It was when he caught his eyes in the mirror that he paused, his Adam's apple bobbing once as he swallowed hard.
Coming had been a grave mistake. Audrey, she'd not pick up on it, but Char? One look into his silvery-blue eyes and she would know. Instantly.
He took a few hasty steps backwards, the loud clack of the heel of his dress shoe on the marble floor a thunderclap in his ears.
"Does Sir need assistance?" the House Elf squeaked.
Whipping his head, he glowered down at the creature for a heartbeat before he took a deep breath.
"No. No. In fact...you can go," he said with a wave of his hand, "I know my own way."
The House Elf gave a bobbing curtsey before scurrying off to attend to other matters leaving Elphais alone. Sweat broke on his brow as the footsteps of the House Elf faded, his mirror image paling as he did. What had possessed him to come? What had possessed him, having run into Audrey in Diagon, to accept her gracious offer and come for dinner?
Swallowing became difficult as he took another faltering step backwards and found support from the mahagony paneling behind him, the subtle patterns biting into his flesh through his dark grey robes. He fancied that the mark in his arm was pulsating, growing. The pain etching itself deeper into him, into his soul. A keening whimper escaped his throat, his hand slapping over the still fresh mark, pressing the material of his robes hard to it.
The sound of wood and skull resounded as his head fell backwards, his eyes screwing tightly shut as he tried to draw a deep breath, hyperventilation reducing his ability to do so. He realized, moments before slumping to the ground, that passing out was a likelihood.




