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star-dust-stuf · 8 months ago

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Theseus/Newt Scamander x fem!reader

title: makes you wanna lose your mind

warnings: descriptions of torture, angst

a/n: so basically this is like a throw off from hp part 1. it's super dramatic, it's romantic too. I just loved the entire setting of part 1 so I wanted it with Theseus and Newt also dumbledore is the readers father. sorry for typos.

It was very cold outside of the tent and I didn't know why Theseus would want to be out there at all, his nose was red, and his cheeks were too. I walked behind him as his hands rested in his warm pockets and his shoes where soaking in the snow.

"It's cold." I say, standing next to him, he was a lot taller than me.

He looked down at me and sighs. "It's refreshing."

"You're not still fighting with Newt, are you. I know it's hard being with each other for so long, you're not used to it."

Theseus chuckles and looked to his shoes, "he's my baby brother, of course I'm not still mad at him. But maybe we should go back in the tent, yeah?"

I nod a little, he gently led me back. Of course, the tent was bigger on the inside, my father gave me undetectable magic, knowing what kind of danger we'd be in. Newt didn't have his case with him, Dumbledore kept it in case anything bad is to happen.

Newts coat was off, he took off his tie and looked at the both of us. "I think we should rest. We can't stay here forever, or the Death Eaters will catch up to us."

Theseus looked at me before nodding and headed to one of the beds. I couldn't shake a bad feeling, like I needed to go back outside the tent. "What is it?" Newt asks.

"I don't know, somethings wrong." I reply, I wasn't lying, and they both knew that.

They both withdrew their wands and headed outside the tent where I followed too, my wand at my side. It wasn't too dark, the moon reflecting off the snow made the woods really bright, bright enough for us to see.

"Revelio..." Newt muttered, his wand lit up gently with a soft glow.

Theseus saw as the three Death Eaters appeared. All in black and masked, tall and left a trail of emptiness in their presence.

I tried to perform a protective spell as so did Newt and Theseus, but the Death Eaters were quick to act. Our wands flew out of our hands, and with another flick of their wands we all fell to the floor in the cold snow.

The Death Eaters all retrained us as another figure walked towards us, his blonde hair became more visible, his blue eyes glimmers in the little light. He stood over us... It was Abraxas Malfoy. He smiled slightly.

"You know what to do, come don't waste time."

The Death Eaters Apparated us, to where the snow wasn't as heavy, and the sky was gray, there was a large black gate and a larger manor behind it. It was black, and Abraxas led us inside, his smile mainly on me.

Newt was looking all around him, he didn't know what to do, nor did Theseus when Abraxas used a spell to keep me on the floor.

Theseus and Newt were hand bound by the chains the Death Eaters put on them. Abraxas Malfoy looked down at me, in the middle of the floor in ahis Manor. He was talking. His wand pointing to me as he glanced at Newt and Theseus.

"Oh dear, oh dear. She's so very beautiful, isn't she?" Abraxas spoke deeply.

Theseus struggled against the chains, "don't touch her!"

Abraxas smiled at him. "Now don't you think you can tell me exactly what to do?"

Newt was just as angry, but he was nervous. His voice shook. "She's innocent, she didn't break into your vault. She-."

Abraxas cut him off. "Ohh. But she did. And I know this because when I knew you three where after me, I took precaution. You were looking for the pendant necklace, and you found it didn't you?"

Abraxas moved the hair from my face with his wand as he crouched over me. His voice was soft as he looked down at me. Tears running down the sides of my temples, the black floor illuminated the moonlight from the windows. Abraxas looked down at me and smiled. "We must learn to not steal."

Theseus struggled, he grunted. "Stop!" Abraxas ignored him, he held his wand more firmly at me. Theseus yelled, "NO!"

Newt shouted after him. "No please don't hurt her... don't hurt her!"

Abraxas casted a dirty spell, "please-!" I gasped and screamed as his wand illuminated a soft green glow.

Theseus couldn't help but continue to struggle, couldn't bear to hear it. I struggled against the spell, and I continued to scream. Newt was trying to stay calm as Piget was slowly picking the cuffs chains lock.

Abraxas smirked. "You're a lying witch that deserves to know what you are!"

He continues, the noise loudly echoed all along his manor, Theseus was watching the entire thing unfold as the spell continues to cause pain to my body, my insides burning.

Theseus wanted to do something, he felt useless watching me. Abraxas stopped the spell, he looked towards Theseus. Theseus saw the sadness and pain on my face which made his twist in anger. Abraxas grabbed his jaw causing him to grunt. "Who will save her now?"

Newts chains fell to the black wooden floor. He snatched his wand from the Death Eater and casted a spell to push the two of them back. He did another to unlock his brother's bounded hands and readied his wand against Abraxas.

Theseus and Newt fought against Abraxas and the Death Eaters that entered the room. Theseus wanted to get to me before anyone else could hurt me further. Newt shouted. "YOUR TIE- ITS A PORTKEY!"

Theseus pulled me up, waving his wand over and over till he reached Newt who grabbed his tie and we apparated from the manor. We landed in Hogsmeade where Albus, my father was staying.

Albus knew something was wrong and rushed to our aid as Theseus and Newt supported my weak body. "Aberforth, get hot water!"

His brother ran behind the counter. Albus lied me down gently Newt and Theseus standing above me, Theseus' hands were dirty from getting on the floor to rescue me, some black dust covered his cheeks and his neck, his eyes wet and red.

Aberforth got a bowl of hot water and a cloth, Albus soaked and rung it out before wiping my forehead. "I know she's been in a deep amount of pain."

Newt spoke, shaken up. "Abraxas- used the cruciatus curse on her."

Albus looked at me, sighing. He rubbed my forehead gently. "She'll be alright."

Theseus held my hand slowly. "Why her? She wasn't the one to get into his vault, to steal the pendant."

Albus spoke, "yes, but she's the one who had it in her pocket. She kept it there and he knew that."

I cried loudly as my father wiped my forehead again, my body consorted in pain. Albus gently shooshed me as Theseus pet my hair gently to keep me calm. Newt spoke. "The pain will fade soon enough."

Albus sighed and stood, looking at Newt. "I told you whatever you do, do not get caught and you did exactly what i told you not to. I told you to go to his vault." Newt looked to me and back at Albus. "You put my daughter in danger."

Theseus stood up, "it was my fault, I told her to hold onto it. That it would be safer with her."

Newt spoke, "w-we can leave her here with you-."

Albus shook his head, wiping his hands with a dry cloth. "No, it's crucial you bring her. You two are... Vincible without her" Newt looked at me before looking back at Albus. "Shes exhausted and you two are as well. My brother will take you to a room, I'll get her to a room and stay with her-."

Theseus cut him off. "I can sit with her."

Albus smiles slightly, "alright. Now if you are to require anything, my brother is here."

Newt watched as Albus gave me a gentle kiss on my forehead before leaving. His brother Aberforth gently picked me up, and up the stairs. He got me to a room and lied me in a bed before covering my body with the blanket. Theseus sat in the chair next to me and stayed.

Once Aberforth left, Newt came in, the only light was the fireplace going in the room. "She'll be fine, Theseus."

Theseus nods a little, smiling, relived I made it back. "She didn't deserve what we got ourselves into. She didn't deserve to endure that pain."

Newt looked at me, sleeping in the bed, my eyes puffy from crying. "She's strong, and I think you need to give her credit for that."

Theseus watched me calmly, not planning on leaving my side. Newt smiled a little before leaving the room and closing the door. The next morning, I woke up, Theseus who was half asleep on the chair beside the bed did as well.

"You're alright." He tried comfort me; he leaned forward and rubbed my back.

"My stomach-."

He sighs. "I'll get Newt to help with the pain." He gently put his hand on the side of my face. "It's going to be okay."

I nodded a little. After some time, I found strength to get up and go down the stairs, my uncle Aberforth was braiding my long hair gently, as Newt took care of the pain I felt in my body. There was some snow outside, Hogsmeade was always so beautiful during winter, and I forgot all about it.

Theseus was talking with Albus. "If you take her back out there, I'll be sending you three with undetectable magic. The Ministry won't see it being used."

Theseus nods slowly, he looked at Newt doing magic on my arm. Theseus looked at Albus, "I'll keep your daughter safe. I promise."

Albus smiles softly, "she's strong. But not without the two of you."

Newt looked at Albus and smiled slightly. My uncle finished braiding my hair his hands were far gentler than his face. Albus helped me stand up and he cupped my face, "if you ever need me... I'll be there."

Albus looked at Newt, "oh. And one more thing." With the flick of his wand Newts case appears in his own hand.

Newt smiles slightly, "thank you."

Albus smiles. "Use those creatures to your advantage." I hugged my uncle; I was going to miss him as much as my father. And then I walked to Theseus and Newt, they both saw how tired I was. "And use that portkey, only if needed. Now the Death Eaters know that you three are still alive. And they won't stop till your dead."

#x reader #fluff #x fem!reader #harry potter #fantastic beasts #theseus scamander #newt scamander #theseus scamander x reader #newt scamander x reader

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iridecsense · 4 months ago

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nepenthe - m.

⊰ 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 ⊱

──── ⋅ ⍤ ⋅⊰⋅∘ 〄 ∘⋅⊱⋅ ⍤ ⋅ ────

⤷ summary: Proceeding the encounter with Grindelwald in Paris, Newt goes seaward on a secret mission for Dumbledore when his ship is caught in a storm...

✧ word count: 11.1k ✧ pairing: newt scamander | siren!reader ✧ genre: romance, slow burn, angst, adventure ✧ warnings: depictions of violence and death ✧ author’s note: Who updates after nearly five years? Me. I do. Anywayy, feel free to comment or send me feedback via my ask box, I love hearing from you all. Hopefully, it will encourage me to finish this series. That being said, I hope you enjoy!

──── ⋅ ⍤ ⋅⊰⋅∘ 〄 ∘⋅⊱⋅ ⍤ ⋅ ────

Newt was no stranger to the sea. He had spent years aboard ships, exploring the world, and from it, he found the ocean more fascinating than anything else on Earth. It was a vast expansion of salty water that covered seventy percent of the Earth and was home to more than half of its creatures—most of which have yet to be discovered, a feat that both challenged and excited him. While most feared the ocean, he embraced it. He wished that Jacob felt the same.

Jacob had a hard time adjusting to life at sea. While Newt kept his friend’s seasickness at bay, his preexisting fears still lingered. Jacob was no help when it came to sailing. He was far too clumsy and anxious to work under Uluras’s command. His talents lay elsewhere, elsewhere being the ship’s kitchen. Jacob spent most of his time down there, cooking and baking meals and treats for everyone. He wasn’t doing much cooking back in London, so Newt suspected it was therapeutic for him in more ways than one. Either way, he was glad to see Jacob active and committed.

They sailed smoothly for three days. During those days, Uluras took a liking to Newt, effectively taking him under his wing. They often shared stories, Newt telling of his adventures around the world, and Uluras proudly spoke of tales from his mother country. There were times when Newt would get him to talk about Dumbledore and their misadventures when they were both young men. Even now, on what Uluras revealed to be their last night aboard the ship, they all sat on deck eating the supper Jacob and Niris prepared, sharing entertaining stories of how they spent their time in school. Newt stayed quiet for the most part, content with listening to Uluras’s tall tales and Niris’s troublemaking.

Under the night sky, the sea glittered and shined. It was calm; the water gently lapped at the sides of the ship, and, if you listened closely, you could hear the fin whales singing in the distance. It was a peaceful night, the most peaceful night they had while on board. Newt sat in comfortable silence as the others laughed heartily at a story Niris had concluded telling. They finished their meals and turned to drink, a sweet rice wine to fill their stomachs. Newt disliked the alcoholic drink, as he did all alcoholic drinks, but he still sipped the contents of his mug every so often to blend in.

It wasn’t long before everyone grew tired. They had a long day ahead of them and would need all the sleep they could get. Niris was the first to retire to his nook. Jacob followed soon after, taking the mugs and plates back into the kitchen, claiming he would deal with them in the morning. Truthfully, Newt was rather exhausted himself. He could feel the weight of his tiredness pulling at his eyelids, but the ticking ambush of questions that relentlessly swelled in the back of his head kept him restless. Uluras had moved to the forecastle. His hand still clutched around a mug of wine as he stared up at the sky, sipping peacefully. Newt was unsure if he should disturb him.

“Yuh just gonna stand there watchin’ mi, or yuh gonna speak what’s pan yuh mind?” Uluras spoke with his back still turned.

Newt straightened his posture, flustered. He climbed up the steps and onto the deck to stand at Uluras’s side. The wind moaned lowly around them. Uluras kept his gaze forward, barely acknowledging Newt’s presence. Newt, feeling displaced, did the same. He looked at the night horizon, watching the bow of the ship cut through the waves with ease. “I was thinking about tomorrow,” Newt confessed after a brief silence. “I’m still unsure of what exactly I am to do when we reach Italy. It’s not as if Dumbledore gave me instructions.” Uluras huffed through his nose. “No need for instructions. What yuh need is a name,” he said. Newt furrowed his brows. “A name?” Uluras turned towards Newt. “In the mornin’, ‘round noon, we will dock in Naples. There yuh must find a woman named Reinette.”

“Reinette?” Newt repeated. “Who’s Reinette?”

“She is a talented witch with the gift of seeing. Her gift has given her the advantage of knowin’ many things. When yuh get there, yuh must find her.”

“How do you suppose I do that?”

“It’s been a while, but I’m sure she hasn’t left. When I knew her well she worked in a pub. What was it called?” Uluras pursed his lips in thought, snapping his fingers as he muttered different names. “La Belladonna? No. It was Il Basalisc, I think... or maybe it was... It was somethin’ with a B.” Shaking his head, the older man sucked his teeth and sighed. “Just ask around for Reinette. I’m sure a local will be able to point yuh in the right direction. It's not like she keeps a low profile.” He rolled his eyes, turning around to walk back down the stairs. Newt wasn’t sure he understood what Uluras meant by that, but he took the new information gladly. It was better than nothing.

“You should rest, Scamander.” Newt turned on his heels to look down at Uluras on the deck. “This ting that Dumbledore’s got yuh wrapped up in...It all starts there. An’ yuh’ll be needing all the rest you can get.” Newt nodded in an unconfident manner. Uluras, having drunken himself into lethargy, disappeared into his quarters for the night, leaving Newt alone on deck. He didn’t get much sleep that night.

⁎ ⊹

⁂ ˚ ✧ ⁂

⊹ ＊

Newt lay on his cot inside his case, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought, when Jacob descended the ladder. He jumped from the ladder a few feet from the floor, landing with a thud, and turned to his friend. “Did you sleep in here?” Jacob asked. Newt shook his head. Jacob sighed, looking around the shack. His eyes caught sight of a strange creature similar to a hummingbird in the way its wings flapped incessantly, though it was double the size and had a long beak that curled into itself. It stared back at him through the window above Newt’s cot and flew away quickly after.

“I didn’t know you brought all your animals with you.”

Newt sat up in his bed. “I didn’t. Well, not all of them. Just the ones that needed my attention. Bunty’s caring for the rest back home,” said Newt. Jacob nodded, dropping the subject. “Uluras told me to come get ya. Yeah, he says that we’ll be docking soon.” Newt's eyes widened. “Is it noon already?”

“Fifteen minutes after,” Jacob told him. “Sorry I didn't come to get you sooner, but I was late waking up myself. That wine can really put you out.” He chuckled as he rubbed his aching belly. Newt stood to his feet and walked to his work station. He pulled a small black box from a drawer and opened it. Inside was an assortment of small potion bottles. Some were filled with liquid, others with herbs, and one with something that moved. Jacob scrunched his nose in disgust.

Newt picked up a couple of bottles, carefully reading the labels before finding the one he was searching for. He held it in his hand as he placed the lid back onto the box and stuffed it back into the drawer. He walked back to Jacob and held out the bottle filled with an herb that looked like plant roots. “Chew on these. They’ll help your stomach settle.” Jacob took the bottle kindly and without question. “Thanks.”

Newt flashed him a small smile before brushing past to climb up the ladder. Stepping from his case, Newt helped his friend by taking his hand and pulling him out. The two men quickly packed their things, ensuring everything was in order before ascending to the deck.

The sun hung high in the air. The call of seagulls accompanied the musicality of wind rippling the sails and waves crashing into the ship. The pesky birds circled the masts in hopes of finding food, or perhaps they just wanted someplace to rest their wings. Either way, their presence was welcomed, for it meant that land was near.

Newt and Jacob made their way to the ship’s railing. They looked ahead to see the evidence: the costal city of Naples flaunting its beautiful landscape. Jacob smiled, openly expressing his excitement. Wether he was excited to venture to a new land or because he was finally getting off the boat was unclear. Maybe it was a bit of both. When the ship finally docked, Jacob was the first to step off after giving goodbyes to Niris and Uluras.

The dock was lively with passersby. It was a trading dock meant for the import of magical goods. It was tucked away and hidden by enchantments to mask its presence on the shoreline of an abandoned beach. On the harbor, sellers peddled their goods, high in stock of all the magical goods not native to Italy.

Uluras and Niris stood at the opening to the gangway. Newt, with his head bowed, reached in his coat pocket for the pouch Dumbledore had given him, handing it to the old man. Uluras saw the gold flashing in the pouch and placed his hand over it, pushing it back into Newt’s chest. “Keep your money, Mr. Scamander,” he said. “You’ll be needing it where you’re headed.” Newt nodded. He thanked Uluras and Niris for their kindness and guidance. The young wizard descended down the gangway, joining his friend's side as he assessed his foreign surroundings. Jacob placed a hand on Newt’s shoulder. “You know what you’re doing?” Newt’s eyes flew up to Uluras, who gave him an encouraging nod. “In a way.”

Jacob turned to look back up at the ship that was already sailing back out to sea. He waved goodbye to the two men onboard. Niris waved his cap down at them and wished them luck on their journey. “Don’t forget to thank Zanj Lanmè!” Uluras yelled.

The two men waved to the angel carved onto the ship, yelling their thanks. To Newt's amusement and Jacob’s amazement, the wooden angel animated, giving them a soft smile as it waved back. His mouth fell agape as he watched the ship leave. Newt turned from the sea and pushed on, leaving behind a stunned Jacob. “Did you see that?” He asked as he rushed to catch up.

The harbor reminded Newt of Diagon Alley, though it was considerably smaller. Besides the docks and the street peddlers, there were shops, inns, and a lone pub. Alas, it was not the pub he hoped. Its name did not start with a B, nor did it have a B in it at all. Hanging above the entrance was a metal plaque that read L'amante in bronze lettering underneath an etching of a couple kissing passionately.

“Want to grab a drink?” Jacob asked upon noticing Newt's gaze set upon the building.

Newt had no interest in going inside. He wanted to find Reinette as soon as possible. He remembered Uluras’s advice from the night before to ask around. This elusive seer had evidently made a name for herself; at least, that is the impression Uluras gave him. Left on foreign terrain, with no other options, he decided that it was the best place to start. The two men veered to the pub, pushing through the salt-damaged doors.

Upon entering, they were met with lively music and thunderous cheer. Much like Newt’s case, the pub was bigger on the inside, with many open levels that gave the appearance of a tower. Despite its overawing stature, the room was filled with warmth. It was a pleasant contrast to the cold greyscale of London. The first level of the pub was colored in hues of red, orange, and yellow. Gold glimmered in unexpected and opulent places. The dark, wooded floors vibrated in reaction to the crowd of people dancing close to the stage where a live band played swing music. Scattered around the room were tables and booths, many of which were filled. Along the right side of the establishment was a bar that stretched from either side of the room. Jacob noticed it instantly and headed straight in its direction.

He took a seat on a circular stool. He blew raspberries with his lips and drummed his hands on the, frankly, sticky wood surface as he waited for a bartender. He even peeked over the counter just in case this pub was manned by a house-elf like the speakeasy Tina and Queenie had once taken them to. Newt took a seat next to him, placing his case on the floor by his feet. Not long after, a woman came up to them behind the counter. She had thick, curly brown hair braided down her back and dark olive skin. She wore an orange dress complemented by a gold apron. She grabbed a wet rag from a nook behind the counter and began swabbing the counter.

“Che cosa vuoi?” She asked, though she was not looking at them. The two men stared blankly, unable to understand. In their silence, she gave in and looked straight at them, suddenly irritated by their presence. “What do you want?” She asked again, this time in English. “Water, please,” Newt answered for the both of them, though Jacob seemed a bit displeased by it.

She immediately grabbed two clear glasses, filling them up with ice as a pitcher of water floated in the air to fill them. She handed them their respective glasses. “So you’re Englishmen?”

“He’s English. I’m American,” said Jacob. “Though my mom’s mom was Italian.” He said as a matter-of-fact and smiled awkwardly in an attempt to make small conversation. The barmaid, however, couldn’t care less. “Welcome to Napoli,” She said dryly. “What brings you here? It must be important for you to come with the travel ban and all.” The two shifted uncomfortably in their seats, like two children who had just been caught in a lie. “Do not worry,” she assured them. “I will not tell. It is not my business to share.”

Jacob relaxed a little and took a sip of his cold water. Newt was still tensed. “Well,” he began, hesitant. “We are looking for someone. I was told she works in a pub like this one. Perhaps you know her?” The woman shrugged. “Maybe I do. Do you have a name?”

“Reinette.”

She shook her head. “Dispiace. I do not recognize the name.” She said simply, and turned away to help another customer. Newt stopped her before she got too far, still hoping she could help in some way. “You don’t suppose you know anyone who might? She is a seer—”

“A seer you say?” She cut in. Newt nodded. The barmaid looked beyond the two men to a waitress waiting tables on the floor. “Azura!” She called to her. The waitress lifted her head towards the direction of the bar. The bartender waved her over. “Vieni qui per favore.” The waitress finished serving a couple seated at a table before walking over towards the three of them and standing next to Newt, a bit closer than he’d like. “Che?”

“These men are looking for a seer. You once knew a seer, no? What was her name?” The woman pursed her lips in thought. “Intendi, Reinette?”

“That’s her!” Jacob chimed in. “She said Reinette, right? You said Reinette?”

The waitress, Azura, frowned. “What do you want with Reinette?”

“We were hoping she could tell us that,” said Newt.

She sighed. “If it is a vision you want, she won’t give it to you. She hasn’t seen anyone in years.”

“Still,” Newt insisted. “We must find her. It’s important. Please.”

“Look, whoever sent you led you in the wrong direction. Reinette left for Sicily years ago. That is all I know.”

“Sicily? As in the island? As in an island a hundred miles away from here in the middle of the Mediterranean ocean?” Jacob rubbed the sides of his temple. “That’s just great.” He held his glass up to the barmaid. “I’m gonna need something a little stronger, sweetheart.” She rolled her eyes and reluctantly took his glass.

“Where in Sicily may we ask?” Newt pressed. The waitress thought to herself for a moment.

“Syracuse, I think. I can’t be sure.”

Newt nodded. “Thank you.”

“Prego.” As she left, Jacob downed his newly acquired drink. Newt stood from his seat and shifted around his coat pocket for change and placed it on the counter. Jacob put down his glass. “What, we’re leaving now?”

“Yes,” said Newt as he lifted his case from the ground and maneuvered his way out of the tavern with Jacob stumbling close behind. “Right now!”

⁎ ⊹

⁂ ˚ ✧ ⁂

⊹ ＊

After the pub, Newt took Jacob from the port into the city. According to Newt, they would have to find another boat that sailed to Sicily. Uluras and the Zanj Lanmè were long gone. They were on their own.

Italy seemed much livelier than Paris or London in Jacob’s opinion. At least in Naples, the people weren’t afraid of a bit of fun. Jacob followed behind Newt in a distracted stupor, occasionally brushing shoulders with other pedestrians and whirling his head every which-way to take in the sights. He tried his best to keep up with Newt’s long strides but was halted by a young street vendor pushing delicious-smelling pastries in his face.

“Try, you must try! Best pastries in Napoli!” The young teen pedaled.

Jacob scrunched his nose. “What is it?”

The curly-haired boy gave Jacob an over-friendly smile and spoke excitedly. “Panzerotti. It’s meat, cheese, an—”

“Yeah, give me that.” Jacob pulled out two coins and traded them with the boy. He took the pastry and continued down the street as the boy thanked him. The young boy looked down at the two American coins.

“EHI! Non puoi pagare con questo! Figlio di puttana, mi servono gli lire!”

Jacob ignored the boy's fast-spilling curses and took a pleasing bite out of his treat. He spotted Newt’s distinctive coat in a small crowd surrounding a man pedaling boat tickets. “Oh, Jacob, there you are. What’s that?”

“Panzerotti,” Jacob said with a mouth full of food. He held the wrapped pastry up to Newt. “Wanna bite?”

Newt looked down at the cheesy, meat-filled delight. “No, I don’t think so.” He turned his head towards the man selling tickets, and Jacob shrugged his shoulders.

“Poi ho i biglietti per la Sicilia, tremila lire ciascuno! Tremila lire a testa per la Sicilia!”

“That’s Sicily. Yes! Yes, here!” Newt pushed through the crowd to the front with Jacob.

“How many?” Asked the ticket pedlar.

Newt held up two fingers. “Two.”

The man held out his hand. “Six thousand lire.”

Newt tensed. Right. Muggle money. Jacob noticed Newt's hesitation. “What, you ain’t got six thousand lire?”

The peddler ignored Newt’s struggle and yelled over his head, selling more tickets. Newt fished in his coat pocket and found the pouch Dumbledore had given him. It felt lighter than it was originally. He took it out and opened it, smiling when he saw the contents inside. Conveniently, he pulled from it the aforementioned amount and currency. The man looked down and took the bills, counting them for good measure before trading the two tickets. “It leaves tonight at seven, the red steamship.”

Newt nodded and quickly thanked the man before diving back into the crowd. Jacob followed, taking a last bite of his panzerotti, crumpling the wrapping, and tossing it to the side. “So what, we just gonna stand around for seven hours?” Jacob asked Newt as he swallowed. Newt shrugged. He looked around in search of a place to set up and regroup.

Jacob sighed. “Well, we should get room or something. I’d like to sleep on a bed that doesn’t rock before I get on another ship.”

Newt and Jacob walked side by side on the street in search of an inn. As they walked, a swell of music increasingly crept closer. Not far ahead, a crowd of people dressed in various shades of blue, green, and white gathered in a large square. It was a jovial communion, as celebrants were dancing, drinking, eating, and performing various other festival-like activities. Newt found himself smiling at the children who scampered by holding hand kites, his eyes catching sight of the rag doll tucked tightly under a little girl’s shoulder—a mermaid. Jacob smiled, too. Looking around, they noticed lots of mermaid iconography decorating the square.

They strolled about the square, hoping to immerse themselves in the festivities they unknowingly integrated themselves in. A small crowd gathered off to the side, mostly children, but some adults stood towards the back and sides. The two foreign beholders kept to the background onlooking a puppet theatre. The children sat entranced on the ground as they watched the puppets. It seemed to a be a fairy tale, some version of the little mermaid. The colorful puppets depicted a prince of sorts on a beach meeting with a mermaid. The children seemed to enjoy it, especially the young girls.

Jacob turned and saw another group gathering on the opposite end of the square. There was a large circular fountain that enclosed a statue of a mermaid perched on a rock facing the sea. People amassed around and threw various things inside it, mainly coins, but also beads, flowers, and jewelry; essentially any small, pretty thing. Newt followed Jacob's eyeline to the overcrowded fountain. Jacob gently stopped a man as he walked by. “Excuse me? You speak English?” Thankfully, the man nodded. “What are they doing over there?

“They are giving offerings for la principessa sirena,” he explained enthusiastically.

“The mermaid princess.” Newt translates for Jacob.

Jacob speered at Newt from the side. “Yeah, I got that,” he said flatly.

The man smiled. “Sì, signore. Over a hundred years ago, the king of Naples, Joachim Murat, was drunkenly wandering the cliffs when he stumbled and fell into the sea. He nearly drowned but was saved by a mermaid. The king fell in love and continued to visit la sirena for years after. Soon, they produced a child: la principessa sirena.”

Jacob pursed his lips and blew a low whistle. “Lucky guy.”

The guide laughs and shakes his head. “I would not say he is so lucky,” he says. “Eventually, his queen, Napoleon Bonaparte’s little sister, discovered his adultery, and in a jealous rage, she sent for her brother to avenge her, ordering the king’s lover and child to be killed. By the time the king got wind of the assassination, it was too late. His sirena had been murdered on the very shore he had fallen for her.”

“What happened to the kid?” asked Jacob.

“It is said she was lost to the sea,” he shrugs. “However, many years later, long after the king had died, a fisherman was caught in a storm, and he was swallowed by the waves. The storm was so powerful he should have drowned. When he woke up, he was on the shore, unharmed. He returned to his village and told the townspeople he was saved by a beautiful mermaid. He believed her to be the lost princess, King Joachim’s love child. He built the sculpture in honor of her, and every year on the day he was saved, the people of Naples, Ischia, Procida, and Capri will come here with offerings for love and prosperity.”

Jacob scoffed and nudged Newt with his elbow. “Maybe we should make an offering, huh, Newt?” He jokes. Newt flushed slightly; the fleeting image of Tina swept across his mind and tugged at his heartstrings. Jacob thanked the man, and he walked away. The two men walked towards the fountain.

“What did you think of that?” Asked Jacob.

“Of what?”

“Do you think it’s true?” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “What the guy said about the mermaids and what not.”

Newt hummed disapprovingly. “Probably not.”

Jacob furrowed his brows, skeptical. “How come?”

“Well, there are no merpeople in the Gulf of Naples, let alone the Tyrrhenian Sea.”

“So there are mermaids,” Jacob smiled excitedly.

“Yes, there are many different species of merpeople throughout the world. There are even merpeople that exist in the Great Lakes.”

Jacob’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding.”

“No, I’m not,” said Newt.

“Well, why aren't there any here in Naples? Isn’t the Mediterranean, like, the home of mermaids?” Jacob asked as he eyed the supposed mermaid princess.

“Yes. Naples was once called Partenope, after a siren of Greek mythology. But sirens haven't existed in the Mediterranean for hundreds of years.” New explained.

“What happened to them?”

“It is speculated that they were hunted to extinction.”

“Oh.” Jacob’s shoulders fell slightly. They stood in silence for a moment until Jacob dived into his pocket for two simple coins. He spit on them, much to Newt’s surprise and minor disgust, and shined them with the corner of his vest. He handed one to Newt, who hesitantly took it between his fingers. Jacob closed his eyes for a moment, a wrinkle forming between his brows as the silence between them lingered, then kissed the coin before tossing it into the fountain bowl.

“I was never a superstitious person. I ain’t never believed in…a higher power or anything before.” Jacob spoke carefully, and Newt could tell that this was something he needed to stay silent for and listen. “My Gran was. Church every Sunday and Wednesday, pray before every meal, before walking out the door, in the morning, and before bed at night. She’d cross her chest if she saw a black cat cross the street, toss salt over her shoulders, hated anything having to do with the number thirteen, and picked up every lucky penny she could find. I thought she was nuts, but y’know, that’s my Gran.”

“Then me and my brother got shipped off to France, and my Grandma snuck rosaries, prayer coins, and a rabbit’s foot— if you can believe it—into our bags. Told us to carry them on us always. Anyway, you think about stuff like that during the war. One day, my brother and I was stuck in a church in France with our group, waiting for reinforcements. We was laying low. We knew they was out there. They knew we was in there. It feels like you’re waiting forever when you’re like that. I was standing by a window that had been poorly boarded up when the light leaking from it cast on the floor. A dirty old franc was sitting heads up on the floor, and it got me thinking of my Gran. ‘She’d pick that up,’ I thought, and it made me smile for the first time in months. So, I bent down and picked it up.” Jacob sighed and swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Just as my fingers pick up the coin, a bullet flies right over my head and hits my brother in the chest.”

“Jacob… I’m so sorry.” Newt attempts to comfort his lamenting friend.

“Yeah, I know.” Jacob puts a thankful hand on Newt’s shoulder. He cleared his throat to keep his voice from cracking. “I lost my brother…But picking up that franc got me home. Got me one last year with my Gran before she passed. Made me chase my dream of opening a bakery. Then I met you, my best friend. I learned about a whole new magical world I couldn’t even dream of. And I met the most beautiful, crazy, talented witch who also happens to be the love of my life. Now she’s gone. I don’t know what we’re doing here. I don’t know what’s going on. All I know is I need all the luck I can get to get my girl back. So, sometimes I throw a coin in a fountain and hope that something—God, Fate,” he chuckled and lazily gestured to the statue. “Or a mermaid princess—anything—will listen.”

Newt squeezes Jacob’s shoulder. “She will, Jacob.”

Jacob forced a smile. He gestured to the coin still in Newt’s hand. “You should too. For Tina.”

Tina. Newt’s nervous system went haywire at the very mention of her name. There was a moment when he and Tina finally connected on a deep level, when their hearts perhaps started to beat at the same rhythm after being off-key for so long. But it seems every time they take a step forward, something happens to push them back, whether it’s a misunderstanding, her work as an auror, the estrangement of a sister, or the loss of an old friend…an old love.

All Newt wanted was to feel right. Nothing felt right, not in his personal life or the world. Maybe if he finally felt a semblance of understanding and peace, he wouldn't be chasing such frivolous ventures to distract from his perpetual offness. ‘Something right,’ he thought, and he tossed the coin into the fountain. Jacob clapped him on the back, solid and reassuring, pulling him from his thoughts, and the two stepped back onto the cobblestone street in search of a place to rest.

⁎ ⊹

⁂ ˚ ✧ ⁂

⊹ ＊

“Jacob, wake up.”

Jacob jolts awake as Newt gently shakes his shoulder. It was sunset, and the sky had turned into shades of orange and purple.

“The ship leaves in an hour. We should head there now.” Newt says as he buttons his vest.

Jacob gives a lethargic nod and groan as he sits up in the bed. They’d found a muggle pub that had beds available upstairs. Newt had commented on it being similar to a wizard pub called The Leaky Cauldron in London. The moment Jacob laid on the bed, sleep took over, and his snores filled the room. Newt wasn’t tired, surprisingly, and stayed awake. He minded his case, giving Jacob and himself deserved silence. Newt had managed to do a considerable amount of work in the gap of time. He was worried about the niffler pups. Wily creatures as they were, prone to sickness were they also. The mother had passed after birth, leaving Teddy too depressed to nurture the litter on his own, the poor sod. Newt and Bunty did their best to nurse them with mooncalf milk, but it isn’t filled with the same antibodies the pups would need to build their immune systems fast. One of the pups had caught a nasty infection that Newt had been treating. Anyone else wouldn’t notice by how adamant she was at chasing around after her littermates. Newt made use of his time to treat and care for her and any other creatures he brought with him. Yet, by the time he’d finished, he wished he had at least tried to rest like Jacob suggested.

“Did you get any sleep?” Jacob asked groggily, noticing the dark circles around Newt’s eyes.

“I’ll sleep on the ship tonight,” Newt assured, though he convinced no one. Sleep hadn’t been his nightly companion for a while, and it was starting to show. Jacob only hummed in response as he put his jacket over his shoulders. The two walked to the port where the red steamship was boarding passengers to Sicily. Getting there and getting on took about an hour, but once on the ship, they found their cabin and waited for the ship to push off.

Jacob sat on the bed across from Newt. “So this Dumbledore guy is sending you to Sicily to get a palm reading or something?” Jacob asked after a small moment of silence. “A seer can do a lot more than palm reading, Jacob.” Newt chided. “A seer can prophecy the future. Predict fates. Deliver omens.”

“Like we need any more omens,” Jacob muttered bitterly.

Newt sighed through his nose. “I don’t know why we’re going to Sicily, Jacob,” he admitted. “I don’t know the seer we’re supposed to find, and I don’t know what she will tell us once we get there…if she’s there… Truth is, I don’t know much of anything anymore, Jacob. I haven’t since—”

“I know,” Jacob said softly.

“But I couldn’t just sit around feeling sorry for myself anymore. Not while Theseus and Tina are off Merlin knows where…not after Leta...” Newt picked at the skin of his fingernails. It’d become a habit of his, and now his fingers were rough and jagged from frayed hang nails, picked raw and often bleeding. Jacob’s sorrowful expression only made Newt feel more microscopic. How frustrating. “Whatever this is about, I’m sure we’ll know soon. Dumbledore loves being cryptic, but it’s not without reason.” He ended simply.

Jacob nodded, eyeing his friend closely. He opened his mouth to say something, but a second thought closed his mouth for him. “No matter what, I trust you, Newt,” he said instead. “This Grindelwald…He’s got to be stopped. I’m with you.”

Newt looked up from his hands to see Jacob bearing a comforting smile across his face, one he couldn’t help but return. Just then, they heard the ship’s horn blare. The ship jolted forward, and Jacob rocked back into his bed. He screwed his eyes shut and held on to the metal bars of the bed frame. “Oh, God. Newt, you got anymore of that seasickness potion stuff?” Newt let out a humorous chuff and nodded. He placed his suitcase on the floor between them, opened it, and stepped inside to retrieve the potion for Jacob.

⁎ ⊹

⁂ ˚ ✧ ⁂

⊹ ＊

Newt sat on the grass of the kelpie enclosure, watching as the magnificent creature swam about freely. A few of the niffler pups were sleeping soundly in his lap. He stroked their fur absentmindedly while deep in thought. He thought mostly about how he’d get to Syracuse. The ship most likely wouldn’t take them directly there and would instead stop on the opposite side of the island. The travel ban made things rather difficult in times like this. It was mildly hilarious that the Ministry lifted his travel ban after his assist in Paris, only for the International Confederation to implement one on the entire wizarding world.

Of course, he understood why. It would ultimately help single out Grindelwald and his acolytes, as they were sure to not stay put in one area for long. Any unauthorized travel would immediately be flagged by aurors to investigate. But Dumbledore, often not in alignment with the wishes of those in power, had his agendas and operations to conduct that would not be executed by the Ministry even if he asked. So, naturally, everything Newt was doing was unsanctioned and, therefore, illegal. Drawing any attention to himself will endanger the mission. There is no doubt the Ministry already knows he’s no longer in England. ‘Theseus definitely knows by now,’ he thought.

Whenever Theseus got drunk, he’d come by the flat, overly affectionate and smelling of fire whiskey. Newt would make him something to eat while Theseus talked about things he didn’t care about until he finally divulged the latest inner workings of the Ministry and the investigation with Grindelwald. Then he’d get sad about Leta and cry, eventually passing out on his couch. He was happy to be there for his brother the first few times he stumbled up his stoop, but after a while, it just got embarrassingly sad, and it didn’t help with his own melancholy. Theseus probably tried to visit not long after he and Jacob had already left. Bunty most likely answered the door and gave him the latest update without divulging his whereabouts. Theseus would be upset to be sure, but his loyalty and trust in Dumbledore will keep him and the Ministry out of it until need be. Best not give them a reason to, though.

They could easily track him down if he used certain magic transportation such as apparition; he was, unfortunately, a wizard of interest, thusly under persistent watch. However, he couldn’t apparate to Syracuse even if he wanted to, as he’d never been before. Besides, even if he had, he’d never apparated such a significant distance, and with Jacob in tow, so much could go wrong. He’d hate to be the reason Jacob got splinched or worse. The best way would be through the floo network. It’s hard to track individuals through it. Finding it would be the hardest part. He wasn’t familiar with the network outside of Britain, but if he could find a wizard town, he could find the floo network. A small smile curled the corners of his mouth. Jacob hadn’t used the floo network before. It’d be fun to watch him try it for the first time.

Rising to his feet, he carefully collected the sleeping niffler pups in his hand and walked them to their den. Teddy was there, lazing about in his hole as he often did since his mate passed. He placed the pups in their respective holes and gave Teddy a soft pet on his back. He knew all too well how he felt.

He walked back to the shed to sit on his cot. His eyes were heavy from their lack of rest, prominent bags hung underneath his brilliant hazel orbs. He laid on his back, fluffing and tucking the pillow under his head. He stared at the ceiling for a while, still unable to settle his brain. If his mind settled for even a moment, granting him momentary peace, some thought or image would shock his nervous system awake. He tossed and turned, eventually landing on his side facing his workbench. His eyes drifted up to the pictures framed on its surface. One picture was of Tina, a picture she had sent him almost a year ago. She looked brilliant. She had her hair parted to the side and curled. She smiled sweetly, her image swayed awkwardly from side to side, giggling at her own shyness. It’d been a while since he’d sent a letter to her, not that he expected an answer anymore. Partially his fault, he knew. He wasn’t the most engaging pen pal, not lately.

But beyond his faults, he knew her focus was on the rescue of her sister. He wanted to write. Merlin, did he want to tell her so much, but every time he tried to put quill to paper, he was left with ink blots. His eyes drifted to the picture hanging above Tina’s on the wall. Leta. Newt’s heart ached at her image. Every time he looked at it, he was transported back to the night she died. The tears in her eyes, the scared look on her delicate face, the last words she spoke…

A sudden jolt shook Newt from his thoughts. Dust fell from the ceiling, and the light fixture above him swayed. Newt furrowed his brows. A loud, heavy, crashing sound came from outside the case, and Newt sat up in his cot. An earthquake-like rumble shook the case, sending the beasts inside into a frenzy. Newt’s head whipped around to the workbench as vials, books, and tools started crashing onto the ground. He jumped from his cot to catch Tina’s picture before it fell, only to hear the sound of shattering glass as Leta’s picture slipped from the wall. Newt didn’t have time to bend down to retrieve the photo before the hatch of his case swung open.

“NEWT!” Jacob sounded frantic and terrified. “NEWT, WE GOT A PROBLEM. GET UP HERE!”

Newt quickly dressed and tucked Tina’s picture frame into his coat pocket. He climbed up the ladder with haste and took Jacob's outstretched hand once he reached the top. Jacob pulled him out of the case and held him by his sleeves. The ship was rocking dangerously. Outside their cabin, an attendant was yelling for passengers to stay calm. A clap of thunder sounded after a near blinding flash of lightning filled the cabin. Rain poured and smacked heavily against the ship's metal, creating a consistent drumming. The ship was smack in the middle of a raging storm, and while the muggle crew tried to keep things calm and orderly, assuring the passengers that everything would be fine, Jacob and Newt knew better because they both could tell it was no ordinary storm. Newt looked out the porthole to see rough seas and black skies. Another flash of lightning and Newt could see the swirling pattern of a magic-made storm in the rolling clouds.

“I was resting, and the storm came out of nowhere,” said Jacob. “One minute calm seas, the next I’m hearin’ buckets of rain and thunder—the ship rocked so hard I fell out of the bed!”

Newt quickly packed up his case and opened the cabin door, jumping back when an attendant rushed by him in a panic. The young man looked over his shoulder at Newt. “Please, remain in your cabin! Everything is fine!” He ordered, though he was less than convincing. He didn't check to ensure Newt went back inside before running off and disappearing around the corner. Wand in hand, Newt started in the opposite direction, towards the front of the ship. Jacob followed close behind, nearly tripping up the steps attempting to follow Newt’s gazelle-like strides.

The two men could barely keep their eyes open once on deck. The wind howled like a banshee in their ears. Their clothes were drenched within seconds, and the barren deck floors were practically flooded with water. “WHAT IS THIS NEWT?” Jacob yelled over the sound of puffing wind and rain. Newt looked around, searching as best he could through squinted eyes for the source of the storm. “IT’S GRINDELWALD!” Newt shouted. “SOMETHING MUST’VE HAPPENED. HE KNOWS WE’RE HERE, HE’S SENT THEM TO STOP US!”

“WHO?”

One by one, members of The Alliance apparated onto the deck, surrounding them.

“Them…” said Newt darkly.

“A bit far from home, no, Mr. Scamander?” One of the acolytes taunted. Newt recognized him from Paris.

“Give us the case, and we’ll be on our way!” A dark witch laughed.

Newt clutched his case tightly and hid it behind his legs, protectively raising his wand. His case? Why on Earth would they want his case? “The relic is all we want. Give it to us, and we’ll leave you and your muggle pet alone.” Jacob glared at the wizard who bestowed the offensive moniker. Newt furrowed his brows but kept his mouth shut.

“HEY!”

Several heads turn to look at one of the crewmen perched behind the bannister of the second level. He peered down at them and flailed his arms about. “CHE DIAVOLO STAI FACENDO? GET BACK INSIDE!”

“AVADA KEDAVRA!”

A green beam shot from one of the acolyte’s wand and struck the crewman in the chest. His body fell limp instantly, robbed of life. His limp form fell over the railing and onto the lower deck floor with a horrendous thud. His limbs sprawled out like a rag doll. Jacob yelled in horror as he stared at the corpse only a few feet away from him. Newt retaliated, casting a disarming spell and sending the dark wizard’s wand flying. Probably not the best idea.

A flurry of light from cast spells bombarded Newt, who protected himself and Jacob with a shield. As Newt blocked dark spells, a wizard apparated between him and Jacob, taking a bold dive for his case. Newt evaded them and took a page out of Jacob’s defensive tactics; he swung the heavy leather case high enough to strike it across their face. The pilferer fell to the floor hard with a splash. Newt took Jacob’s hand and pulled him along as he ran back towards the cabins. Jacob ducked down as Newt expertly blocked every spell that came their way. Seven against one, and Newt was holding his own well enough to keep them both alive. A witch with stringy brown hair cackled and pointed her wand high. The sky above them roared with thunder, and a bolt of lightning shot down to her wand. She redirected the lighting and struck the ground with it in Newt’s path. The lighting missed him by an inch, singeing the ends of his curls. The impact sent him flying to the ground and had him lose his grip on both Jacob and the case, dispersing them both away from him.

Jacob slid backward into a bench. The case slid a few feet away, halfway between himself and the brown-haired witch. Seeing an opportunity, the witch cast a summoning spell, pulling the case towards her. Newt acted quickly, his instincts acting faster than his brain could catch up. With a flick of his wand, he cast a spell that seized control of the toiling ship.

“JACOB, HOLD ON!” He warned his defenseless friend. Jacob heeded his words and found the leg of the bench bolted to the floor. He closed his eyes and hooked his arm around it tightly, muttering a silent prayer.

The ship was already treading rocky seas due to the storm, but with Newt’s spell, the waves reached new heights. A large wave formed at his command and pushed the ship sideways, causing it to tilt steeply. One by one, the black-clad wizards lost their balance, falling hard and sliding across the slick floor beneath them. The witch lost her footing and focus, crashing to the ground and hitting her jaw hard on the ground as she slipped forward, unable to brace herself properly. As Newt's body slid backwards, the case started sliding at speed down to the ship's railing. He angled his body in a way to slide towards his case.

He outstretched his hand and braced himself. “ACCIO!” He summoned the case swiftly into his hand.

Using his wand, he held it like a stake and used a spell to fix it to the floor. It fused to the wood floor, and his tight grip around it kept him from sliding further as the ship continued to tilt. A few of the wizards slid by him, struggling to keep themselves from slipping. One had used a spell to fuse their feet to the floorboards and tried holding their comrade's hand to keep them from falling. But their hands were too slick from the rain, and eventually, they let go of each other’s grip, sending the unfortunate one sliding down to the ship’s railing. He scrambled for something to get a hold of, but ultimately failed, and Newt watched as he flew by him and off the side of the ship into the raging water.

Newt looked around until his eyes fell on Jacob, who had managed to stay on board. As the ship started to tilt back into its centered position, Newt began crawling towards him. Some stray spells were cast at him as he army crawled, but each one missed, scorching the floor around him. When he reached Jacob, he grabbed the fabric of his coat in instantly apparated them back into the halls of the ship. Their bodies fell onto the floor of the hall in a wet heap.

Inside was pandemonium. Below deck, the passengers and crewmen of the ship were running around like chickens without heads. People rushed and pushed past Newt and Jacob, completely unaware of their sudden appearance in the hall. They yelled and screamed, rushing in and out of cabins with cases and life vests. The crewmen were attempting to urge them back inside, but the passengers were adamant on securing life vests and escaping up to lifeboats in a panic. Newt helped Jacob up to his feet and held his arm while dragging him through the bustling halls.

A familiar swishing sound came from behind them, and they whirled their heads to see one of the acolytes apparate into the hall. Jacob spilled a curse from his mouth as the acolyte spotted them through the chaos. “Go, go, go, GO!” He rushed, pushing Newt forward and following quickly behind.

They rounded the corner, pushing past scrambling persons and searching for a way out. The ship rocked dangerously, and the lights flickered in regular intervals. Behind them, the acolyte stalked them, evading and pushing anyone who got in his way. Eventually, another joined him, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. “Where’re we going, Newt?” Jacob asked, his voice wavering in fear.

Newt didn’t answer, his focus solely on his surroundings as he searched for some quick exit. Ahead at the end of the hall, he caught sight of a door to their right, a staff door to be sure, that led to the boilers. Picking up the pace, Newt headed for the boiler. Behind them, the frustrated acolytes got bombarded by a frantic passenger. He came up to one of them and tried to pull them back towards the front of the ship, yelling in Italian. The poor man was cast with the killing curse, his body falling limp on top of the acolyte. Jacob watched in horror as he kept behind Newt. The acolyte threw the man's heavy body to the ground and started in a jog after them. “Newt!” Jacob warned, and Newt looked back to see their trackers rushing for them.

The two men started in a sprint down the hall. An offensive spell hit above their head, setting off sprinkles inside the hall. Newt pointed his wand in no particular direction over his shoulder, pushing one of the acolytes back several feet. He pressed down on Jacob’s shoulder, helping him duck under another spell that set the light fixture aflame. Catching an idea, Newt cast a spell to break the lights in the hall. One by one, the lights sparked and burst, darkening the hall until it was completely black. They used the cover of the dark to rush behind the staff door, and Newt cast a spell to keep it locked. The steel door protected them from the offensive cast propelled at it, and after a few rattling bangs, the spells stopped. Jacob breathed out a sigh of relief and clutched his beating chest.

“Newt,” Jacob called between heavy breaths.

“Yes?” Newt answered through his own labored inhales.

“Don’t ever invite me on vacation again.”

Newt let out an airy chuckle and nodded. He rested his head against the cool steel door and stood still to catch his breath. Jacob took in their dark surroundings, loosening his wet collar that stuck to his damp skin. It was warmer in this hall of the ship than the rest.

“So what now?” Jacob asked helplessly.

Newt swallowed and opened his eyes. There was a ladder that descended down deeper into the ship. He jutted his head in its direction for Jacob to see. “Down.”

He and Jacob walked to the ladder and descended several feet. Their feet planted on a metal walkway. Newt leads, following the signs that lead to the boiler room. Newt knew they couldn’t hide in the ship forever, not with six acolytes after them. He just needed time to think of a way out of this. Should he keep fighting? No. He’d be putting the people on the ship in even more danger. The muggles shouldn’t have to suffer anymore because of him. The heat of the boiler room increased the deeper they went. When they reached the furnaces, the water on their skin evaporated and was replaced with sweat. Newt clenched his jaw. Somehow, Grindelwald and his acolytes knew where he was. He needed to figure out how to get him and Jacob safely off the ship in a way they couldn't track him.

Apparition was out of the question. He was too far from anything familiar, and he barely knew the surroundings and locations of Naples to apparate back without risking splinching. Newt squeezed the handle of his suitcase. He could only think of one way out, and it was mad. Jacob wasn’t going to like it. Not one bit.

They needed to get to the deck again. If they could hide in the chaos, the acolytes wouldn’t be able to find them, and they could escape unnoticed. By the time they realize they have escaped, it would be too late. The back of the ship would be best. There’d be fewer muggles as most of them would be arguing amongst themselves on the main deck where the greater portion of the lifeboats resided. Newt followed the signs that read ‘aft’.

Just over half a hundred men were yelling and rushing in the boiler room; they hardly noticed Newt and Jacob as they pushed through. One worker grabbed Newt by the arm and started yelling at him in Italian whilst pointing back towards the front of the ship, no doubt urging them to get out of their way and back to the passengers’ cabins. Newt apologized, ignoring his instructions and freeing himself from his grip to continue toward the back of the ship. He could see the exit up when a dark, cloaked figure emerged from behind one of the furnaces. Newt stopped in his tracks and held out an arm to block Jacob. Flanking them on either side were two others similarly uniformed assailants. More of the boiler room workers noticed and surrounded them at this point. They were all yelling at them to leave, frustrated and cursing in both English and Italian, only to be ignored.

Newt’s eyes trailed down at the wand in the acolyte's hand ahead of him. He stood still, waiting to see who would make the first move, keeping the others in his periphery, ready to catch and retaliate against any sudden movement. It was the witch to his left that moved first. She cast a spell at him, but he dove for the ground just in time, pulling Jacob down with him. The cast flew over their heads and hit the wizard on their right, sending him flying into a wall of scorching pipes. He let out a blood-curdling scream. The workers, terrified, fled the area, climbing up stairs and ladders to the upper decks.

“Expelliarmus!” Newt sent the witch’s wand flying into one of the open furnaces. A raging fire exploded in the furnace, and Newt used his arms to protect his face from the heat of the flames. The flames flashed various colors as the magical item sparked and burned to ash.

“NO!” Screamed the powerless witch. She furiously started for Newt, sprinting with her arms outstretched to grab him. He leapt to his feet and pointed his wand to a nearby mound of coal. He quickly cast a charm to send them flying in her direction. She attempted to evade them but stopped in her tracks as hundreds of coal rocks pelted her at high speed. She shrieked and covered her face as she stumbled backward, eventually turning on her heels to run off and hide away.

“NEWT!” Jacob yelled.

Suddenly, a feeling like a graphorn charging and bunting him in the stomach sent him flying back. He slid back a ways on the floor, and his mouth opened to expel a silent scream. The air had been completely knocked from his lungs, and he rolled over on his side in pain. He had a firm enough grip on his case to keep it by his side. Jacob ran towards Newt, but he only made it a few paces before he felt something pulling him back. The acolyte used a spell to summon Jacob to him.

Jacob shouted to Newt for help, doing his best to fight against this spell, but it was like being pulled back by an automobile heading in the opposite direction. His feet slipped from under him, and his body dragged along the floor towards the pale-skinned dark wizard.

Newt gulped for breath and used all his strength to grab his case and get back on his feet. Once he managed to stand somewhat upright, he faced the acolyte, who now had Jacob in his grip, wand to throat.

“Give me the case,” he instructed. “Or your filthy muggle pet dies.”

“Newt,” Jacob’s wavering voice called out. “I know you love your creatures and all, but maybe this one time you could do what the crazy guy says, please?”

“Shut up!” The acolyte seethed. He eye’d Newt dangerously. “The case, now!”

Newt lifted his hands up in surrender. He slowly rose to his feet, slightly hunched over due to the pain in his back and side. He eyed Jacob, who struggled against the acolyte’s hold. Jacob met Newt’s eyes, and he could read by the look of them that he had a plan, which did not ease his nerves. Newt gave Jacob a barely noticeable nod and darted his eyes to the left. Jacob sighed and closed his, thinking a silent prayer.

Using his foot, Newt pushes his case across the room towards the acolyte. Jacob, with all his strength, broke free from his grasp and dove to the right behind a furnace. The acolyte, satisfied, bent down to open the case. Once the lid reared back, he looked into the cavernous hole in bewildered shock. Not a moment later, a flurry of yellow, orange, and red burst from inside the case. An avian creature, similar to that of a phoenix, let out a unique screech as it circled the area. It was a large creature with a beautiful, flaming wingspan and glowing plumage. A firebird. The acolyte stepped back, and Newt pursed his lips to blow a melodic whistle. The firebird responded, mimicking the notes with his song, and dove for the acolyte. He retaliated, sending a series of attacks at the creature. The firebird, however, was swift and agile, dodging each spell. Newt then used his wand to cast a restraining spell on the acolyte, stiffening his arms at his sides. The firebird began swirling around the struggling dark wizard, and a funnel of flames emitted from its wings, encasing him. He screamed in horror, unable to escape his fiery death as the firebird quickly incinerated him in its golden flames.

Jacob watched, awestruck, feeling the intense heat of the tornado-like flames. A bright flare of light had both him and Newt shielding their eyes, and then—nothing. The acolyte’s screams stopped, and the heat died down. They uncovered their eyes to see the firebird descend upon a pile of ash that was once a person. The creature innocently cawed in Newt’s direction as it nestled in the ashes.

Newt rushed to his case and the bird. “Good boy,” he cooed as he stroked under the firebird’s beak with his finger. “Back in you go.”

The firebird obediently flapped its wings and flew into the air, circling a few times before barrel-diving into the case. Newt closed the case and locked it, taking it by the handle and rushing to Jacob.

“Jacob, I’m so sorry. Are you alright?” He asked as he helped him to his feet.

Jacob, dazed, looked past Newt and down to the pile of ash on the floor. “You’re a little scary, you know that?”

Newt chuckled humorlessly. “Come on, let’s go.”

The two men headed towards the boiler room exit. The inside of the ship was practically barren. A few muggles littered the halls or kept themselves locked in their cabins, but the majority had escaped to the deck. They managed to get to the back of the ship undetected, once again opening a steel door to step into the storm. They trudged to ships the railing and gripped it tight to keep steady. Newt looked over the railing down to the black abyss below. He could hear the angry seawaters lapping at the sides of the ship, and for a second, he hesitated executing his mad plan. Jacob, concerned by the expression on Newt’s face and the fact that he was looking so intently at the water below, spoke up. “Newt? What are you planning?” He asked, afraid to hear the answer that might confirm his fears.

Newt turned to Jacob, a sorry look in his eyes. “Do you trust me?”

Jacob furrowed his brows. “Well, now I’m not so sure!”

Ignoring Jacob’s doubt, Newt stepped several paces back, set his case down, and opened it. From it, he summoned the kelpie. The great creature leapt from the bag and onto the deck, taking its favorite form of a horse. Jacob shook his head disapprovingly. “Oh, no. Newt, no!”

“Jacob, this is the only way we get out of this,” Newt implored. “The kelpie is extremely fast and adaptable; it will carry us away safely.”

The kelpie chuffed and stomped a hoof on the floor. Reluctantly and with mutters of protest, Jacob cautiously made his way to the kelpie and, with Newt’s help, managed to climb on its back. Newt went back to close the case and returned to hand it to Jacob. As Jacob took the case, his eyes drifted behind Newt and grew wide.

“NEWT, LOOK OUT!”

Newt managed to step out of the way as a stray spell hit the kelpie on its backside. It reared on its hind legs and squealed, starting at full speed toward the ship's railing.

“JACOB, HOLD ON!” Newt called out. Jacob wrapped his arms around the kelpies vines. He screamed Newt’s name as the beast jumped over the railing like a hurdle and down towards the sea. Turning around, Newt met the enclosing wall of the remaining acolytes. They wasted no time attacking him with spells. Newt, ever the defensive, blocked and dodged most of them, occasionally redirecting spells back at them. He successfully pushed one overboard after redirecting their spell, and another he managed to use a freezing charm to encase another acolyte’s legs inside solid blocks of ice stuck to the floorboards. Desperate, a witch called down a strike of lightning and dragged it across the deck, letting it scorch through the entirety of the ship and setting it aflame. The act caused the ship to rumble and make a terrifying sound.

The act left them all unstable, and they each fell to the ground. The floor beneath them cracked and split, opening like an egg. Newt pushed himself up by the elbows and watched as the ship tore apart. “No…”

Screams could be heard from the other side of the ship. The muggles cried in horror as the ship lit up in flames and broke beneath them. Several lifeboats had since been deployed, but there was still a significant number left onboard, struggling to get off. The acolytes disapparated one by one, seemingly finished with him. Newt was so distraught by the damage and sounds of people fearing for their lives, he didn’t notice the floor slowly giving away under him. He jumped back into his skin when the jolt of the floor breaking down beneath him made him slide towards the splitting cavern. Flipping onto his stomach, Newt army crawled in the opposite direction. He managed to make it to the side of the ship’s railing when a cable snapped from its rig and writhed about, ultimately hitting Newt in his back. The force of the heavy cable sent Newt hurtling into the sea.

His body went into shock from the searing pain. He didn’t have the mind or time to brace his body for impact with the thrashing sea below. It was another breathtaking blow when his body hit the water. He took a sharp inhale on impact, filling his lungs with water. Newt choked and struggled for breath while his body descended deep into the sea. He desperately searched for his wand, which had slipped from his grip during the fall. A flash of lightning from above revealed the wand floating down several meters away. With desperate strength, Newt swam as fast as he could to his wand, but the burning of his lungs made it increasingly difficult. He made it only a few feet before he started to lose consciousness. His body went limp. His limbs sprawled about, and his eyes struggled to stay open. The salty water stung his eyes, and the lack of oxygen turned them bloodshot red.

He felt something slip from his chest. From it floated his picture of Tina. Trying his best, he reached for the picture, hoping to grab it, but his attempts failed. So he watched helplessly as her photo drifted to the bottom of the sea, disappearing into the abyss. Newt closed his eyes, and he quickly realized he was dying. Not the way he’d imagined it would happen. He never presumed to live a long life, not with his life’s purpose being a magizoologist studying many dangerous magical beasts. He thought, perhaps, he would die at the hands of a nundu or a chimera. But drowning in a sea? How uninteresting.

He was prepared, too tired to fight off death, and welcomed it to take him, when suddenly he felt something swimming around him. It was a large something. Perhaps it was Jacob with his kelpie. But if that were the case, it would not be circling him as much as it was. No. The pattern felt like something was…surveying him. Opening his eyes, Newt was met with nothingness, only the vast and empty sea below. He could feel it, though. Something was watching him. He knew the feeling all too well, the sense of being hunted.

He struggled to keep his consciousness, wanting a glimpse. Perhaps it was nothing but a simple shark, gaging his weakness and preparing to strike. What did it matter? He thought. He prepared for the strike, or for his consciousness to finally give way, but it never came. Newt gave away his last moments of sentience to peace and let the water comfort him.

Suddenly, there was no pain, and just when he had welcomed the will to let go, he felt a pair of arms hook underneath his shoulders. He could feel himself being pulled up from the water. A chest, a human chest pressed against his back and powerful strokes propelled their bodies through the sea. Scales. White, iridescent scales on the end of a large fishtail swishing fervently between his legs was the last thing he saw before his vision faded to black.

──── ⋅ ⍤ ⋅⊰⋅∘ 〄 ∘⋅⊱⋅ ⍤ ⋅ ────

❦ 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺

──── ⋅ ⍤ ⋅⊰⋅∘ 〄 ∘⋅⊱⋅ ⍤ ⋅ ────

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