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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 21:26:21 GMT -5
Isabella stood outside in front of a small tin can. Dumbledore had set it up as a Portkey so she could go visit her parents. She was shaking badly at the thought of seeing them again, and hoped Voltaire would get there soon. She wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 21:45:51 GMT -5
Voltaire was informed by Dumbledore that the portkey was ready. He was dressed in his best suit, Not that he really had to impress Isa's parents. None the less he dressed sharply and carried a small blade in his sleeve. he left his office and walked out to meet Isa at the Tincan.
"Hey love, you ready?" he said as he walked up behind her.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 21:50:15 GMT -5
"Ready as I'll ever be," she said shakily. She grabbed him and kissed him urgently. "I don't know why I even want to do this," she said nervously.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 21:54:02 GMT -5
"Because, like everyone, you are facing the biggest dissappointment of your life. Everyone wants to go to that disappointment and say ' you can't and won't rule me' you just have the courage to do it." he said seriously. "OK, are we ready?" he asked as he held her close and waited for her to take hold of the can.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 21:56:54 GMT -5
"And to think, before we got back together, I was going to do this myself. I'm so glad you're with me..." She sighed. "All right, let's get this over with." She held on to him with one hand while she took a deep breath and touched the can with the other.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 22:15:52 GMT -5
They landed luckily on their feet. Voltaire stood and saw an imposing house before him and he turned to look at Isabella. "It's charming and homey darling." he said half seriously, but the whole home seemed to feel very stiff and almost sad. He steeled himself and held Isa's hand tighter. "I'm ready when you are love" and he waited for her to make the first move.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 22:21:36 GMT -5
She looked up at the house shakily. "You know it's been five years since the last time I was here?" she said. "I've barely had any contact with them at all during that time." The house looked as imposing and unwelcoming as ever. She turned and hugged him tightly. "I... I think I should probably go in by myself at first. I don't know how they'll react to seeing you without an explanation right away." She looked back at the house, checking to see that no one was watching, then she kissed him quickly. "I'll be back in a few minutes to invite you in, OK? Can you just wait out here?"
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 22:32:41 GMT -5
I'll wait five mintues, then i'm going in "guns drawn" love." he said not really hiding the fact he was worried. "I'll wait love ok?" he said after she gave him a look.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 22:48:50 GMT -5
"I love you," she whispered. "I'm going in." She took a deep breath and tried to ignore the morning sickness that was starting to increase at the though of going back in that house. She smoothed out her hair and approached the door. After a few more calming breaths, she turned to look at him for a second before knocking on the door. A few seconds passed, then a few more, before the door swung open, and a small house elf stood before her. "Yes?" it squeaked.
"Bitsy, it's me," Isabella said. "It's Isabella."
The house elf blinked up at her. "Miss Isabella? Back after all these years? Could it be?"
"It's me, Bitsy, I swear it. Can... can I see them?"
The house elf hesitated. "The Mistress said no visitors, but... well, you're not a visitor, surely she won't beat Bitsy if she lets you in..."
"If she does, she'll answer to me," Isabella said. "I won't let her beat you. It's urgent that I see her."
Bitsy peered up at her. "Miss Isabella has changed. Not so much like her mistress now. Bitsy thinks it's a good change." She stepped aside to let Isabella inside. "Bitsy will tell her mistress you are here."
Isabella gave one last brave smile at Voltaire before she stepped inside and followed the house elf to the sitting room.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 13, 2006 23:03:50 GMT -5
Voltaire watched his brave wife to be enter the house and felt like running in after her. but he said he would wait. and wait he would.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:02:19 GMT -5
Isabella sat down on the couch and watched as Bitsy scurried away. She felt as though the bottom had dropped out of her stomach and she began to shake again. She had been insane to do this. She didn't owe her parents anything, did she? Sure, they gave her life... but then they made it miserable for so long. She breathed in deeply, trying to remain calm. If they saw so much as a hint of weakness, this would be even harder...
After a moment, she heard yelling, followed by a banging noise and a high-pitched howl. Intinctively, she shot up and hurried down the hall in the direction of the noise.
"Bitsy is sorry, Mistress, but it's true, it's Miss Isabella... she's come home! Please don't hurt Bitsy!" Another bang, and another howl. Isabella ran faster entered the library, where she saw her mother beating the poor house elf.
"Mother, stop it," Isabella said fiercely. "Don't hurt her. She's telling the truth."
Meredith Rothschild stood up and stared at her daughter. For a very brief second, Isabella thought she saw something, a glimmer of emotion, on her mother's face, but it was gone so quick, she might have imagined it. "Well, it's about time you came back here. It's been five years, and you haven't even sent an owl asking how we're doing!"
"Is that your way of saying you missed me?" Isabella said lightly. She stood stiffly with her jaw set tight and met her mother's prying gaze.
Meredith walked closer and circled Isabella, resembling a drill sargent inspecting her new recruits. "Your hair is too long," she said. "You should keep it above your shoulders. And it looks entirely too messy with those waves. You need to straighten it. And the darkness of your hair makes you look too severe. Have you considered going blonde?"
Isabella closed her eyes and shook her head. She should have expected this... "Is that all you've got, Mother? Complaints about my hair?"
"Oh, no, I'm just getting started," Meredith said, still circling. "That color red makes your skin look too pale, and you wear entirely too much makeup. You look like a cheap prostitute. I should make you wash that stuff off your face right now!"
"OK, mother, now that you've insulted everything about my appearance, you're going to listen to me," Isabella said, grabbing her mother's shoulders and stopping her. "I happen to like my hair this way, I like this color red, and I like wearing makeup. I'm a grown woman, mother, and I don't have to do what you tell me to do anymore. I'm not going to continue to live in your shadow and live the way you expect me to live. This is my life and I'm living it on MY terms now!"
Meredith stared at her for a long moment. "I can't believe you just spoke to me like that. You ungrateful little--"
"Ungrateful? And just what did you ever do for me, other than give birth to me? Ever since then all you've done is--"
"Teach you to survive in this world!" Meredith said. "Your grandmother may have had her silly ideas of life being a gift, and the world being a magical fairy tale place, but the real world is hard and cold and cruel, and to survive in it, you must be those things, too. Life isn't a gift, it's something you have to take for yourself. That is what we taught you!"
"You really believe that, don't you? That abusing me, torturing me, and telling me I'm unlovable was for my own good? Or did you just want to create a mini version of you?"
"Isabella, I learned how to get by from my parents. So did your father. I wanted you to be strong and to be a proper lady, not some scruffy tomboy. And you are. Even if you do wear your hair wrong and use too much makeup."
Isabella sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "But, Mother, did you miss me? Can you even say that you love me? Just once?" She hated the pleading sound that entered her voice.
Meredith laughed coldly. "Love? I knew you were weak! Love is for fools and children. I don't have time for it. You know that."
Isabella shook her head. She'd expected the answer, but she had still hoped. "That's not true," she said. "Love exists. It's real and it's beautiful. You told me that no one would ever love me, but you were wrong. I've found someone. Someone I love more than life, and who loves me with his heart and soul. He's going to marry me. He's waiting outside." She glared at her mother. "Would you like to meet him?"
Meredith froze, staring at her daughter in shock. "You're getting married? When?"
"Tomorrow," she said. "And no, I'm not inviting you." She stood there for a minute, waiting for a reaction from her mother and getting nothing but a blank stare. "I'm bringing him in," she said. She turned on her heel and left the room. She walked to the door and opened it, sticking her head out. "Voltaire, you can come in now," she said.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:15:30 GMT -5
Voltaire had been waiting for what seemed for an eternity and finally he saw Isa and entered the Vestibule of the house. He walked in the way he would when meeting a client, even steps back straight and a serious expression. "Hello Madame Rothschild, It's a pleasure to be sure" he said with all indication that said that it was not.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:22:28 GMT -5
Meredith looked him up and down, her eyes narrowed into small slits. "This is the man you have chosen?" she said icily.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:27:52 GMT -5
"Yes continue talking about me as if I'm not standing in front of you. I'll have you know, I had to convince her." Voltaire narrowed his eyes and thought of being intimidating, but he would hold off until he understood her more, in that moment all he could see was a strange woman, that would of been stately if she didn't seem like the wicked witch from a fairytale gone wrong.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:37:07 GMT -5
Isabella wrapped her arm around him, needing to feel his warmth next to her. "Yes, mother. This is the man I love. Voltaire SkipIt, this is my mother, Meredith Rothschild." She lifted her chin and stared her mother in the eyes. "I won't let you speak ill of him, mother. He had to work hard to win my heart, but he did it because he knew I was worth it. That's more than I ever got from you."
"SkipIt?" the woman repeated scornfully. "What kind of man is he? Is he from a good family? Is he even pureblood? Isabella, this man is not good enough to marry you. He's... odd. And if he's the one who encouraged you to speak to me in such an impertinent manner, then I demand you stop seeing him. I am your mother, I deserve your respect."
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 14, 2006 23:54:39 GMT -5
"You Deserve to die alone, And my birth and my name don't mean a thing to you, How dare you call me odd, I've not even given you my hand." he said sternly "I also ask you again to speak to me! " This woman was trying his patience, but he kept his face smooth.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 15, 2006 0:07:19 GMT -5
Isabella wanted to kiss him, but instead stood stiffly, tightening her grip around his shoulder. "You can't tell me what to do, Mother. I came here to tell you that. That I don't care what you say anymore... You can't control me. I'm not going to let you beat me down again. He's a good man, and I love him."
Meredith straightened even more, looking so stiff, Isabella wondered if she would break in half. "You came here to tell me that? To argue with me? To introduce this... man... to me? Your father has been ill and you haven't even asked to see him! Instead you put all of this on my shoulders? You ungrateful..." She hissed sharply and turned her attention to Voltaire. "And you! I don't know what my daughter has told you about me that makes you think it's appropriate to address me in this manner. However, if you two are so bound and determined to be together, far be it from me to stop you. I have no use for either of you. I never did, Isabella. I never wanted a child, and you came along, demanding attention. Well, I'm through with you. You're welcome to each other. But if you have an ounce of respect, you will at least go to see your father and tell him of your plans to marry this man." She whipped around and strode briskly from the room before either of them could get in another word.
Breathing heavily, Isabella turned to Voltaire, a single tear streaming down her cheek. "That was worse than I thought it would be..." she whispered.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 15, 2006 0:19:49 GMT -5
Voltaire was FURIOUS. He made to go after that poisoned old woman but insteand he said stiffly "Lets' go see your Father dear. We might as well finish what we start." he then wiped away the tear that ran down her face and kissed her cheek. "I know it's hard, but i'm right here with you" he whispered to her then he offered his arm to her, and said "Show the way m'lady." and waited to be led to the next section of the dragon.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Jul 15, 2006 0:44:18 GMT -5
Isabella clung to him another second. She wanted to turn around and leave... but her mother had been right about one thing. She needed to see her father, too, especially if he was ill. It seemed hard to imagine that her father could be any worse than her mother... She sighed, and pulled away, still clutching his hand. Looking at the house elf still cowering in the corner, she said in a slightly choked voice, "Bitsy, is he in the master bedroom?"
"No, Miss Isabella," said Bitsy. "The mistress kicked him out of the room when he got sick. He's down the hall, in the left corner."
Isabella sighed. She knew the room. "She put him in my room?" she said faintly. It was the room that was farthest away from the master bedroom, because her mother hadn't liked to hear the noise Isabella made as a child. She shook her head. "OK, let's go," she said quietly. Still clutching his hand, she led him up the stairs and down the hall. Outside the door, she hesitated again. "I... I don't know.... do you want to come in with me now, or do you think I should see him alone first?"
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 15, 2006 0:49:59 GMT -5
"I'll stand outside the door, don't shut it, when you need me i'll step in. I swear on my soul Isa, if he so much as trys what your mother did just now, I will react." he said it seriously and ment it.
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