Chapter Fourteen: Seemingly Powerless
"Räénh."
Reign shot up from her pillow. Her heart was pounding painfully against her chest and she was trembling like a maniac.
"Räénh."
It was pitch black in the room. She tried to focus her eyes but the voice in her head was slowly taking over her senses.
"Come to me."
"No," she whispered, careful not to wake the man lying at her side.
"Yes," said the voice, coaxing her from the bed. She had just enough time to wrap the man's robes around her before she no longer had control over her body. She was walking--walking away from Severus, away from the dungeons--toward her own room. Her mind was going now also. She had no idea where she was, but he knew.
Reign struggled up the steps; she tried to keep a clear conscious but the voice in her head kept telling her it was going to be all right, that it would take care of her. She pushed open the door to her chambers and walked over to her closet. Buried deep in the back was a small bottle. She placed it in her pocket and ascended back downstairs. The voice told her to walk out of the castle and into the forest, and she had no choice but to follow its directions. The night was bitter cold; Reign pulled Snape's robe tighter around her shirt and shorts as she walked on top of the three inches of snow. The wind rustled her snow-white hair and goose bumps crept up on her--both from the temperature, and her horrifying situation. She walked for perhaps three or four miles before she came upon a small clearing. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it; except for the fact that a dark man was standing in the middle--an evil man.
Voldemort smiled. "Come to me, child," he beckoned. Reign did as she was told. He didn't tell her to stop walking until she was practically on top of him. The Dark Lord stroked her cheek with one very long, very pale, and very disgusting finger. "You are even more beautiful in person. I can see why Severus has kept you from me." He ran that nasty finger through her hair, stopping at her ear. He played with the point for some time, never taking his hideous red eyes from hers. Finally, he reached into her pocket and retrieved the vial he had been after. He rolled it in his hands, smirking the whole time. Reign never took her eyes off of him. "Very good," he whispered, "very good. Now, what shall I do to you? You have caused me a lot of trouble these past few years, it is only my right to repay you with the same sort of torment." Just then a small hooded figure ran into the clearing. He fell to his master's side, and spoke in a high squeaky voice.
"Master, the centaur. He knows we are here. He is headed this way with a small band of the creatures of this forest." His master laughed.
"You fool. Have all of what is left of your pitiful brains fallen out of that thick skull of yours on your way here? Have you forgotten why I am after this?" he asked, shoving the bottle in the shriveling man's face. "With this, it does not matter who comes after me. With this, I am invincible." A low rumble could be heard in the distance. The ground started to shake.
"Please master! Another time! PLEASE!" Voldemort pulled out his wand and sent the poor man flying into the nearest tree. Then he turned his attention toward Reign. The rumble could now easily be recognized as pounding footsteps.
"So, what shall I do with you?" A roar was heard from just outside the clearing. The creature pulled the top from the vial and drank its entire contents. He laughed once more as he could feel his muscles, mind, and senses strengthening. He started to glow--only slightly--a dull white. The animals were now at the edge of the clearing. Firenze was in the lead, followed by three others of his kind. Behind them were unicorns, werewolves, giant spiders, and many others. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw a glowing Voldemort who stood alone with an oblivious elf.
"Voldemort!" Firenze shouted, "Leave this forest, or we will be forced to fight!" The dark figure cackled once more.
"You insolent fools. How dare you try and threaten me." He started to walk over to where the centaur stood, then stopped when he realized Reign was still there. He walked back to her and whispered in her ear. "Reign," she turned to face him, "go to the lake. Walk into the middle of it, and don't ever come out." She nodded. He smiled and touched her face. Her body was on fire. Both turned around and went their opposite ways. When Reign was out of sight and out of his mind, she broke into a run. She had a lot of work to do.
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