Chapter Three: A Different sort of Monstrosity

I groan inwardly as I wake up, the events of the previous day coming back to me far too quickly than I'd have liked. My body aches in places I didn't know I had, and my head hurts like it got hit with a rock. I take a deep breath, letting out slowly before opening my eyes. I might as well try to figure out where the bloody hell I am.

I gasp as my eyes green eyes meet with the black ones of the creature who'd been trying to kill me yesterday. I quickly push myself into a sitting position, my ankle protesting painfully against the movement as I try to move away. It grabs my leg with one hand, studying my fearful gaze carefully before turning its attentions to my ankle. I try to kick him with my other foot, but he grabs that one as well, muttering something under his breath. He releases me and I try to move away, but my legs seem to be pinned to the ground.

"Please let me go!" I beg.

It ignores me, running its fingers down my sprained ankle and muttering again. After a moment my ankle glows a bright blue and the pain vanishes. The creature immediately stands up and takes a few steps back as I regain the ability to move my legs.

I meet it gaze curiously. Either I'm mad, or it helped me… with my luck its more than likely both.

He holds my gaze, watching me closely. "Aren't you going to run now?" It questions in an obviously male, silky voice.

"Aren't you going to kill me?" I counter wearily.

He remains tormentingly silent for a long moment before replying, "No."

"Then I have no reason to run." I point out cautiously.

"Then come with me." He requests.

"To where, and for what purpose." I demand hesitantly.

"To somewhere safe, because it's not safe out here and you obviously intend to stay alive for as long as possible." He answers simply.

He turns around and moves further into the swamp, not bothering to wait to see if I'll follow.

Going against my better judgment, I stand up and follow him through the swamp. After several minutes, we arrive at a building that looks like an old, empty warehouse.

I follow him inside. He shuts the door behind us and locks it with a long silver chain before moving to sit down against the wall.

I study my surroundings. The room takes up what looks to be the entire first floor. It's surprisingly clean, but also unfurnished. The only thing here is a metal staircase that leads up to a balcony like hallway on the second floor. There are three doors on the second floor, and all three of them are shut.

I look back at the creature, who'd closed his eyes, making himself look almost fragile in a human sort of way.

"May I ask you a question?" I request uncertainly, keeping my distance.

"Anything," It agrees, opening its eyes, but not meeting my gaze. Instead he stares straight ahead.

'If you weren't going to hurt me, then why did you chase me?" I ask.

"Trust me; had I found you yesterday, you would be dead now." he answers, brutally honest.

"I don't understand." I reply simply.

"It's very complicated." He admits.

"I fancy myself intelligent." I insist, "Try me."

He smirks in amusement. "You? Intelligent?" he mocks, "You're speaking a bit highly of yourself for a woman who doesn't know she's a witch, don't you think?"

"I'm a what?" I demand, shocked.

"A witch…though how you haven't noticed yet is beyond me." He answers, finally meeting my gaze.

"And what are you?" I prod, unsure of whether or not to believe him.

"What does it look like I am?" he snaps, suddenly angry," I'm a monster. I'm a slave at her beck and call. The magics she's cast on me force me to do her bidding. That's why I chased you. However, you managed to lose me, and kept me looking for you long enough for her magics to weaken. Her powers aren't strong…not yet. If I'm unable to do her bidding in a certain time period, then her power over me will wear off, and I'll be free to make my own decisions about whether or not to carry out the task. That's why I didn't kill you. Because I chose not to…Lucky for you, I also chose to continue looking for you. If she'd found you alive, I imagine you'd look like me right about now. She kills the muggles who are foolish enough to come here. However, your magical potential would be quite another story."

"I get the feeling that you used to be…like me."I murmur, choosing my words carefully.

"No," he answers simply, "and yes."

He's silent for a long moment before continuing.

"I was human, I was finally free. I took that for granted. I didn't look like this. I was a wizard. You haven't even discovered your abilities. I, on the other hand, mastered mine." He answers, a look of hopelessness and despair clouding his eyes for a moment before vanishing.

"How do you know…?" I ask curiously.

"What? That you're a witch? One of the powers I acquired in this form is the ability to see certain things about anyone within one hundred feet of me. I can see your potential and that you've yet to realize its existence. I see the magics you cannot." He smirks, "You'd be a fairly talented potions mistress, and you'd enjoy charms. You'd make a powerful witch if you knew you were one. That knowledge has been kept hidden from you. I can't tell how or why, though. I can also sense a bit of your emotion. Though that power is significantly weakens through its restrictions. If there is more than one person in the room, that of the person closer often comes in clearer than the others in the room, more often than not making my unable to clearly sense the others. However, sense you're the only person here… you're not sure whether or not to believe me, or even whether it's safe to be around me. You're tired, and sore…and curious. You almost trust me, but not quite."

My eyes widen in shock.

He smirks again before adding, "…and I just proved to you that I'm not lying to you about my abilities. And before you ask, I can turn that particular power on and off, and no, I do not intend to use it to invade your privacy."

"…Does she want me because I'm a witch?" I ask, still not quite sure that I actually am.

"No," he answers hesitantly,"…she wants you because she thinks you'll set me free, turn me back into a human."

"And how would I go about doing that?" I prod.

"Please don't ask me that question." He mutters, looking away.

"Why not? Don't you want out from under her control?" I ask in surprise.

"Of course I do, but I very seriously doubt your willingness to participate in such an act." He sneers.

"I'll do anything… in exchange for you showing me the way out of here." I try to tempt him.

"Always a catch isn't there." He replies, "You should learn not to make promises you can't keep."

"I can keep it." I insist.

"Oh, really? So you're going to fuck me just to get out of here?" he snaps, his gaze suddenly turning cold and boring into mine.

I quickly take a step back, startled.

"Yes," he says, running his gaze down my body. "That's what I thought."

He leans his head back against the wall and stares straight ahead again, determined not to look at me.

"I'm the swamp witch's pride and joy." He says bitterly," She's made the premises so that it won't allow anyone with my…anatomy through the gates, and that's the only way out of here. I can take you to the gate, but after that you're on your own. We'll go just as soon as the gatekeeper leaves his post."

"What's to stop her from coming after me while I'm here?" I question.

"The fact that she doesn't know you're here." He snaps," If she comes for a visit I can hide you in a storage room upstairs. She doesn't know it's there. There's a hole on place on the door where you can look out, but she can't look in, and the door is actually a part of the wall. It can't be seen from the room. You can stay there until its safe. If she tell me to kill you, you shouldn't have too hard of a time pushing me out the window in the room upstairs."

I raise my eyebrows.

"Put me out of my misery." He says, noticing my expression.

"Either way it doesn't look to good for you." I murmur, studying him.

"Either way, it wouldn't turn out too good for me anyways, even if I get you out of here. After all, the only way to return me to my human for is…and I'm not the most attractive man in either form. I can't see you changing your mind any time soon." He replies.

I look away, unable to meet his gaze.

"Do you have a name? I'm Jenna Demarko" I request uneasily.

"Severus Snape."