomfortable arm chair at the bedside and pad across to the window. Her back to the bed now, she focused out into the dark night. It was bucketing rain and storming wind, on any other night she wouldn't have liked it, but tonight she found it almost comforting. Her hand lifted and her fingers traced over the window where raindrops ran over it's surface to join together and keep trickling on downwards.

All she could do now was watch them and wait.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Some time late the next morning...

For a while, there was nothing. It was easy to forget the pain when induced with a dreamless sleep potion. Seconds slipped by like raindrops down a window, easy and without hesitation. It must have been a long time since she'd last woken, she thought as consciousness slowly ebbed into her. The aches started, and her mouth felt full of fluff. There was a long moment where Amy lay still, not wanting to disturb the peace she'd been unprepared to leave. Reluctantly, feeling spread from her finger tips to her toes, wrinkling her forehead in distaste.

Was that groan her? Ugh, Amy really needed to sort out her noises. Was that something you could control? She wondered how princesses did it - they probably groaned all the same. As she woke, the events of the previous evening did not come rushing back to her as they had last time. Amy remembered it all the same. Though she wished she could forget it, there was nothing but to face the fact that her life would be changed forever.

Always trying to look on the bright side, Amy considered her options. Toby seemed perfectly fine as long as he took his potions... but when he forgot... Amy didn't let herself continue along that train of thought as tears burned behind her closed eyes. She could manage. She could be okay. She would ask Toby... no. No, she wouldn't ask Toby. A shudder ran through her as she thought about him, an innate and automatic shiver of hatred. Amy didn't want to think about that now. There was some rustling beside her - oh, was she going to have to deal with this sooner rather than later? Maybe she could fall back asleep...

No. No matter how much willpower Amy had, she couldn't force herself back into unconsciousness. The pain was too much. Like her bones were too big and heavy for her skin. With a shallow sigh, she opened her eyes, squinting in the late morning light. Amy blinked, and glanced over at who sat vigil beside her. It came as a surprise to find not Toby, but her sister. "Alora?" she croaked, making a move to reach for her but realising it was probably best not to move much quite yet.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

The night crouched up in the chair hadn't been a comfortable one. Before her shift had ended and she had gone home, Esther had tried to get her accept one of the small camp beds she could whip up from Merlin knows where, but she knew she wouldn't sleep regardless. Eventually she had stopped pacing or checking her phone, had made Shawn return to her flat in Hogsmeade to try and sleep. There was no point in the two of them being exhausted. Here and there Alora had settled and become less restless through out the night, but then Amy would always wince her in sleep, and toss and turn. Sometimes even calling out, or whimpering. That had been difficult to listen to. The Healer had told Alora she was in an induced sleep, that it was better this way, but still, she worried. She couldn't help but wonder how deep it went, was she in pain regardless; mental or physical. The Healer on night duty seemed almost irritated after the third time Alora brought their attention to it, to see if anything there could be done to help it. They firmly had told her that there wasn't any way to help her, except to just let her sleep. Alora caught the pitying look they threw in Amy's direction before they left the room, and she didn't like it, but there was nothing else she could do.

Feeling helpless to how to help, all she could do was try and stay calm enough for the both of them. Sometimes she tried to hold her sister hand to force some sort of comfort. At one stage during the night she had even tried mumbling to Amy, talking to her in quiet soothing tones about irrelevant things; like how Shawn kept trying to get her to try flying again, or how she might surprise him with a trip over the midterm. But it hadn't really done anything except make her feel like an idiot. So eventually she had decided the best thing to do was just to sit in the almost mockingly peaceful silence and continue to wait. At times she let her mind wander; even sometimes to more selfish places, such as if she'd have to call Andrew or her parents if anything happened to Amy. She wasn't quite sure how she'd face that. The thoughts of it made her cry even more. Intermittently she continued to hold her hand, half willing her to wake, just to make sure she was ok, but also wanting her to be rested and recover the best she could.

How strange it was to think it was just under a year ago that Amy had barged into her life; and now she couldn't imagine life without her.

She had tried to fight the tiredness to start with; she wanted to be awake and there for Amy when she woke up. But at some stage the darkness had engulfed her and she had given in to it and let herself doze in the chair. The sleep was nothing deep though, it was fitful as if her body stayed alert, ready to jolt to life if need be.

When she heard Amy weakly mumble her name she started and her eyes flashed open. Immediately she adjusted herself in the chair and she surveyed her baby sister. "Amy!" she was alive after all. Thank goodness for that. There was light flooding the room now, she must have been out for a while anyway. The sight of her sister awake made her emotions begin to bubble to the surface and come up her throat; all her barrage of questions began rushing to the tip of tongue. She was about to lash out, explode that they wouldn't tell her anything, demand to know what the hell was going on. But as tears welled in her eyes she fixed herself in the chair to lean in to Amy, holding out a hand to gently push her back into the bed so she didn't move and exert herself too much, and then moved to delicately twist her fingers through her sisters. Her mind was screaming out to ask what the hell happened, what was going on. But instead she schooled her features into something a lot more relaxed, something she was quite good at, and gave Amy an almost tentative smile, trying to be comforting. "I'm here babe..." still she had to bite back questions, and force her breathing slow and evening as her tears threatened to fall. Her voice was quiet, as soft as she could make it, but on the border of cracking if she said too much "Are you okay? Will I get the Healer and tell them you're awake?"


AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Everything hurt. That was the first, and most prevalent thought Amy had. Second, she was tired beyond belief. She wanted to sleep more, but she couldn't. So she cracked open her eyes, and was surprised to find Alora there. She managed to rasp out her sisters name, but it hurt her throat. She glanced towards the bedside table and slowly reached for the water, desperate for a long drink. Alora started fretting over her, which Amy appreciated even though she felt terrible.

Alora gently pushed Amy back into her pillows after she'd drank her fill, and Amy fixed her sister with a stare. She looked as dreadful as Amy felt, probably due to lack of sleep. Even still, Alora was a stunner, and Amy was pleased to find that her sister managed to look fashionable whilst terrified. Amy felt the telltale prickle of tears at the backs of her eyes. She didn't want to cry anymore, but she didn't have the strength to fight it. They dripped down her cheeks and off her jaw, settling into the crevices of her collar bones. She said nothing for a long while, just watching Alora.

"No... I'm not ready yet," murmured Amy. "I don't want... I just want some time with you first," she added after a pause. She didn't want to think about how much her life was about to change. She wanted this little bubble of peace first. Where she could sit with Alora and pretend she was just sick. Amy let the silence between them stretch, watching Alora silently. Finally, she knew it had to come to an end. "Did the healer tell you what happened?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

She had only leaned back for a moment, under the transfigured sweat of Shawn's was still the slinky red dress she had been wearing to dinner the night before, and she had a moment of clarity where she needed to make sure her ass was covered lest anyone walk in. It only took a second to adjust the hospital wing issues blanket over her legs regardless, so it was good timing as Amy settled herself back into her pillows and let the liquid settled in her mouth. She wasn't sure if her little sister would have much more to say, but she'd be here regardless. She spotted the tears form in Amy's eyes and averted her own. Maybe she needed a good cry.

Growing up Alora had been admonished for showing emotions like that, it was unbecoming according to their Grandmother. Crying was a weakness, a punishable offence. The healing of that trauma had been years in the making, and really it was only in the last few years that Alora had realised how healing it could be, how the release of emotions was necessary. Maybe that was Amy needed right now.

So she simply said nothing, and let her cry. Eventually she leaved forward, pulling the sleeve of the oversized hoodie down over her hand and dabbing at Amy's face here and there. There was no point in asking her to stop, it was something she needed to do, but Alora would be there to try wipe them away after at least. To try make it all better after. Eventually she finished gently patting the same round cheeks she had on Amy's face, and found herself content to meet her gaze again. She'd been on her own knives edge, tears resting just there with her, but she had been able to keep them down. She didn't need to let Amy see her cry too. After what felt like a long time of quiet, she nodded in acceptance. "That's okay. I can get them if you want painkillers or something. Something to help you sleep. they said sleep was important for recovery too. If you're tired, just sleep, I'll stay right here.."

It was almost nice here in this little bubble. She could almost forget that it was something terrible that had brought them to this point. It was just them against the world. Although uncomfortable in her role as older sister and protector at first, she had settled into the job fairly well, especially in the last few months after Amy's relationship with Andrew had broken down. She had never said it out loud, the taboo subject of their parents, but Alora knew her being in Amy's life had put distance between them and Amy as well. Even if she had taken a vow of secrecy in loyalty to Alora and kept her promise, not telling them about their relationship; she knew it had frayed Amy's own relationship with them. Now more than even she needed her. In the silence she had fixed herself in the chair again, legs curled up under the blanket, in some attempt to get as comfortable as possible, but still her hand was outstretched to where Amy's laid on top of the covers, holding it just tight enough. Not with pressure or any sort of duress for Amy to keep up the connection, but just enough for her to know she was there still, even if she was to close her eyes and drift off. When Amy spoke again it broke Alora's heart to hear how quiet and broken her voice sounded. It was disjointed and so unlike her. It only added to the gravity of the situation they were in. Though the question made her heart pound even harder, spiking her blood pressure; she forced herself to keep a calm face, one of almost nonplussed boredom. She had to keep it together for Amy, even if she was dying to know.

"No. They wouldn't tell me. Some confidentiality nonsense of some sort. They just called me in and told me you were critical, to let you rest and try and fight it, whatever 'it' is." a frown darkened her face. "Esther said you'd tell me yourself when you were able. So I just let you be, let you sleep. Even though it was scary as fuck all night, they just kept saying you were critical and this was a critical period to see how things would even out and all that hospital bullshit and I though god how am I going to tell them and I-" Realising she was starting an emotional ramble, she cut herself off and took a breath, trying to leash control over herself. But she couldn't keep them back this time, the tears that had been coming intermittently over the night came back with a vengeance now, despite the control she tried to keep on her breathing. Closing her eyes for a few second she balled her free hand into a fist and pressed it into each socket, somehow trying to plug up her tear ducts. After another shaky breath she lifted her head back to Amy and once she had regained control again enough, she simply nodded.

"No, it doesn't matter really, I'm just glad you're ok now." there was unshed tears still sitting there in her eyes, but she had control once again, and she swiped them away furiously with the sleeve on her free hand, as if irritated her body had betrayed her like that.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Fatigue, or something akin to it, settled heavily into Amy's body. She wanted to sleep forever - she also wanted to cry and to scream and to demand what she had done to deserve such a fate. To be betrayed by someone she'd loved so much. She wondered if this was how Alora had felt when she found out about her three other siblings. Amy's mind wandered once more to why her parents had left Alora in their grandmothers care. In fairness though, Alora seemed rather more well adjusted than any of the rest of the Astor-Shaw brood. Amy wondered if this dilemma would bring her parents from their cozy Beverly Hills mansion to their youngest daughters side.

Amy shook her head minutely at Alora's suggestion that she sleep. Though she really wanted to, she could see from the tension in the planes of her sister's pale face that she was unspeakably worried. She'd been here all night, watching over Amy as she'd been unconscious. At the very least, Amy owed her an explanation. "No, I think I'm okay for now," said Amy, looking down at her hands which were folded over her stomach on the bed. There was no blood on them now, for which she was grateful. "You think they could at least get higher quality sheets - these ones are so scratchy," Amy added after a moment. She longed for the 800-count egyptian cotton sheets on her bed at Alora's home.

Taking a deep breath, Amy steeled herself to share her story. There wasn't much to say, she reasoned with herself. She might as well just spit it out. "I was bitten by a werewolf," said Amy flatly. "But it didn't try to... maul me or anything. Just like... took a chomp and then darted away. It looked almost guilty," she continued thoughtfully. She didn't want to think about the werewolf's identity. That would come later. "Do you hate me?" asked Amy in a small voice.

Alora Veda Astor