"Do it." She whispered.
Wand drawn, the word Crucio on the tip of his tongue, he couldn't. Her big black eyes looking at him with no fear, her thick lips holding no contempt, her face fearless, and he just couldn't. He had to. Alecto was looking at him, puzzled. Snape had eyes on the back of his head. He looked into her eyes and saw the last thing he ever wanted to see. Empathy.
Mustering the hate necessary became an arduous task. Romilda, brash, loud, sneaky, manipulative, beautiful. Curly black hair, framing her round face with an aristocratic chin jutting out. Magnificent. Everything he wanted in his wildest dreams. And he had to do this to her. When she understood that he had no other option. Her words stating as clearly as possible that she knew he was forced. He never felt so alone. He was an animal caged in a zoo, his audience expecting him to be the beast he is.
With a tiny, almost imperceptible nod of her head, she egged him on. He would have to do this. It was this or death. He would hurt her, in a truly unforgivable way. And you cannot forgive it. Not the Cruciatus Curse. No matter how justified, how agreed upon, no one can forgive that pain. She would never look at him like that again. Never with those understanding eyes. Never with empathy. How could she give him this and then take it away?
How dare she? Did she not understand how cruel she was being? She should have spat at him. Threatened him. Anything but this. He wanted to protect her, and forever she would want to be protected from him. Evil, that was what she was. Evil. She found a way to hurt him. She wanted to force him into a beast when he was feeling a man. Well, she wanted him a beast, then let this be a zoo; safe for the observers, but the captives waiting to devour one another. She wanted this? She deserves this.
"Crucio!" He hissed out, and watched her convulsing, tears streaming, her screams and sobs filling the room.
When it was over, he turned away and left, with the sliver of a soul she had given him destroyed.
Made for the November Monthly Het-Tastic Drabble-Athon Competition, Connect the Characters Challenge.
Prompt: 25. Zoo
Character: Amycus Carrow
Pairing: Amycus Carrow / Romilda Vane