A hand shot out to grab her wrist, so fast that Irene almost let out a yelp. She certainly jumped, but remained where she was as she looked down at Mr. Iago’s figure. The laugh that he let out cut to her heart but his response hit something raw and exposed. She even felt the reflex hit her to flinch away, because something told her she knew exactly what he was referring to; the type of pain that plagued her dreams, because wasn’t he the one who had taken it away? She couldn’t remember; her memories were foggy at best, and her magic seemed to reflect that which was taken from her. Things went off randomly around her flat, the tea kettle whistling at all hours of the night, the pipes banging like there was a poltergeist hiding in them.
But nothing happened in her flat when she was away; it was only when she was present that everything seemed to come alive, as if urging her to feel something so they didn’t have to.
So when she had the acute feeling that she knew exactly the kind of pain he might be feeling, Irene listened to that and held onto it. “An interesting time to be speaking in riddles, Mr. Iago.” She remarked before covering his hand, still gripping tightly to her wrist, with her own. With her free hand she settled it on his back. “I think we should get you somewhere else, sir. This is hardly the place to be breaking down.” The words came out neutral, as if commenting on the color of his cravat or cuff links. She managed to get her wrist away from his grip and put one arm under his to help him up. “This might sting. But don’t resist.” She said before turning on the spot to apparate back to her flat.
But nothing happened in her flat when she was away; it was only when she was present that everything seemed to come alive, as if urging her to feel something so they didn’t have to.
So when she had the acute feeling that she knew exactly the kind of pain he might be feeling, Irene listened to that and held onto it. “An interesting time to be speaking in riddles, Mr. Iago.” She remarked before covering his hand, still gripping tightly to her wrist, with her own. With her free hand she settled it on his back. “I think we should get you somewhere else, sir. This is hardly the place to be breaking down.” The words came out neutral, as if commenting on the color of his cravat or cuff links. She managed to get her wrist away from his grip and put one arm under his to help him up. “This might sting. But don’t resist.” She said before turning on the spot to apparate back to her flat.
![[Image: 9EDhNw4.png]](https://i.imgur.com/9EDhNw4.png)