Chapter Thirteen: Incoming Call

The man sat in his office pouring over the detailed report that Skeeter had given him. It was first-class work, he had to admit, fear definitely improved her performance. Before it had been rushed documents and the occasional picture but now, now that he controlled her completely, the quality had soured. Fear was a powerful stimulant.

According to the file Cain and Potter were tied first in the tournament. The man felt a smile pull at his lips. It was all going to plan. The Dark Lord's servant would insure that Potter reached the cup first, that was a problem, but the man had learnt never to underestimate Cain. She was a worthy adversary and even without help would likely reach the cup first. However, that didn't mean she wouldn't get help. He needed to be sure. The plan could not fail. Not now. There was too much at stake.

Years ago the plan had been for Bliss to take control, to rule instead of Guild and to bring the Irish Sanctuary back into the position of power that they deserved. Bliss was the only one who could have done that. Bliss was respected, Bliss was powerful and with him at the helm the other Sanctuaries would have fallen in line. But Bliss had died. It had been unfortunate and unpractical. His death had been incredibly selfish, it had almost ruined everything. But the plan had evolved, changed. Bliss' death had been a minor setback, that was all.

It had taken time and rigorous planning to change the plan, now the Sanctuaries all had to fall, but there were some who needed to be dealt with before that could happen. Pleasant and Cain, without them the Irish Sanctuary would fall, without them they would have done several times over the course of the last few years. But soon, soon they would fall.

The ringing of his phone cut through the air and the man sighed, he glanced down at his phone. He knew the number, it was the person who had given him the insight he needed and at a price he was willing to pay. Of course, he had to change his plan to suit her demands. Originally he had planned to just kill Cain, but that hadn't been practical, that hadn't suited his source's needs. Hogwarts had been the perfect back-up plan, the perfect place to hide her away and the kill her when the time was right.

"Yes?" he asked, answering his phone, he could not abide pleasantries. They were for people who far too weak minded and cowardly to get straight to the matter at hand. Besides, his time was far too valuable to be taken up with idle conversation and the pretentious masquerade of pretending to care.

"You said that you would keep me informed," the voice on the other end of the line answered, false emotion clinging to her words as though she was upset that he had not bothered to call. No doubt she intended to make him feel guilty, perhaps persuade him into more regular updates. It was a game he was familiar with and far too experienced at playing to fall for. "It has been over a month."

"I have been busy," the man told her. "But there is no need to worry. The plan progressing perfectly, Cain will die on June twenty-fourth and Pleasant will soon follow."

"Good." The voice said, her voice turning cold. "After all, I have held up my end of the bargain, now you must hold up yours. I take it that you have a plan if she escapes?"

"It is not likely that she will. But yes, I do. I rarely underestimate my opponents."

"And what about your allies?" the voice asked. "Are you sure that Skeeter can be relied upon? Malfoy could have cost us everything. We do not need another of his kind failing you again."

"She can," the man assured her. "The connection to Malfoy was something I had not foreseen. But the unforeseen often takes place when dealing with the Skeleton Detective. However, I have taken the necessary precautions this time."

"Do they still believe that Voldemort was behind the attack?"

"They do," the man confirmed. "Skeeter tells me that they are still insistent on finding the link there. Do not worry, you will not be discovered."

"I hope you are correct because if I am I will not be the only one suffering their retribution."

Before he could speak again the line went dead, asserting her power over him, making sure that she was the one in control. At least, that was what she thought and the man was in no hurry to correct her. An obedient servant is fair less likely to betray their master than an out-spoken one. She had no real power of him, nothing to threaten him with, despite her illusions. They had never met, they had only ever spoken over the phone and, while she knew where his office was, there were a hundred others in Dublin he could move to when they time came. Illusions of grandeur were harmless in the hands of the powerless. It was only when power was added to that lethal cocktail of ambition and delusion.

Not that that mattered. As soon as she served her purpose he would discard her but she could still be useful, it was the only reason he allowed her such freedom. After all, Pleasant and Cain were at a severe disadvantage, they did not know who all the players were in their little game and they certainly did not know about her. It would remain that way.

At least until she lost her usefulness.

AN: Sorry for such a short chapter but this is a part of the plot that I meant to include earlier but did not. Normal sized chapters will be up again soon.