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Part Three / Chapter Seventy-Three
Venus never liked the Beach, especially Sand. Those small grains of earth stood with you forever. Engraining themselves into your hands, feet, legs, ears, under your fingernails and time after time you'd catch a grain of it in your eye. The salt of the ocean stung her nose and burned her eyes, and the bright rays of the sun didn't leave a blanket of warmth over her like it did during Summer days. But, as Venus sat at the shore of Shell Cottage, those little things that always bothered her couldn't catch a reaction as she sat beside the body of her best friend.
She didn't let Bill carry her in, she didn't let anyone touch her. Eventually, they all left her to herself out on the shore. Harry kept watch from the window every chance he could, always glancing back every second, but the scene didn't change. Venus sat there numbly staring out into the day's sky. So vibrant and blue on a less than giddy day.
Venus stared at the sun. It gave light but no heat as sharp winds brought shivers up and down her spine. Although, Venus didn't move— not an inch. Limp from head to toe, unable to decipher how she was still alive and Constance wasn't. How could that be?
The most dreadful thing anyone could think of crept into the back of her mind, crawling all over until it was the only thing Venus could think of: She should have died with her.
It was a horrid thought, but an honest one at that.
She kneeled forward, letting her hair fall into the sand. Rocking herself back and for the with her arms clutching her waist, Venus closed her eyes. Focused on her breathing, the wind began to circle around her keeping her in the middle like she was stuck in the eye of a hurricane.
"I'm really trying hard not to cry right now," Venus sighed, pausing to take a deep breathe before speaking again. "But you're making it really fucking hard not to."
She stopped talking after hearing her voice crack due to an oncoming sob. Her eyes carried salt from the ocean, two droplets fell from her eyes and down her cheeks into the sides of her mouth where she could taste it.
Even with the absence of her powers, Venus felt an energy wrapping itself around her. It didn't feel like an angel, nor was it malevolent. Whilst trying to process what it was, Venus realized she'd stopped crying. Even lifeless, Constance had that same energy springing from her fingertips. Venus let go and finally stood up from the ground.
She nearly toppled back down because of how numb her legs were. Just as she caught herself, a vicious wind threatened to toss her back on the ground. Sand flew mindlessly around her, quickly taking her arm to cover her eyes, Venus turned away to walk back to Bill and Fleur's home.
It was a cute two story cottage that overlooked the sea, its walls embedded with shells and whitewashed. Venus would have enjoyed the view better if it weren't for the Angel that popped up in front of it, wielding their wand at her. She successfully ducked out of the way, but the Angel had a power advantage.
