Chapter 12

What is Done in the Dark

Hessa did some shopping and workshops that helped with her abilities as a Conk and a lover. So far, there were no dreams of Harry Potter. Perhaps she was remembering something from Draco which could happen when wizard and Conk were together for long periods of time, but if that were so, why was she with him? It was most likely nothing and she shrugged it off.

It was getting dark out and it was her third day in the city and heading to the hot springs to fully relax and rejuvenate as was her nightly routine…but there was a problem, a small scream had been heard down one of the small streets. Hessa investigated. Normally there was no crime here, so for her to go look was not unexpected, maybe someone had hurt themselves?

Instead she found two of Draco's men holding a female Conk, one that had been drugged slightly and was now trying to be forced to drink something, "HEY!" she shouted.

"Oi! This is no business of yours!" the man warned.

"The hell it's not!"

The man went to strike but she put up her shield and threw him against the wall, the other one tried to attack as well but received the same fate. But they were tough as all of his men were and they tried again, only to stop when they saw her bracelet…the distinct symbol of the Malfoy family. "You're not….?" he trembled.

"Draco Malfoy's wife," she scowled. "What are you doing to this female Conk? Is she yours?"

"Well, no…but…"

"But? If she is not yours, if there is no bond, than what are you doing to her!" They had nothing…but Hessa noticed a small bottle in one of the men's hands, "what is that you're holding?"

"It's nothing, Mrs. Malfoy."

"Give it to me!" she held out her hand. They had no choice and they gave her the bottle, "this is…? It's that potion…the one that forces the bond! It's illegal! How did you get it!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am but we aren't allowed to say."

"Then get me my husband!"

"Mrs. Malfoy, please…we'll leave her alone."

"Get me my husband or I'll tell him you attacked me," she narrowed her eyes. "How dare you come into my city and do this…this….sacrilege! Get me my husband, now!"

They were gone.

…...

She paced back and forth until the heavy knock came to her door and Draco entered. He was happy to see her and his embrace felt wonderful to her. "What is it that you needed to see me, my love? Do you wish to come home?" his voice was hopeful.

"Draco," her hands touched his face. He was like a small boy waiting for his only friend to come home from summer vacation, "I still have a few more days to rest…"

"Then is it…?" he looked at her in a seductive way. "I'll be more than happy to take care of that need…"

Hessa pulled away, "no, my love…it's something else."

He frowned, "then what?"

She explained the whole situation, "then I find this…" The potion was in the middle of her palm, staring him in the face. "Draco, how did they get this?" He remained silent, he was hiding something from her. "Draco…it's illegal, you made it so…if it's something that is going on without your knowledge, you have to do something. You're men can't do this within the city, that can't do it at all…."

He took it in his hand, "I know….it shouldn't be happening, but some of the men had complained to the Dark Lord that they wished for Conks of their own. That it wasn't fair that the common wizards had such servants and they did not…"

There was a look of disbelief, "so…he…gave this to them. You….you knew?"

"I didn't know it was actually being considered."

There was that feeling she got when he lied, it was like burst of hot flame in her gut, "you're lying to me." He remained silent. "You're allowing this."

"I couldn't stop it, the demand for the Conks is great…"

"It is a natural bond that has to happen on it own!" she stepped even further away from him. "How could you let this happen, knowing what we have? Knowing…do you realize that you're disrupting the natural order of things with us? Do you even care!"

"Calm down, Hessa," he demanded.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" she paced angrily. "Maybe the reason the bonds haven't been happening frequently is because the wizarding world is under a tyrant!"

"Stop it, Hessa."

"The only time a large number of bonds happen is when the wizarding world is in balance, and it's not, and you know it. The council doesn't know about this, do they? They wouldn't approve it." Once again he remained silent. "All you see us as are tools, tools to make you more powerful, you don't even appreciate what we are, what we give…just another form of slave! To bring your teas, to give you sex, form to whatever you want…the great Merlin must be rolling over in his grave!"

"Hessa, please, I don't want you upset."

"Are you honestly trying to placate me? I find out that you are allowing your men to practically rape Conk females just so that can have a new toy, and you're trying to tell me to calm down, that it's all right! I thought you loved me, Draco," Hessa turned her back to hide the tears that were forming.

"I do love you, more than my own life."

"Than why are you allowing my people to be hurt like this? You're the one that outlawed it…"

"He overran my decision, he can do that. And with some of the men so desperate for something as rare and beautiful as a Conk…"

"Then stand up to him. You've done it before when it comes to me…"

"You are my wife," he touched her arms…the truth was he wanted to yank her from the city as soon as possible. If he didn't, she would inform the council. "When it comes to my family, I have say….when it comes to diplomatic ideals such as this, I do not have as much power."

She looked down, "Draco, if you don't or can't. I will go to the council and they will stop it. You don't have to take blame, they will say they caught them, you can act appalled, the Dark Lord will save face…please…I know it's to make the Dark Regime stronger, but it's too high a cost and I don't want to have to choose. I love you so much."

He watched her shoulder shake, she was gently sobbing until he pulled a cloth from his chest pocket and put it over her mouth, "I'm sorry, my love. Please forgive me." Hessa struggled for only a minute before Draco carried her off.

His guards cleared the way so the Conk would not protest, except one slipped through…Sora, "you are a fucking monster, aren't you?"

"Ah yes, Sora. May I remind you she is my wife and I am her wizard. That Conk law says that after three days of rejuvenation I may retrieve her as I see fit? Besides, I had some of your water collected and taken to my home so that she may finish bathing and resting. You are quite a pain in my side, Sora…if I were you, I'd avoid getting any further in my way," Draco glared at him as he mounted his dragon and flew out of sight.

Sora grinned at the sky. What Draco Malfoy didn't know was that Hessa, his wife, had confided in him in the time he was guarding her. There were two bottles that Hessa confiscated from the two dark wizards and he was given one of them to give to the council in case something should happen. She had given the beast far too much credit, but thankfully not credit enough. She had hoped that he would be on their side and that she was giving the bottle to Sora in case Voldemort did something to her….

…...

Viktor, head of the council looked at the bottle, "you are sure?"

"Yes, it's started."

"I see. We will have to prepare soon. We will give Voldemort a false sense of security…we will give it a few more years as planned. Make sure all free Conk females and males are never alone, and a curfew will be put into place. Signals will have to be created when the Dark Regime come in. It was our own fault for even considering allowing them in…now we will have to be discrete in our protection of our city until we can fully shut the doors on them. We are in for one hell of a chess match."

…...

She woke up in their bed slightly groggy, pushing herself up she found Draco sitting calmly next to her. "Before you become angry with me, please let me explain…"

"Why you took me from the Conk city, knowing full well I have to rest?" Hessa glared at him.

"Yes. I had to take you, you found out something that the Dark Lord has been trying to hide. For years, I have tried to make sure that you stay under his radar…by you finding this out, you're back on it. He knows you wouldn't defy the city, regardless of your loyalty to me. If I left you there, he might have tried to…," Draco shut his eyes tightly, the thought of his mate possibly being murdered was too much to bare.

He was telling the truth, "I had to stop them."

"I know. You were amazing, they told me how you threw them…they were no match for you, but they also told the Dark Lord. He knows how strong you are now…"

"I don't care if he knows. He's always feared me and I know why…because he knows you love me and he hates it. He wants to control you and he can't because I'm here…I have helped make this family what it is, not him and that just drives him mad. The Conk city listens to me, the one thing he really can't get a hold of at all. I control the things he simply cannot touch…and I didn't ask for any of it," she hung her head down and tears came down.

Draco moved to the bed and touched her face, "I know…it is my fault. I had to have you, I obsessed over you all the time when I was a child. The only thing I wanted, in my uncertain and conflicted youth, was you. I didn't think it would be like this…and I honestly didn't think we would win, but we did. I wish we hadn't…maybe we could have lived a simpler life, 'but then you'd belong to Potter,' he thought.

"Please, don't let them do this. I'm begging you as your wife and as your Conk that you don't allow this abuse. It would be like someone doing it to me, to keep me from you. What would they do if the Conk they took actually found her true wizard? Kill them?" Draco looked down. "They're going to, aren't they? Kill the rightful master? Draco! No! Please…don't."

"I will do my best," he hugged her. "I don't agree with this," that was the truth. He then looked at her, "I had a bath made with the special water…I know it's not the same as the spring but the Healer said that it would retain the same effect?" Hessa smiled at him. "I need you to stay in the house for a while when you're by yourself. Unless you're with me, I don't think it will be safe for you…"

"Draco, we don't have to be here. We can leave, take the children…Helena can finish her education within the city walls…"

"No."

"Why? Is it because of what they say? They're just angry because the Dark Lord is trying to take over so much."

That isn't what Draco feared. If it wasn't for his hidden secrets with Marius and Harry, he would do it. But he feared that once in the city, the Conks would retaliate and he would lose her forever, "because, we could end up causing a war. The Dark Lord would stop at nothing to try and find the city. They could all be in danger."

"The Conks can hold their own."

"Maybe if you wouldn't be in the city, but you would be…the children would be. I can't live without you, Hessa. I can't, I would go insane…"

Her small hands felt his face and touched his ears and jaw, "you are so charming…when you aren't being a pratt."

Draco chuckled but then looked serious for a moment, "I have to see what he knows…and if he knows than I have to find a way to appease him."

She nodded, "I understand. I worry…you do far too much to protect me. It must be exhausting. Do you ever wish…that I was just like one of the other wives who just like to get their hair done or shop?"

"Gods no! If you ever became like that, I'd divorce you. Besides, you make my life exciting. Believe it or not I'm quite bored most of the time."

"Right," she crossed her arms.

"It's true. All I do is work out or supervise….I do have to act like a complete asshole now and then, but for the most part I just pretend to be this horrid monster."

"Draco…I know you're trying to be funny, but I know…I know you don't want me to see that side of you," Hessa said softly. "I wondered if I was your enemy, if we had never met…how would you treat me?"

"If I looked upon you, I know I …I would take you as mine."

"You don't know that, maybe you would destroy me. You're strong, Draco….I wouldn't survive you."

"Stop talking like that!"

"What if I became your enemy, what if I left to the Conk city? What would you do then?"

Draco straightened himself and glared at her, "you won't be leaving, so don't entertain the thought…I would punish you, but never kill you."

She stood up, "Draco…I've done something."

"And what is it that you have done?" his voice gave a warning tone.

"Understand that I love you…and it isn't you that I went against. The men…they had more than just one potion on them. I confiscated two…and I gave one to one of the guards, the council now has it and knows about what is happening."

Sitting there a minute, he looked at her as if contemplating what to say or even do, "so why do you risk tell me?"

"Because the Dark Lord doesn't know….and I don't want him to. I don't wish to keep secrets from you…I want you to protect my people because you love me. Because it is the right thing to do."

"And if I attack the city?"

"I would never forgive you. Ever."

"You would dare put conditions on me?"

"I would," she backed up as Draco came to his feet and towards her, slowly his eyes turned red. "Draco….do not be angry with me."

"You defied me, Hessa."

"I have not defied you, I gave it to the guard because I thought you didn't know…I thought you would police it and instead you're the one who lied to me. I have every right to defend my people!"

"But your first loyalty is to me," he hated that damned city. She was going to ask to go there and he couldn't do it, she would find out about Marius and Harry…eventually.

"It is. But since you're putting it so selfishly, I guess I'm glad that I did it anyway!"

"I am not being selfish!" he roared at her. "Everything I do, I do for us! I spoil you, give into to your every whim! Let you do whatever you want!"

"Bollix! You don't let me do whatever I want! I have to go through you to breathe!"

"For your protection, you silly woman!"

"I don't need protection…what I need is a husband who will stand up for what is right! Not just stand up for what is his and only his. Draco, you lead an entire army…you have the charisma and talent to do whatever you want instead of letting some madman who is out of control, control you of all people."

"Don't you like the things I give you, my presents, do they not please you?"

"I love the things you give me because they're given from you, not because of what they are," Hessa sighed. The Malfoys had always been a materialistic family, it didn't surprise her that Draco was completely missing the point right now. "You keep me in a bubble and think I don't know what is going on…but I do. Please, I'm asking that you stop this. I know you can." He looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language. "UH! You're so stubborn! If it's not on your terms, it's not worth listening to, is it?" Hessa headed for the bedroom door, she couldn't bare to be in the same room with him at the moment.

"Where are you going!"

"To take a walk on the grounds. I can't talk about this with you right now!"

"You are to stay in this house!"

"No. I don't care if that damned madman is outside waiting for me himself! If you're so worried about it, why don't you actually stand up for once."

"Hessa, you know I love you…"

"You only love yourself," she slammed the door behind her and walked down the hallway, trying not to cry. The door re-opened, Draco came out and he was starting to follow her, she just kept walking….until he walked faster and she realized then how angry he looked. Hessa had provoked his anger and she ran from her husband, for the first time that she could remember, she ran from him.

"Come here, you defiant Conk!" Hessa didn't obey him, she was Hessa and he hated and loved her for it. Draco caught up with her quickly enough, but instead of grabbing her, when he was only a few feet away he jumped over her and there he stood only inches away, causing her to slide on the carpet and hurt her ankle, she yelped like a wounded animal. He picked her up by her arms and then lifted her body, making her face him, "I do not love only myself, you are there in my heart, always. But I cannot stop the entire world from spinning all the time. He is also in charge of those armies, Hessa, and there are men there that will be more than willing to try and kill me to gain my position. What do you think will happen to you and the children then? Do you think you'll even make it to the city? Doubtful."

"I'm just asking…"

"I know what you're asking, and I said I would try. You said the council knew, well then, I'm sure the will take steps to prevent it or make it very hard. You will not be punished, Hessa. And I did not say that I wouldn't keep it from the Dark Lord…I just couldn't believe how much you were yelling at me, you've never done that before," he smiled.

"My ankle hurts," she said like a child.

"Than we shall heal it," Draco took her to the bedroom and put salve on her ankle. "Sometimes you can be a great pain in my backside, woman."

"Stop calling me 'woman'. And if I'm such a pain, then you can release me as is your right, remember?" Hessa gasped in pain as Draco squeezed her ankle, "owe! That was rude!"

"Then stop talking nonsense."

She touched his hand, "Draco, will you show me how strong you are?"

He stopped and looked at her, "you don't need to know how strong I am. I am feared for a reason, shouldn't that tell you enough?"

"I feel like I only know half of you, I want to connect with you so much more so that I can understand…"

"Understand?"

"Everything about you. You know everything about me…"

"Fine, do you know the bars in the gym?"

"Yes," Hessa looked at him.

"They are made of titanium because regular steel bars cannot hold my weight or the type of workouts I have to do. I leapt over your head as you saw, but I can jump much farther than that…and these clawed hands of mine that are gently taking care of your ankle…can crush a man's neck easily." He stood up and took a chair from the corner of the room, then broke it in half with great ease as if he was breaking a small toothpick, "and things like this are nothing used against me." Draco leapt from where he was onto their bed next to her, it startled her as she squeaked, "see?"

"You are much stronger than the last time you showed me."

"Yes," he paused as if thinking. "Hessa, if you are testing me to see if the guards at your city can take me on if you choose to leave…"

"No…I…," she was denying it but it had crossed her mind.

Draco stopped her by putting a single finger on her mouth, "it would be an unwise decision you would be making. I will force myself through those gates…." He grabbed the back of her neck, surprising her, "please keep in mind that you are an obsession of mine, a living and breathing thing of beauty that I must keep for myself and I have always thought that way…" He bent her backwards, "so if I have to kill every person in that city to get to you…I will, remember that." Hessa's body dropped to the bed as he straddled her on all fours and smelled her, "I can smell you a mile away."

"I know that," she pushed herself up slightly. "I have these dreams where I'm running from you…" Draco stopped and looked at her and let her sit up. "Where you're hurting people to get to me, but I can't see who it is."

He stiffened, "when did you start having these dreams?"

"The past month, why?"

"Are you pregnant?" he smiled, but a change of subject was needed.

"You would know if I'm pregnant. Besides, wouldn't I be sleeping all day? No, the dreams are vivid and sometimes very scary. I think it's been the uneasiness of the house, stress from not resting enough, that's all. Since my world revolves around you, it would make sense that you would be in my dreams…"

"But you're running from me," Draco glared.

Hessa started to unbutton his shirt, revealing his large neck and chest, "I know. But sometimes running is fun." Draco's ears pricked, she wanted to mate. "It has been almost a week ," she kissed him, her tongue gently caressing his lips until he gave in and took out her hairpins, throwing them aside, roughly removing her Conk clothing in which he became an expert now. Hessa removed his shirt and undid his pants, he felt so warm sometimes. Draco kissed down her neck as he fully engulfed her in his arms naked . Suddenly he let her drop to the bed, her body slightly twisted and watched as he took off his pants.