Chapter 1
They Meet Again
The November night wind blew cruel unrelenting torrents so cold it could freeze you to the bone. As the last remnants of light faded, a light dusting of snow started to fall as a sleek, black Escalade skillfully roared down the slightly congested highway. After what seemed like hours, the bright lights of Seattle slowly gave way to darkened two lane roads. Nervously darting eyes watched the rear view mirror cautiously, being followed was not an option at this stage of the game. Pale moonlight caste eerie shadows on the newly fallen snow as the dark outline of several large dilapidated buildings slowly came into view.
Draco Malfoy signed in relief as his custom SUV; ideal for the bitter cold, pulled up to the broken down main entrance. Only hours before he had been basking in the Australian sun, lying on a white sand beach, watching the bikini clad natives frolicking in the crystal clear waves. Now here he was thousands of miles away, shivering in this god forsaken cold, sent as an errand boy to do a job better suited for an underling. He hadn't even been allowed to use a portkey; instead he had been instructed to travel using Muggle transportation, so primitive. In the past his service's had only been required when a situation had grown out of Master's control. A heavy sigh escaped as he mulled over those words, Master's control. A cold bitter laugh filled the utility vehicles leather interior; he was no weak minded slave to be controlled. For what seemed like an eternity Draco had served his Master, no, served was too formal a term for their relationship.
Forced, used, manipulated; those were more appropriate terms for his current situation. He had just wanted one taste, one moment of true power, but unfortunately one is all it took. He had known better than to trust him, but the darkness was too strong, too seductive. That one slip had made him a slave to his Master's whims. Draco struggled daily to control the dark power that threatened to overtake him. He was like a dancing marionette, always controlled by another. Tonight was one of those nights, he felt detached from his own body, almost like he was watching himself from afar. His classically handsome face drew into a brittle smile. He could feel it, this foreign power that poured into his body. It whispered sweet, seductive promises, but it never delivered. It spoke of his inner most dreams becoming reality; but in all the time he spent fighting its power, none of the promises had ever come to fruition. After so many years of dark shadows and relentless burning hunger, he would finally have the last piece of the puzzle necessary to free him. The location of the Element Stone would finally be revealed.
The Element Stone know to some as the Founding Stone, contains some of the most powerful magic known to man and wizard alike. It is believed that the magnificent blue stone was a gift presented to the first wizarding couple by the creator himself. The stone contains the raw elemental powers of earth, wind, fire, and water. Possessing the stone would set him free, free from his Master and more powerful than any being on earth. He, he who they had deemed too reckless and too young to be trusted would hold their puny little world in the palm of his hands, and there would be nothing anyone could do to stop him. The end of their fragile world was at hand, he could practically taste their deaths on his tongue. Vengeance would be sweet.
The biting frigid air whipped around him, tearing at his expensive leather jacket and designer jeans as he exited the expensive vehicle. The sharp aroma of decay and mold met his flared nostrils as he pushed the heavy metal doors of the warehouse wide. It was all he could do to stop the nausea that burned like molten lava in his throat. He had won; he had finally bested the bastard at his own game. He could just imagine the look on his Master's smug face when he learned the truth; one of their own had betrayed them. He was expected to find the Stone then dutifully deliver it into their more than waiting hands. They were fools, each and every one of them. Draco licked his lips in anticipation; he would turn Master to slave, he would torture and taunt them as they had him. Imagine finding that your worst enemy had been walking right beside you from the very beginning.
Momentary sadness filled his dark eyes as beloved faces and long forgotten places lost to history flashed through his head. Gone, they were all gone now. The only thing that remained was the darkness that dwelled inside his empty soul. Oh, it hadn't been easy, there had been many painful sacrifices that had to be made in order to get to this moment, but in the end they would all be worth it. His suffering and mind numbing pain would finally be over; and his much bruised and battered soul would be whole again.
The self satisfied smile returned as loud voices echoed through the empty building. The threats they shouted were bone chilling, but it only made him quicken his pace to join the party. He felt high as a kite; the moment of his triumph was at hand. He slowed his pace, wanting the let the excitement boiling deep in his chest to last longer. Deep inside he knew the darkness was in control tonight, there was nothing he could do but wait and watch. The sound of a whip meeting flesh sang in his highly trained ears, seconds later an anguished pain filled scream echoed through the empty building. Music to the ears; good, they had already started without him. Life for him was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
A heavy coating of dust covered the concrete as the shadowed figure carefully picked his way across the litter strewn floor. It just wasn't the thing to destroy a five thousand dollar pair of shoes because one wasn't careful. He knew it would be worth it though if he did. What was a pair of shoes compared to ultimate power? Dust billowed after him as he slowly climbed a pair of half rotten stairs to the buildings second story. How apropos for the information he needed for their destruction to be brought fourth in a place close to destruction. Once on the second floor, light spilled from the doorway at the end of a long hall. Quickening his pace, he neared the door only to stop in his tracks in awe. To anyone else the sight before him would be darkly terrifying, but it brought tears of joy to his eyes. There she was, in her full regalia; his key to finding the soul stone. Two rough, darkly clothed Muggles stood between the half naked body of a blindfolded young woman; she was handcuffed and suspended by her wrists from a support beam that stood in the center of the room. One of the men held a bloodied whip while the other goon stood to the side, his greedy eyes leering at her exposed breasts.
"Tell us what you know and you are free to go." The larger of the two yelled at the woman as the whip again hissed through the air. The bound woman jerked and convulsed as the blow ripped and tore at her already battered body. Shredded tatters of expensive blue dress robes hung from her waist as a fresh river of her life's blood flowed down her legs.
This had gone on for hours; she wasn't going to tell them anything they already didn't know. Her waist length red hair soaked with blood and sweat fell into her perfect porcelain face as she turned her head to follow her abusers voice. They could hurt her all they wanted, but she refused to be intimidate by a couple of hired lackeys. Men ten times stronger and smarter had tried to kill her, and if Tom Riddle himself hadn't succeeded, neither would these assholes. Opening her parched and swollen lips she whispered,
"I'll die first."
Ginny Weasley meant every word she said; she would rather die than give up the location of the Element Stone. She knew the artifacts importance, as well as the ramification should the Dark Lord take possession of the Stone. Total world domination would be at his finger tips, the world would be doomed. She would play this game a little longer, hopefully they would let something slip that could help her later. They hadn't talked much so far, but she was sure they were Muggles, hence the primitive torture methods. Maybe the leader would make an appearance to watch the show. She would have to be ready and take what ever opportunity came her way. Her brothers would make them pay, and pay dearly for this atrocity.
"If only it were that easy Ginevra, I would have killed you years ago." The new comer's evil chuckle followed him into the room. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of her, Gods she had always been beautiful, but she would be even more magnificent on her knees servicing him at his command. Oh the things he would do to her gorgeous body. He could feel himself harden at the thought of her creamy white thighs open and wet for him. He would show her new heights of pain and passion; emphasis on the pain.
"She hasn't talked yet General." Fear permeated the room as the two goons watched the tall wizard walk fully into the room. They hadn't expected him to come see their handiwork in person. This could be a potentially serious problem.
The larger of the two men came forward carrying the bloodied whip. He watched his boss carefully as he gingerly stepped around the bound woman. He had made the mistake of getting to close and had the bruises to prove it. Even though she was bound and blindfolded, she was still lethal, and unfortunately she was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated. He dropped the whip to the floor and waited instructions, he was a little apprehensive at taking this job, but one tended to disappear when refusing the Dark Master's requests.
Ginny's trained ears couldn't place the lightly accented voice that had joined their little party. It was refined, deep and power oozed with each syllable; it was utterly and completely foreign to her. Using her senses, she quickly scanned the surrounding area for a trace of the power she felt radiating from the wizard, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He was blocking her attempts to read his power, which could only mean he didn't want to be recognized by his power signature. The tang of his expensive cologne and the sweet smell of leather were the only traces she had to his identity. The only aura of power stirring in the room was the intense fear radiating from her abductors. Whoever he was, he was very powerful and she was entirely at his mercy.