A Dark Secret (Alice)

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(Note: This thread takes place a short while back. It immediately follows the scene where Morgaine visits the shop and subtly makes Vanessa aware that Morgaine knows who she once was.)

Vanessa was terrified. She had not felt this type of fear since she was eight years old, the same fear that caused her to flee her birth family. After ten years, she thought it was all over with, that she was safe from the monsters who shared her blood.

But then Morgaine DeLuna visited that night. Vanessa now remembered who she was. When the child Vanessa was forced to learn under Dathan Burke, she remembered the wicked woman visiting and making the torture of those "lessons" all the worse. And now the woman recognized her. Who would Morgaine tell? How many of those she loved would find out about who she was? The Weasleys who had treated her like family... her Freddie? The good life she had built up destroyed. Vanessa couldn't bare it.

With the shop now closed, she sat in the corner sobbing almost uncontrollably, her Siberian Husky by her side snuggling up to her. She hugged him, a little comforted by her beloved dog's nearness.

ALICE LORAINE HEWITT

[ALICE LORAINE HEWITT]

Alice raced down the dimly-lit Diagon Alley, clasping at the collar of her shirt as she struggled to find her breath. She left her keys to her flat at the shop and, worse, her shop key was on the keyring, which meant that if Vanessa had closed up and left, she would be without roof over her head. She cursed herself under her breath as she ran faster, worry settling in. What was she going to do if she couldn't get het keys? She never carried too much money with her, given the current climate of things, which meant she would have no where to turn. She bit her lower lip and tried to evade the tears that forced their way in. She would deal with the situation as best she could - just as she did all others.

As she approached the shop, she noted the lights were off. Her bottom lip quivered as she reached out for the door, then stopped as the door swung open. Vanessa was still here! Alice grinned with delight as she entered the shop, shutting the door behind her. She looked round quickly and didn't spot Vanessa - did something happen? her heart sunk into her stomach. She stepped forward slowly. "Hello?" she called. When no one answered, she went looking further into the shop until she heard a faint sob. Alice found Vanessa on the floor and immediately stooped down to her knees. "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" she shushed, her eyes searching the girl. "It's okay, calm down," Alice said softly.

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Vanessa had her thoughts focused on her situation that she didn't even hear the door open or Alice say "Hello?" Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't or she would have believed it was Morgaine's friends, or possibly even her birth family, coming to get her. When she did see Alice stoop down, she took the arm that wasn't holding Boris and held her friend and co-worker.

Alice asked "what's wrong?", but how the heck was Vanessa going to tell her? Vanessa had never told anyone about who she was. Her foster family had taken her in and loved her, caring little about knowing her past. She trusted the Weasleys, but still the family was far too big to risk keeping such a terrible secret. She did trust Alice as well. In fact, Alice was one of the first people she told that she fancied Freddie Weasley to.

"I... can't... tell... you," she sobbed. But in the back of her mind, she thought that maybe she could... maybe she should. She had to get it out at some point.

ALICE LORAINE HEWITT

[ALICE LORAINE HEWITT]

As Vanessa reached out to her, all Alice could do was be there for her. She wrapped her arms around her friend and boss, leaning her head against Vanessa's. "Shhh," she shushed her quietly. She reached a hand around her and rubbed the top part of Vanessa's back softly, trying to calm her down. Whatever was the matter, Vanessa was definitely having a hard time with it. Alice had been there; when she found out Henry died, she'd almost come close to dying herself from dehydration and malnutrition, not having the strength to do anything except cry and sleep. Alice gulped as she pulled away from Vanessa slightly, her arms still round her, focusing on what she said. "You don't have to tell me...but if you want to, I'm here," she said softly, nodding. "I can't help you unless you tell me what's wrong, though. But I...I want to fix it. I hate seeing you like this," Alice chimed, looking into Vanessa's face and wondering what was so secretive she couldn't tell her.

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Boris liked Alice of course, and sneaked a lick on her hand as she held Vanessa. He could tell what she was trying to do for his mistress. Vanessa took in the affection and pondered over what Alice told her. Vanessa did need help now. She was in danger. What good would it do her to keep things quiet? How could anyone help her... save her... if she kept her mouth shut until it was too late.

The atmosphere was a private one, and there was no better time to tell someone, especially someone trustworthy like Alice.

"Okay... but this has to stay between you and me," she said. "I mean... I need to tell others, but I have to tell them and no one else. You're going to be the first to know this though. It's going to be a crazy story, so be prepared for that. Think you can?" She had to make sure Alice was in the mindset to hear what was to come. It was going to be a shock knowing that by all rights Vanessa was supposed to be a dangerous and powerful dark witch by this time in her life.

ALICE LORAINE HEWITT