Hello! Firstly, thank you for all the kind reviews! Later I will answer each one directly. Secondly, I feel this chapter needs a little bit of an explanation. It is split into two sections. The first section focuses on the party through Persephone's eyes, and the second section focuses on it through Tom's eyes. Thirdly, enjoy!
"Will you stop hogging the mirror, sister?" Persephone asked after watching her sister Faustine pose in front of the mirror for what felt like an eternity. "Unless there is a boggart in there somewhere, I doubt your reflection will change."
Faustine, at hearing her younger sister's words, put a stop to her continuous cyclic movements. "I'm sorry, Sephy, I just forgot what my body could look like when it's out of that horrid uniform." Faustine finished her statement with a final wink at herself in the mirror as she turned around to face her sister. "Well, how do I look?"
"Like a Veela." Persephone answered with an eyeroll. But in truth, her sister did look radiant. She was wearing a tight golden dress that clung to her body like a second skin. "May I have the mirror now?" She asked as she rose from the bed and moved in front of the mirror. Persephone had chosen for the special occasion a more modest dress than her sister. However, calling a dress more modest than Faustine's was not saying much. Persephone was currently wearing a satin red dress with a sweetheart bodice that teased at what laid beneath the neckline. After the wrap around appearance of the waist, the dress flowed out to her knees. The color made her features stand out, and Persephone had no doubt that she would capture attention at the party tonight.
"You look beautiful!" Faustine said as she came up behind Persephone. "Won't we be a sight?" She giggled as she began to twirl.
"Has someone placed you under the imperio curse?" Persephone asked as she stared at the bubbly figure that was showing her kindness. Surely, this could not be her sister. "What has gotten into you?"
"Why, the party, of course!" Faustine replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Finally, after weeks of odious chores and difficult training, we can have a little fun! I swear, if it were not for the Dark Lord, I would refuse to do any of these tasks that are so below our ranks." Faustine pouted.
"Ah yes, all the chores which you somehow find unable to complete, leaving me to finish." Persephone stated with yet another eye roll as she recalled her sister's sudden and convenient headaches whenever she was charged with a task.
"Oh hush. I'm just not used to this. But I promise I'll somehow make it up to you, Sephy. You've been a real doll!" Faustine replied, knowing full well she most likely would never repay her sister.
"Do you not think this sudden party is a little strange? What could be the reason behind it? The Dark Lord hardly seems like one to want to do something for the fun of it." Persephone stated, more to herself than her sister. In truth, many things the Dark Lord did confused her. At times he seemed to take an interest in her, and then he would completely shun her. It was rather quite infuriating. She never knew what game he was playing at, and she was never one to lose games.
"Honestly, Seph, you need to learn to relax! This is the first bit of fun we've had in weeks and I am not going to let you ruin it." Faustine stated as she began to walk out of their room. "Maybe you should try to have some fun for once." She finished as she slammed the door to go to the party.
"What's gotten into her?" Came a voice from the doorway. Persephone looked to see her best friend, Emily Rose, looking stunning as always. She was wearing a babydoll pink dress with a bow adorning the front. Her long blond hair was messily pulled up in a bun, and Persephone thought that only she could make such an innocent outfit appear suggestive.
"Oh, you know. Whenever the idea of a party enters her head, all else leaves it." Persephone stated as she walked out of the door. "Shall we go?"
"We shall." Came a masculine voice from down the hallway. "And how are my two favorite girls?" Asked Damon, Persephone's brother. Her brother, she noticed, looked devastatingly handsome. Persephone also noted that Emily noticed as well, when a blush began to adorn her cheeks.
"Rather impatient. And feeling abandoned. You see, I have this brother, but I've barely seen him lately. I think I'm developing issues because of it." Persephone answered dramatically.
"Very funny, Sephy," Damon replied. "I've been busy running the Dark Lord's errands. And what sort of issues?"
"Well, I think I might have to replace the void my brother has left with some man I meet at the party tonight." Persephone replied with a sigh.
"Right, so you're not going near any men tonight," Damon replied as he placed a protective arm around his younger sister. "And neither are you, Ms. Rose." He stated as he placed his other arm around Emily's, causing her to giggle.
"Well, aren't you just our knight-in-shining-honor?" Emily asked flirtatiously as the trio made their way to the party.
"Ugh, you two make me nauseous," Persephone stated as she pretended to gag. "I'm going to find someone who doesn't make me want to vomit in my mouth."
"No, no. You stay. I have some business to attend to." Damon stated as he walked off to go talk to a group of men discussing something in the corner.
"What?" Emily asked as she noticed her friend looking at her with both her eyebrows raised. "Try not to be so completely dramatic, Seph."
"But why? That just makes everything so boring." Persephone replied with a laugh.
"I think all we need to do is find someone for you to fawn over, then you wouldn't look down so hard on the rest of us." Emily replied with a smirk.
"Oh, don't you worry," Persephone returned the smirk. "I'd still look down on you."
"Which is why I said 'so hard.'" Emily retorted. "But I really think we should find you someone. You've seemed rather bored here."
"Probably because this place is so monotonous. If I have to serve one more dish or disarm one more privileged little spoiled brat, I'll scream." Persephone replied with a huff.
"Which is why we need to find you someone to play with. Come," Emily said as she laced her arm with her friend's. "Let's see who we can find." The pair began to make their way through the crowded ballroom, surveying all the viable candidates.
"There's Malfoy-"
"I'd rather kiss a werewolf. During the full moon." Persephone replied.
"Well what about-"
"No."
"He doesn't seem so-"
"No."
"Oh, stop being so picky! Any woman would think herself accomplished to have caught any of these men." Emily stated.
"All stuck up peacocks." Persephone stated indignantly. "Besides, I have my eyes on a larger prize." She finished, as her eyes suddenly locked across the room with none other than Tom Riddle.
"And what would that be?" Emily inquired, not noticing her friend's preoccupation.
"Freedom." Persephone replied, her eyes never leaving the Dark Lord's. Her gaze was broken by the sound of music being played, and men started to come around and ask women to dance.
"Milady, I would be honored if you would grace me with your hand." Damon replied, coming up behind Emily and bowing dramatically.
"Who am I to deny such an honor?" Emily giggled as she took Damon's hand and began to go to the dance floor. She looked back once at Persephone and mouthed 'dance' to her. To this action Persephone just rolled her eyes and turned around, to find herself face to face with Yaxley.
"Excuse me." She said with a slight bow of her head. "I did not see you there." She finished as she attempted to side step him.
She was unable to get past him, as he stepped in her way. "Ms. Bourgoyne, may I have the pleasure of your hand?" He asked, with his eyes giving her little choice.
Persephone merely gave an obviously fake smile, and allowed Yaxley to take her to the dance line. The two bowed, and began their dance.
"How have you been enjoying your time here, Ms?" Yaxley asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Oh, just fine." Persephone replied uninterestedly, as she began to look at what was going on around the pair.
"It is truly a great operation our Dark Lord has set up here, is it not?" He asked, to which Persephone completely ignored. "All these young, promising individuals such as yourself being trained to do a great service to the wizarding world."
Persephone had to control her obvious annoyance as she tried to focus on the dancing, and not on her partner.
"And how do you find the Dark Lord?" He asked, finally grabbing Persephone's attention.
"Well, I've seen little of him, Mr. Yaxley," she stated, her agitation flaring up at the mention of the man who had seemed to find her insignificant. "I am unable to give an opinion."
"But, surely you must have noticed his-" Yaxley began. However, Persephone did not hear the end of his statement, as something else far more curious had caught her attention.
When Yaxley had spun her, she noticed that Tom Riddle had risen for the first time that night, and was slowly approaching Alphrad Black, who currently was eating something at the refreshment table. Upon sensing the Dark Lord's presence, the young Black boy had risen and bowed. Suddenly, Tom had taken a step towards Alphrad, and appeared to have whispered something in his ear. Persephone was flooded with curiosity at Alphrad's shocked reaction to the Dark Lord's words. Alphrad then gave a quick glance at Persephone, and then seemed to answer Tom. For a moment both stood in silence, until Tom whispered one more thing, and turned around to return to his previous seating space.
"Ms. Bourgoyne?" Yaxley asked.
"Yes?" Persephone said, the trance being broken.
"I asked if you had any plans-" Yaxley was cut off by the end of the music playing, to which everyone clapped at the musicians.
"Yes, well, thank you for the dance, Mr. Yaxley." Persephone stated as she bowed and rushed over to Alphrad.
"Alphrad." She stated, touching his arm and pulling her towards him. "What was that all about?"
"Hello to you, too, Sephy," he answered. "And to what are you referring?"
"Don't act stupid," Persephone replied impatiently. "What did the Dark Lord say to you?"
"Since when did you take such an interest in the Dark Lord?" Alphrad asked in such a way that suggested that there was something beneath his question.
"Alphrad, I saw you peer at me. What happened?" She asked with her apprehension growing.
"I cannot tell you," He said with a sigh. "He might hear."
"Then dance with me." She replied as she took his hand and led him to the dance floor, just in time for the music to begin.
"This isn't a good idea." Alphrad replied, looking around as he put his hand around her waist.
"Why? What's going on?" Persephone asked.
"Do you remember what I told you, Seph? That day after the masquerade?" Alphrad asked, his voice dripping with sadness.
"When you told me that you loved me?" Persephone asked, internally wincing as she saw Alphrad externally flinch at the reminder.
"Yes, but not that. The reason why I am here. It seems that you-" Alphrad began before a hand reached out and stopped them.
"May I cut in?" Asked a voice that belonged to her brother, Damon.
"Of course." Alphrad replied with one final look at Persephone before he exited the room.
"Damon, I was in the middle of-" She stated angrily at her brother before he cut her off.
"You were in the middle of making things very hard for us, and possibly getting Alphrad killed." Damon finished. "Sephy, have you forgotten why you're here?"
"Yes," Persephone stated with a sigh.
"It's dangerous, Sephy." Damon replied with urgency in his voice that Persephone had never heard before. This, more than anything, began to frighten Persephone. Her brother was always so calm and relaxed. She had never seen anything frighten him.
"But why? It's been weeks and nothing has changed. Am I not allowed to keep my friends through our family's great ambition?" She asked indignantly.
"Sephy, if I could shake the world and create it in such a way that would it would please you, you know I would. And I've tried to do that our whole lives. But now that we're older, I realize I can't do that. The only thing I can do is protect you, and I do not like the way Yaxley was surveying you and Alphrad." Damon replied with concern glossing his eyes as he looked upon his younger sister.
"It's this castle, and all these people," Persephone said as she looked around the room. "They're driving us all mad!"
"And why are you mad?" Damon asked.
"Because I am charged with a task that has had no progress, and now am told to limit myself for this task? He has not said a word to me. Perhaps father and uncle were wrong. Perhaps he has no interest in me. Perhaps we-"
"Perhaps we chose the wrong Bourgoyne sister?" Damon interrupted, as he stood looking at two figures dancing across from them. Persephone turned, and let out an uncharacteristic gasp as she saw Tom Riddle dancing with Faustine.
Tom Riddle would have liked to be anywhere other than where he currently was. Where he currently was sitting is on a chair in a ballroom, where numerous members of the pureblood children were currently filing in. He hated parties almost as much as he hated crowds. Sitting there now, as the time ticked on, he second-guessed why he had even chosen to throw the party. Certainly there was a more enjoyable way to find out information than to have to sit and watch dim-witted, hormonal teenagers awkwardly attempt to socialize. He had made a mistake, he was sure of it now. He would not endure this any longer.
As he rose to instruct everyone to retire back to their chambers, his eyes fell upon a figure entering the ballroom. A figure dressed in red. Suddenly, he remembered why he had planned this event, and sat down again.
It had been a while since he had seen Persephone Bourgoyne outside of his dreams, and seeing her now convinced him that no fantasy could do her justice. Her milky skin seemed to glow against the red satin dress she wore. The dress matched the brilliant red of her lips, and the bottom of her black heels. As she walked in with her brother and best friend, he was sure that sitting through this party was worth it just for the sight of her in that dress.
"Yaxley." He called, and suddenly one of his most obedient servants appeared before him.
"My Lord?" He asked with a bow.
"Dance with Ms. Bourgoyne. You have given me information about her past, now I want to know about her present." He instructed.
"Yes, sire." Answered Yaxley with a bow as he made his way through the crowd. Suddenly, with a nod to the musicians who were in the room, music started playing. Upon the sound, the room immediately seemed to part as the two genders began to seek each other out for the dance.
Yet his eyes remained on one person. He watched as Persephone rolled her eyes at whatever her blonde friend, Emily, had said to her before she began to dance with Damon. He noted how startled Persephone looked upon seeing Yaxley behind her, and he smirked as he saw her treat Yaxley as if he was a necessary chore she must finish to have real fun.
As Yaxley placed his hand upon Persephone's waist, Tom felt a hot pit of anger begin to stir. This feeling only deepened as he thought of how irrational he was being. Not wanting to watch her dance with Yaxley anymore, he began to search the room for other distractions.
It was then that his eyes settled upon Alphrad Black, who was currently eating something in a way that made him greatly resemble a dog. Tom begun to think of the news Yaxley had relayed to him the night before, and decided to use this opportunity to find the truth of the rumors himself.
He slowly got up and approached the young Black boy. Tom firmly tapped his shoulder, and tried to withhold a look of disgust as Black nearly chocked upon seeing who had just touched him.
"My Lord," he said with a bow that Tom did not believe showed enough respect. Feeling his anger again rise, he took a step closer to Black, showing him how much he truly towered over him.
"Are you in love with Ms. Bourgoyne?" He whispered in a menacing voice, and Alphrad nearly chocked.
"Wha- I, no." Tom was annoyed. This boy could barely form a coherent sentence. He did not understand Persephone's attachment to such a common creature.
"I heard you were once engaged." Tom continued, not showing any emotion.
"No, that's not true," Alphrad said firmly. "Persephone and I are childhood friends, nothing more." Alphrad stated as fear coursed through him.
Tom sat for a moment, digesting the news. So it was not true. He knew it had not been. All the same, he wished to convey to this Black boy that no engagement between him and Persephone would ever come to be. So Tom stood tough, allowing the fear in Alphrad to increase to its fullest potential before he whispered,
"enjoy the party." And retreated back to his original chair.
The music ended, and Tom searched for Yaxley and Persephone, only to find Yaxley alone. Yaxley peered over at his master, and shook his head in confusion.
Idiot. Tom thought with a silent tut of annoyance. Must he find everything out himself?
Tom's annoyance was distracted by the sight of Persephone marching over to the boy he had just finished interrogating. With interest he watched as Persephone seemed to intently be asking Black questions. The Black boy barely replied, and seemed to have not gotten over his fear. Good.
Tom tried to remain impassive as he saw Persephone then drag Alphrad to the floor as the music began to play. As Alphrad placed his hand upon Persephone's waist, Tom wondered whether the boy had lied to him. If he did, he will die. He thought.
Unfortunately for Tom, his thoughts of vengeance morphed into something else as his attention was completely conquered by the movement of Persephone. As he watched her gracefully move, her dark curls sliding upon her back, and her red dress swaying to reveal every contour of her body, he began to feel the same fire that he had felt every time he thought of his haunted dreams of her. With exasperation he wondered how long it would take him to get this image out of his head.
Whatever the distraction could be, nothing could come soon enough. He needed something to distract him. He looked through the room and noted that Faustine, Persephone's lovely and slightly wonton sister, was talking to the Black girl.
He wondered why the two sisters had not addressed each other the entire night, and then began to recall Yaxley's words about them being rivals. He began to study the eldest Bourgoyne sister. She was undoubtedly attractive. Her blonde bob framed her heart shaped face, and he noted that out of the three siblings, she looked the most different. She hardly looked related, he noted, except for her eyes. Her green, almond eyes matched her sister's, although they possessed a more earthy green. Other than this, their eyes were nearly identical.
Perfect. Tom thought as he rose and made his way over to Faustine.
"Ms. Bourgoyne?" he asked as she turned around, gasped, and bowed.
"My Lord." She said in a deep curtsey.
"May I have this dance?" He inquired.
"Your Lord may have whatever he wishes," she stated as she peered up at him with a seductive look in her eyes. Well, she was certainly more forward than her sister. And more complacent.
"Tell me, Ms. Bourgoyne. I have not had the opportunity to really talk with my young recruits. How are you enjoying your time here?" He asked as she began to dance closer to him than necessary.
"It is the best time of my life, sir," she began, "there is no greater joy in my life than serving our great and noble cause." She finished, adopting a sweet smile.
"And how do you find the castle?"
"Absolutely lovely. I have not been in one to equal it, including my own family estates." She said, not so subtly dropping the wealth and prestige of her family into the conversation.
"Indeed. And the tasks and training, they are not too difficult?" He asked, not really caring about her answer. He just needed these questions to lead somewhere.
"Not at all, sir!" She answered enthusiastically. "Every little task is just helping us get one step closer to putting our race back in power, as we should be. There can be no task too difficult for our cause." She finished, looking up at him with complete devotion.
"And what of your peers? Are they of the same mind as you?" He asked, realizing he'd have to lead her to the answers he wanted.
"Not all of the same degree, of course," she began, pouting a little that the conversation had moved away from her, "but your Lord has great supporters here. We would do anything to please you." She stated as she moved against him. "Anything."
Tom tried to hide his shock at her forwardness. He knew he was an attractive man, and throughout his school years he had attracted women. However, he cared nothing for appearances, and used his own looks merely as a way to get what he wanted. But through all of it, he had not experienced any woman who was as forward as Faustine. He was sure this was a result of her getting everything she had wanted in her life. He tried not to fear bitter as he thought of his own childhood, and how he had been denied so much as a parent.
But that would all change now. He would not want for anything again. He had made that vow to himself. But now, he found himself wanting. Wanting for the witch who had been enticing him since he had first seen her. As he gazed down at her sister, he had no doubt that any man in his position would use her to satisfy any desires he had. But he was not an ordinary man, and he would not have an ordinary witch.
He was extraordinary, and only the extraordinary would do. Still, he knew perfectly well how to use desires to his advantage. It was so easy to control people, once you knew what they desired. Which is why he had always been in complete control of his. And while he was not currently in control, he would take what he wanted and vanquish the flames that were consuming him. So he looked at Faustine, and realized she was another chest piece that could be used on the way to take the queen. How easy it would be to elicit information from this girl.
"That is good to hear, Ms. Bourgoyne," he stated calmly. "I would love to hear more of your opinions of your stay here. I was wondering if you would accompany me to dinner tomorrow night, so that we may discuss more things?" He asked with satisfaction and as he saw her light up at the prospect.
"I would be delighted, my Lord!" She replied as the music ended. Tom gave a bow, and then turned around.
His eyes immediately fell upon Persephone, whose face was a mixture of bewilderment and shock. He smirked, gave a quick nod in her direction, and then exited the ballroom.
Checkmate.