(Un)Known

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

It was unusually bright. The sky was clear and the large silver disk hanging in the heavens provided a surprising amount of light. Zee stood there, up on the ledge naturally, leaning to his left against the wall with his left ankle crossed over his right, arms folded against his chest for both the comfort of the position and the scant protection it offered against the crisp breeze. It had been from this spot that he'd sent his patronus that morning, the luminous shark hovering all the way down to the foyer in search of one Wysteria Edwin, the girl that had so unexpectedly enthralled him.

His thoughts were of her now. All thoughts of his research work with D'rorah in the library and of the pleasant distraction he'd found earlier in the room of requirement were gone. His mind was far too busy running through possible outcomes of the impending encounter. Of course she would come. She would not be so cruel as to leave him without an answer. It was possible he supposed that she might send her reply by way of patronus, but then she had just recently told him she could not even produce a fully corporeal patronus, much less send one as a messenger.

No, she would come. But what answer would she bring with her? She was attracted to him, and not just physically. Of that he was certain. Yet she was so reluctant to pursue the relationship into romance. Indeed it seemed even a close friendship with him was almost an abhorrent concept to her. But why? Because she was "a private person?" Surely it wasn't so simple. Was there something in her she didn't want him to see? Clearly, yet for what purpose? Was she trying to protect him or herself? All this Zee stood divining, gazing out at the radiant moon and waiting for his lady to make her appearance.

[Wysteria Edwin]

Wysteria wished now more than ever that she could produce a corporeal patronus to send up to the tower. She wanted to reply to Zee but wasn't sure if she actually wanted to go up to the tower to see him; being in his presence might make her feel bad about rejecting his request. Well, not rejecting it outright, but she wasn't planning on going with him as a "date", because she wouldn't enjoy that....right? Wyst paced the length of the common room several times, trying to make up her mind about whether she should send a magical note after him or to actually make her way p the winding staircase to the place she knew he would be. Her mind was not made up about him yet but even when she tried to escape him, tried to concentrate on other things, thoughts of him still slipped into her mind as if willed there. It was annoying at times, but not completely so since she would often catch herself smiling in a dreamy way, sometimes causing her some embarrassment when others would look at her and wonder what was so damn pleasant.

She twirled a piece of onyx hair in her fingers, slowly realizing and admitting that, yes, she wanted to see him again. If she denied that she'd put herself in the very dangerous position of ignoring strong feelings. But if she wanted to get control again she would have to confront those feelings, which meant going up to the tower. Wyst had made her decision and was going to stick to it. She turned on the spot and headed out the door and up several flights of stairs to the Astronomy Tower. When she opened the door, she of course found him there, standing on the ledge in a relaxed manner. A grin burst onto her face as she looked at him, quickly fighting it down to a small smile.

"I find it very interesting that your patronus is a shark. A predator, and a solitary one as well. Sharks are often regarded as unthinking eating machines, you know. But I think there's more to them than that, but not many have looked closely enough." Wyst wasn't sure why she was interested so much in his patronus, but something about it had made her more curious about him.

"In regards to your invitation," she said, beginning to walk closer to him, "It would be nice to have a date to the ball, I imagine. I would like to go with you, Zane." Wysteria was now only a few feet away from him, looking up to him at is place on the ledge. She barely concealed her grin as it became a smirk at the end of her speech.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Ah, the quiet creak of the door. My lady has arrived. But how will this play out? She wants to accompany me, I know. But will she allow herself to? And if not, why?

Quite distracted by his thoughts' questions, Zee didn't even realize they had stopped referring to himself in a plural sense. Perhaps this was a good sign for Zane Lucifer Bishop, but it crept by unnoticed. Pushing himself out of his sideways lean by planting his elbow against the wall, Zee pivoted on one foot, spinning to face her. A crooked smile played across his face as she briefly analyzed his patronus. He crouched down on the spot and offered his left hand to her as aid, more symbolic than anything since he knew she was perfectly capable of stepping onto the ledge herself.

"An excellent analysis of a patronus and the possible meanings behind it. But I'm sorry, were you describing a shark? Or perhaps a jaguar?"

He winked as she stepped closer, enjoying finding one more little comparison between the two of them. His half smile grew more full as she evidently accepted his proposal. Placing his right hand over his heart as if to try and slow its beating, his eyes widened in mock surprise, his huge grin remaining.

"Why Wysteria, I half expected you to refuse simply because it would be far more difficult to convince others you've no idea who I am if they saw you and I walking arm in arm. All humor aside though, I am very glad you've decided in my favor. Thank you my dear. I promise you will not soon forget the night of the Masquerade."

His face had lost the slightly mocking look and showed only a warm, appreciative smile. His eyes reflected that true joy. If she had intended on continuing on and explaining that she'd like to go with him but couldn't, any hint toward that intent had been lost on him.

[Wysteria Edwin]

Oh no...now this is going to be harder to tell him. Wysteria had expected a simple shrug and affirmation once she told him that she would like to go to the ball. But he looked genuinely happy, excited that she would be going with him. She took a deep breath and looked down at the floor for a moment. Would it really be all that bad to go with him? After all, D'rorah would be going with Dylan, and she's the most careful Lightfighter when it comes to scrutiny. Perhaps the Ball will simply be seen by others as that--an evening that just happens to include a date. A date which doesn't necessarily mean the two people are involved romantically or otherwise...could it be so bad if she indicated that she might have a good friend apart from D'rorah and Alessandro?

Of course it would! Do you want the Mage to torture and kill an innocent because they think it might yield information? Wysteria winced as another voice inside her said aren't you just jumping to conclusions? Aren't you just scared of the fact that you might actually feel something for him and you might, for once, be vulnerable to someone else? Wyst ran her hand through her hair nervously as she argued with herself over the best course of action. She was planning on finishing her speech with "I'd like to go with you Zane but...I'm not interested in having a date." She knew that even if she turned on her heel and left the Tower immediately, he would never leave her alone until he found out why. Maybe...maybe if for one night she just acted like a normal student, she just might enjoy herself.

"I hope that you deliver on your promise, Zee. I'm sure you will," Wysteria said, taking his hand and stepping onto the ledge. She was now much closer to him than she had been, not counting the time when she put her chin on his shoulder. Wyst recalled that memory, and took a small step back to give each of them their respective personal bubbles. "I never told you this...but I missed talking to you during those few weeks when I wasn't here..in the Tower, I mean." Wysteria blurted out these words without thinking, as if she kept the idea for herself too long it was going to burst. She wasn't going to appear nervous though, she wanted to maintain appearances, so she didn't look away from Zane once she realized the honesty of her statement.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Zee's grin remained, his eyes twinkling as he pulled Wyst up toward him. Shaking his head slightly as she stepped back, he chuckled at her continued discomfort with being very close, physically as well as emotionally. His grin took on quite the sheepish look when she said how she'd missed him during her weeks away from the tower. He decided this would be a good time to confess to her the truth. He cleared his throat quietly.

"That's good to hear. I myself actually knew that you hadn't been up here until that night before Ancient Runes. Out of the twenty five nights between that and the time before we'd met up here, twenty three of them found me here. I may have been slightly overzealous in my desire to see you again."

Zee maintained their eye contact for a few more seconds, smiling most sincerely. Leaning back against the wall, Zee gazed across the space between them at her, his eyes taking on a slight sparkle of mischief.

"So tell me, did I finally succeed in making you blush with my invitation?"

[Wysteria Edwin]

Wysteria was very careful not to appear too surprised or excited by Zee's statement that he has come up to the tower on several occasions to see if she was there. She thought on occasion that may have happened, decided it was rather presumptuous of her to assume that their meetings had meant as much to her as it did to him. But she could not deny this turn of events definitely sided with the idea that he looked forward to their visits just as much as she did. Logically, she knew she should not feel so attached to him; they hadn't spent a great deal of time together, but the time they did have in each other's presence was...well...it moved her.

She laughed out loud when he asked her if the patronus had actually made her blush. It was a much lighter, freer laugh than the one she made at a dirty joke, sarcastic comment or witty anecdote. A warm, closed-mouth smile remained on her lips as the laughter slowed. "You would like that, wouldn't you? Well, I will say that I was a bit shocked. Of course, I knew that only you would pull off such a ...bold invitation. You knew that the patronus could be seen by everyone, as well as my revulsion or elation by the proposal. Again, I am amazed by the confidence you have in your own abilities. Tell me, is there anything you think you could not do well?," she said, raising an eyebrow. Her tone was a tad sarcastic, giving the impressions that she was not completely joking, but hinted that she was trying to call Zee on his arrogance once again. Wyst let the words hang in the air for a moment, wanting him to perhaps try and (for once) see himself in at least a somewhat objective sense. She took a few large steps forward, so that now she was very much in Zane's personal space. The tips of their toes nearly touched.

"I think the ball will be a most interesting occasion. I'll expect at least one dance, since you are my date. But be warned, I don't know too many," she said, leaning in a bit. She was close, very close. She took a a sharp breath, realizing her proximity to Zane and then turned and jumped down onto the floor gracefully, smirking as her back was turned.

"I'll see you then," Wyst said turning to face Zane for a moment before walking out the Tower door and heading down the stairs. In all her seriousness, with her worries and stresses, she could not stop the grin that was plastered on her face from the moment she left the Tower to the time she was finally able to sleep.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Zee's grin widened as her clear laughter rang in his ears. Such a sweet sound really. At the end of her disclosure on his confidence he shrugged nonchalantly as if he couldn't immediately think of anything he could not do well. He then thought of the night not so long ago when he'd flown a broom for the first time and managed to get himself through a fifth floor window. Almost. He considered telling her of his ineptitude with flight but then she stepped closer.

"Of course. I believe I may safely guarantee you shall have more time than the duration of a single dance spent in my arms."

She was so close now. Zee could feel her breath, could see her sparkling green eyes so clearly. That wonderful scent of jasmine was nearly overwhelming, though certainly not in an unpleasant fashion. No, it was a bliss Zee could easily lose himself in. Perhaps he could let go of all pretenses and just simply exist there with her. He felt himself starting to lean forward slightly toward her . . .

And just like that, the spell was broken. She stepped down away from him, bid him goodnight, and was gone. Zee stood transfixed, unable to take his eyes from the empty doorway. He did plan on enjoying the Masque, and did not find doing so a difficult prospect to imagine. The smile that persisted unknown to him on Wysteria's face was not however shared by the Slytherin. With the question of whether she would accept answered and with the loss of her presence, Zee suddenly had no defense against the hurricane of doubt, confusion, and pain that swept over him.

Why did he feel this way? Why had he become repulsed suddenly by the idea of Dylan's suffering? Why had he felt it necessary to ensure that Dylan was cared for? Why had it all been triggered by Dylan's memories of D'rorah reminding him of his his own with Wyst? And why in the bloody hell did it hurt so unbelievably badly? Zee slid down into a sitting position with his back against the wall. He brought his knees up close to his chest and wraped his arms around them. Then he did something he had not done for a long, long time.

There at the top of the tallest tower of the castle, Zane Lucifer Bishop wept alone.