Behind Bars [MAX]

[Rowena Jones]

This was a joke. Laughable. The whole situation was completely ridiculous. Her, Rowena, in a bloody holding cell. What a bloody nightmare. She should have known this would happen. When in all of this past year had anything gone her way?

She’d have thought that trying to save the lives of the people she cared for would be met with a little bit more gratitude but so far all it had done was cost her her relationship with Max and now her entire reputation was thoroughly ruined. Rowena, healing prodigy, youngest head of a Mungo’s department in known history was now locked up like a common prisoner. Then again, Rowena supposed that reputation didn’t really matter too much when you were going to be dead in a few months… Nevertheless, the whole situation pissed her off.

She’d only wanted to ensure the Stone would be where she needed it to be… she really couldn’t trust that the narrow-mindedness of the Ministry would understand the utter importance of its presence on the battlefield. And she’d had it too. She’d gotten the stone and then Max’s newest re-acquaintance had messed it all up. Her wild magic flared at that recent memory. Rowena still couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe Max would associate himself with Simone Rosier again after all that he’d told her. And when she got out of this awful room, she’d let him know exactly what she thought about that particular development.

Rowena huffed, her hand reaching for the wand that she no longer hand once again. Of course, they’d taken her wand. Her hand felt empty without it. What did they think she was going to do? She wasn’t an evil wizard, she wasn’t hurting anyone. Damnit, she just wanted to save them all. How could she do that if they locked her up?

And she’d been here for hours now. Hours. What a waste of precious time. She’d grown impatient enough that she tried to direct all that wild magic into unlocking the door. The loud shrieking alarm had ruined any concentration needed to direct that uncontrollable power of hers and the aurors who had rushed to her door had put a quick stop to her attempt at escape.

Apparently, their patience with her had run out; her shoulder was still throbbing from the stinging hex they’d thrown her way when they’d seen what she was trying to do. So here she was, standing in the middle of the room they’d locked her in, arms crossed, glaring at the locked door. Surely someone was going to come soon. They couldn’t leave her here to rot… Merlin, would they? No! Rowena wasn't about to let them just forget about her.

"Hello! Is there anyone in this idiotic institution who will tell me what is going on?! In case people didn't realise it, there's a Dark Witch going around killing people. How am I supposed to stop that when you've locked me in this dingy and frankly dirty room?!"

[Max Kameren]

The stale office air of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement seemed to vibrate with tension after the day’s events; a woman had broken in and attempted to steal a massively powerful weapon, only to be stopped by a young auror and a hero psychologist who had happened to be passing through the bullpen at the time.

Memorable news in itself, but it was with the extra details that the story really got the Rumor Mill churning in the late afternoon. Names and faces were put to the story; context was given by their relationships. The intruder was Rowena Covington, the girl plagued by the Shadowloved. The girl Max Kameren was obsessed with. She was caught stealing the Stone, made of Max Kameren’s soul. She was caught red-handed by Simone Rosier, who had her own sordid history with Max Kameren.

Then again in the afternoon she had tried to escape again and was unsuccessful. There were only so many times his name could be spoken before the whispers rippled to his ears.

Even in his exile it only took hours before Max had heard the whole story: Rowena had tried to steal the Stone from the heart of the Auror Department at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. They’d discussed it, Max felt he had conveyed thoroughly enough what the Stone took from him. He thought he’d told her enough how much she meant to him. What needed to happen for him to feel comfortable letting her handle it. She flouted his conditions and instead went behind his back to take it while he was gone. He never thought he’d say it, but he was glad Simone was there to catch her.

As the lift rose to Level Two the Department seemed to burn like a ray of direct sunlight had been cast upon it. When he’d heard the news Max had left immediately, suspension be damned. He’d been banned from apparating to the Ministry and their apartment had been taken off the Floo Network, so he used the Muggle World Entrance. Eyes followed his lanky form as he stalked through the Atrium but he glowered forward, mind set on his destination. The doors opened and he turned immediately for the Cell Hall, leaving dimmed lights and a humid atmosphere in his wake.

"Hello! Is there anyone in this idiotic institution who will tell me what is going on?! In case people didn't realise it, there's a Dark Witch going around killing people. How am I supposed to stop that when you've locked me in this dingy and frankly dirty room?!"

The duo of pudgy Hitwizards had pulled the short straws to watch Ms. Covington’s cell after her escape, flanking the doorway to the Cell Hall. Her previous attack in an attempt to escape had merely rattled the bars. Silently they shared a look before their quiet guard was thrown into chaos again.

“Ms. Covington, please – “ The Left Guard started, but was briskly cut off by a sharp shoulder brushing past him and the jerk of his partner pushing him into action. “Kameren! You’re not supposed to be here, you’re suspen – “

“Have you COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?!” Max roared. He flew past the hitwizards as if he didn’t see them, his gaze fixated upon his target. Max came to a stop in front of Rowena’s cell, green eyes flashing only for a moment in concern she was injured before reigniting with fury. He glared down at Rowena and leaned tall over her against the bars, chest rising and falling with his burning temper. “Breaking into the Auror Offices! You idiot! They could have killed you!”

[Rowena Jones]

“Have you COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?!”

Oh fantastic. Just wonderful. There was no mistaking that angry voice... Wasn’t her ex supposed to be banned from the Ministry? She’d chosen to take the Stone today for that very reason… but it seemed that the day was determined to just get steadily worse.

“My mind is perfectly fine thanks… unlike yours apparently,” Rowena muttered under her breath as she prepared herself for the telling off she was sure to come. She shot an exasperated look over Max’s shoulder at the two hitwizards who were supposed to be guarding her. Fat lot of good they were doing… what if it had been Warghollow or one of sister’s other followers come to actually hurt her while she was helpless and stuck in this stupid room. Then again, looking at Max’s expression, he might actually hurt her.

“Breaking into the Auror Offices! You idiot! They could have killed you!”

Oh. Was that all he was worried about? She scoffed. The man sure knew how to exaggerate. “Oh! Don’t be ridiculous Max,” Rowena huffed dismissing his concern with a nonchalant wave of her hand. She hissed as her shoulder protested at the movement, muttering in anger under her breath at trigger happy aurors as she massaged the injured area. So maybe he wasn't completely exaggerating... but come on.. kill her? The Ministry was entirely too good to be shooting off killing curses willy nilly. It was precisely why she'd never come to them with her plan- they would never allow the necessary sacrifices. Sometimes you had to go around the Law. She'd have thought Max would understand that a little better, but the Stone had continuously been a sore subject between them. 

However, now that Max was here perhaps she could finally leave this hellhole and return to more important things… like figuring out how to get the Stone in the correct place at the correct time. She highly doubted she’d be able to get it now that she’d failed so spectacularly this time.

“Can you get me out of here now? It’s your fault I’m here after all.” She said matter of factly. He had after all refused to give her the Stone in the first place which had led her to taking it for herself… and then he’d gone and sent bloody Simone Rosier to his office which had completely distracted her. Speaking of…

“I suppose I should thank Simone for your presence… though sounds like you’re doing plenty enough thanking her of your own…” Rowena scowled her arms crossing across her chest once more as she glared up at Max. Ok, so maybe she was still more than a little pissed off about that particular situation.

[Max Kameren]

“Breaking into the Auror Offices! You idiot! They could have killed you!” Rowena scoffed and Max’s knuckles tightened on the bars between them, setting his jaw to prepare for her heedlessness. Rowena seemed to think she was some kind of epic hero, invulnerable to attack and immune to consequences. She wasn’t and her foolishness in the Ministry was the last straw.

“Oh! Don’t be ridiculous Max,” His stony face was unmoved by her act, his eyes cold as she tensed. He could tell it was just a tweak of her shoulder from the battle. He felt slightly guilty at the little twist of schadenfreude he felt. She deserved it, after the mess she’d made. “Can you get me out of here now? It’s your fault I’m here after all.” She said matter of factly. Now it was Max’s turn to scoff. The audacity of her to make demands of him after what she’d just pulled! Max anger roiled into a bark of incredulous laughter.

“No, Rowena! I can’t get you out, I have as much power at the Ministry as you do! You should have thought about that before you put yourself in this situation.” Max shook his head, pushing himself off the bars of her cell and crossing his arms. “And this isn’t my fault. This is exactly how you’ve always wanted it: entirely your problem. Now do you want help or not? I’m sure the Ministry would be more lenient if you were willing to provide actual information for a change.”

Max hoped in the ensuing pause of tense silence between them Rowena was thinking about his offer. There was very little weight Max could put on the scales to keep his ex out of trouble. Hell, he could barely protect himself from the Ministry’s influence at the moment, pinning his hopes on Alex’s knowledge of his father’s wishes to keep him out of protective custody. The least Rowena could do was take measures to protect herself.

“I suppose I should thank Simone for your presence… though sounds like you’re doing plenty enough thanking her of your own…”

That was not the reply Max was expecting. “Oh my God. You’re completely impossible!” He threw his hands up in exasperation, running them through his thick hair and turning away from his ex. The lights fluctuated in dimness as Max transitioned rapidly between surprise and anger. He felt the guards at the door shift uneasily, unsure of both the danger of letting the former couple talk to each other and uncomfortable with the extreme personal nature of their discussion.

Max didn’t want this. He didn’t want more anyone at the Ministry to know any more about him than they already did. He didn’t want to be here risking more punishment from the Ministry, but the reaction Rowena brought out of him caused him to act rashly. And despite what conclusions Rowena may have drawn from her minutes-long interaction with her, Max did not want Simone either. A sigh meant to calm him came out in a ragged huff as Max turned back around to face his ex.

“First off,” Max’s eyes darted to the awkward hitwizards, stepping in closer and speaking lower to keep the conversation between Max and Rowena, “you left me. What I do now is none of your business. Second, Simone works with me. She was helping me get materials I needed during my suspension. Third: I’m glad to know where your thoughts are on my self-control, that’s great. Thanks Ro.” He rolled his eyes, turning with his back to her leaning against the bars. He didn’t have time for petty talk like this. Rowena needed to see sense before Ministry Officials came in and dragged him out by the scruff of his neck.

[Rowena Jones]

“No, Rowena! I can’t get you out, I have as much power at the Ministry as you do! You should have thought about that before you put yourself in this situation.”

The witch huffed and turned to face the walls of her cell. Why had he bothered coming here at all then if there was nothing he could do?

“And this isn’t my fault. This is exactly how you’ve always wanted it: entirely your problem. Now do you want help or not? I’m sure the Ministry would be more lenient if you were willing to provide actual information for a change.”

Rowena scowled at the wall in answer to that suggestion. He couldn’t be serious. She could see exactly how that would play out.

‘My crazy evil sister is planning on opening a gate to release a whole new level of power and use it to eradicate those who oppose her. But to do that she needs all three relics and if they’re in the Ministry, she’ll just kill anyone who is in her way, so you know I was actually doing you a favour in removing it because we also need them to stop her and destroy the gate completely… and my magic is the only thing powerful enough to direct the energies that will be at play. But to stop her, I’m going to have to channel so much that it will actually kill me because no body should hold that much. Sound good?
And before you ask, no I don’t know where the Gate is… and I can’t find it while you have me locked up in here… How was I going to be there you may ask? I was assuming that like the relics, she will ensure I am there when the time comes.’

Yes, Rowena could really see how that would go down with the Ministry officials. And Max. Max who was still so adamant that they could do this without further sacrifice. She’d been hopeful that she’d be able to keep Max away from the battlefield, she didn’t want him to see the destruction the magic would wreck on her body, didn’t want that image to be the last thing he saw of her… but now that her sister knew the truth of who he was, there was no way he’d be left behind. He was needed, as much as she was. Fate, destiny, coincidence… whatever you wanted to call it, they were tied together until the end.

So no, she would not be confiding in the Ministry, not when she suspected that it would end up in her being sequestered away to ensure she did not get as involved as she needed to be. The day was coming, Rowena could feel it. The pieces were coming together and the Dark Lady would not let the Ministry withhold them from her. Enough people had died around her already, Rowena had no intention of letting more innocents perish as they tried to keep her from the fight.

Which brought her to the second item of annoyance. She wouldn’t be in this situation at all if Max had been able to keep himself far far away from his ex, Simone. Just the name had her anger returning to her in a rush and she turned to face Max. If he wasn’t going to help her, then she’d use the occasion to let him know exactly what she thought of his recent actions.

“I suppose I should thank Simone for your presence… though sounds like you’re doing plenty enough thanking her of your own…”

“Oh my God. You’re completely impossible!” Rowena smirked in acknowledgement. It was always good to know that she could frustrate him as much as he did her. She waited as his emotions played out blatantly for her and their audience to see, intrigued to see how he would answer her accusation.

“First off, you left me. What I do now is none of your business.”

At that, Rowena’s eyes narrowed angrily. It was a sore point of contention between them, at least in her mind. She’d said the words, but he’d been the one who had walked out on her with no hesitation, missing the moment where she’d broken down and taken it all back. While she was glad that he’d not been there to see it, knowing now that their relationship would never have survived while they stood on such opposite sides of the solution, he’d still technically been the one to leave. And he’d definitely been the one to leave that morning after the Ambush. But of course Max didn’t see it that way, which is why he liked to hold it over her every bloody time they fought.

“Second, Simone works with me. She was helping me get materials I needed during my suspension.”

Rowena couldn’t help the snort of disbelief at that. Did Max really believe that that woman was satisfied with just working with him? Rowena didn’t even know her that well, but the small details she had gleaned from her past with Max and their brief encounter made it abundantly clear in Ro’s mind that Simone was not the kind of woman to help Max out of the goodness of her heart.

“Third: I’m glad to know where your thoughts are on my self-control, that’s great. Thanks Ro.”

Merlin, why were men so sensitive? Rowena realised she could answer one of two ways in this situation, choose to calm things down but fuck it, she was stuck in a cell and she was on edge and Max was just bringing all that anxiety out. A small voice told her this might be the last time she saw him, the last chance they’d have to talk before the battle that ended everything, but she was past the point of caring. Max had come in here all self-righteous and accusing and she was not about to let him make her feel small.

“First,” she mocked, “When you left my bed only a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t realize you were making a habit of reconnecting with all your exes. Should we be expecting Carol any time soon too?” She deliberately raised her voice as she mentioned their last encounter. It was childish but Max wanting to keep their conversation private only made her want to negate his attempts at keeping it so.

“Second, whatever it is that you two are doing, I can guarantee that she wants a hell of lot more than just work. And don’t give me that bullshit because I’m sure you could have found someone, anyone else to help you. Third, I have no concerns about your self-control Max… your intelligence on the other hand. I mean, there must be something wrong with it for you to even entertain bringing that woman back in your life after what she did!”

It hurt, Rowena could admit that to herself. She knew Max wouldn’t ever truly forgive her for the choices that she’d made, that even after death, a small part of him would probably resent her for choosing that path. To know that he was willingly spending time with Simone… it stung.

[Max Kameren]

“First,” she mocked. Max scoffed and shook his head with his back still to her against the bars, muscles along his spine only tightening with a chill when she continued louder: “When you left my bed only a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t realize you were making a habit of reconnecting with all your exes. Should we be expecting Carol any time soon too?”

She’d gotten his attention. Max pushed off the bars and faced her, green eyes glowering with dull irritation. He was notoriously unforthcoming in relationships, but the one vulnerability he had really expressed to Rowena was his problems in past relationships. But he and Carol were friends actually. She was married now with two kids, whom he actually watched for her from time to time. He never told Rowena that.

He never told Rowena a lot of things, foremost his fear of the Ministry and what they could do to him if they had power over him. Of his father’s warnings of how they would use his abilities. How those warnings were proven right upon his death, when the Ministry tried to pressure them into “donating” his father’s body and later trying to exhume it against their wishes.

He couldn’t tell her how scared he was now, how he wanted to keep himself as separate from the Ministry as possible for fear of losing everything.

“Second, whatever it is that you two are doing, I can guarantee that she wants a hell of lot more than just work. And don’t give me that bullshit because I’m sure you could have found someone, anyone else to help you. Third, I have no concerns about your self-control Max… your intelligence on the other hand. I mean, there must be something wrong with it for you to even entertain bringing that woman back in your life after what she did.”

Through her tirade Max let out a long, pained, frustrated sigh. He covered his face in his hands, squeezing his eyes closed to blot the sight of her out of the gap in his fingers. She didn’t understand. He needed allies. Even a fake friend was another aura that would give him warning if the Ministry proved to be as two-faced as they had been with his family in the past. Besides, Simone used him for years. Wasn’t he owed the chance to use her for once?

It was too complicated to explain now and too risky to talk about with her guards listening. Rowena’s anxiety was amplifying his and her jealousy spun in his head and felt sour on his lips, running his patience thin. Instead Max fell back into their old mainstay: tedious bickering. “Where is this jealousy coming from? You know how I feel about you. Yours is the last bed I’ve been in, I promise.” Max let his hands fall and cocked his head mischief in his sharp green eyes. He felt the guards’ ears prick with morbid interest and his voice rose, now more preoccupied with bothering Rowena than his original need for privacy. “Is it that we work together? If working with women I’ve slept with bothers you we’re going to have to have a long talk about St. Mungo’s...”