Chapter Thirteen: The Absence and The Eyes
For a moment she forgot what had happened. The concrete floor was cold, and damp beneath Iris' cheek. As she raised her head off the ground she found her body too weak to fully respond. The memories flooded her mind, and Iris felt as though a large weight now covered her chest.
"Voldemort" she whispered the name into the stifled night air. The unfamiliar word burst from beneath her chapped lips causing her body to shiver in remembrance.
Finally pulling herself up into a sitting position Iris realized that she had been moved to different room. She lay at the edge of an indoor lake. The entire room was covered in a gray marble like stone and on the other side of the lake across from where she sat stood a giant stone sculpture of the head of Salazar Slytherin. She recognized him immediately from a painting she had seen in the dungeons. Quickly Iris scanned the room searching for other occupants. She was alone.
Taking a deep breath she raised herself slowly to her feet and began to explore her surroundings. The movement hurt her, but she found herself needing it. It was a pain she could identify, and concentrate on drawing her thoughts away from whatever horrors her future may now hold for her. Finding that all paths on her side of the lake only led to oversized sewer pipes Iris eyed Salazar's head suspiciously. A room like this was not built for mere looks. There was something important here and she would find it.
Without further thought Iris walked directly into the lake hoping that there were no strange animals in its shadowy depths who would not welcome a visitor she swiftly and efficiently occasionally feeling the brush of something against her leg and picking up her speed. Clutching the other edge she pulled herself up onto the dry ground. It must have been farther than she thought because she was out of breath, and staring up at the utterly enormous ear of the founder of Slytherin house.
Iris searched the stone sculpture for what felt like hours. She pressed on protruding parts like buttons, dug into recesses, and scanned as much of the upper sections as her aching eyes would allow. Finally somewhere around the side of the neck Iris pushed hard on a section of rock that looked a minute shade darker than the rest.
Lines of red light burst from underneath her hands and traced the outline of a door on the surface of the hard rock. Iris stepped back quickly as the door swung violently open revealing a long dark passage. Iris mentally cursed her lack of wand as she put one hand on either wall of the narrow hall and began her decent into the inside of the sculpture. It was not long before she felt a change in texture to her left. She brushed her hands over the surface feeling for a door knob or knot. She found a small bump where the door knob would have been and pressed roughly down on it. Another door swung open and this time she was in a well lit room full of strange artifacts and items.
Ever wall was covered in floor to ceiling shelves and these were packed with bottles jars and gruesome looking props. Knives, chains, shrunken heads, and withered lifeless hands. Iris turned to see a wall that contained only items made from human body parts. Iris shivered and pulled her tattered and wet robe tighter around herself.
It was then that she became aware that someone had dressed her again. Her robe was the same but underneath she wore a deep purple dress. It was drenched in water from her swim, but she saw that must have been extremely beautiful before. It was however, much too revealing for Iris' taste. The neckline plunged almost to her belly button revealing the entire midsection of her chest and cleavage. She was relieved to see that the rest of her breasts were completely covered and secure. There was a log slit in the skirt that caused her entire leg to reveal itself each time she took a step. The dress was beaded elegantly, and dark embroidered ribbons trimmed the neckline and the bottom hem.
Why would someone who had just tortured her dress her so extravagantly? Iris felt her stomach drop when her mind supplied her with the obvious reasons for primping young female captives. Closing her eyes Iris pushed those thoughts away and concentrated on the contents of the room. She ran her hand along the edge of a large dagger her teeth clenching as she imagined what its last task might have been.
A jolt of electricity ran up her arm and she lost all feeling in her body. Visions of black cloaks, blood, and sickening smiles filled her subconsciousness until she collapsed on the floor and the world went dark for a brief moment.
Iris stifled a sob. She was a seer. That's what just happened, she had a vision. Whatever Voldemort had done to her worked. Tears blurred her vision as she scrambled to her feet and ran out of the room and down the dark hallway frantically searching for a way out when she found her feet suddenly stuck to the floor and the grim face of Voldemort staring back at her.
"Where are you headed to my pet? I have a job for you, but what have you done with my beautiful gift." His fingered traced down the length of Iris' plunging neckline. As his skin grazed her own she felt a strange completeness. Like her body was reaching for his. She drew in a raspy breathe and willed her body to recoil to his touch the way her every emotion and thought did, but still her blood betrayed her. It wanted his touch.
He began a deep rumbling laugh that echoed through Iris' empty shell of a body. "Yes, my pet. You feel the connection now don't you? My blood flows through your veins. I have won you." With those words Voldemort stepped so close to Iris that his entire face became a blur of wrinkled and putrid skin. She could not even make out his features; she could only smell his stale breath, and pray for release from this nightmare. Iris closed her eyes knowing that no amount of soap, and boiling water could ever make her feel clean again.
He muttered a drying spell and pulled off Iris' torn outer robe. "Now, my pet, you look presentable. I will take you to my guest. You will tell me everything he knows."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Iris soon learned the extent of her powers she saw a new guest every night. She would charm them and the grab hold of them, opening up the hidden chambers of their mind. All of this was done within the secret confines of the stone statue of Salazar Slitherin. She was brought to a different room every night. He was deliberately making it impossible for her to know her way through the twisted passages.
Iris learned it was best to obey the Dark Lord. He had too much control over her body. He did not even need to point a wand at her anymore. He simply willed the crucius curse into her frail form, and laughed as she fell to the ground in screaming convulsions.
As the days went by she retreated more and more inside herself. Obeying, and yet diligently searching and planning for her escape. The men she was left with never carried a wand, but she checked each one while they lay on the floor recovering from her probing their thoughts.
Whenever she could she would travel through the long passages within the sculpture searching for a possible way out. Every time she thought she was nearing an exit there stood Voldemort blocking her path. He would lead her away from the hope of escape and deeper within the dark tunnels of her prison. Every night she was left in a different room. She was lost.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Voldemort guided her body through the passages. She let her mind go and allowed him to telepathically lead her right up to the stone door. Pressing the knob she felt a strange familiarity rush over her.
She stepped inside to see a man inside. Iris felt her blood turn cold. This man knew evil and embraced it. He was no simpleton like the ones before. That could be swayed with any sort of visible flesh. They had been tests. This was what she was made to face. "No one of consequence" she heard Voldemort slither inside her head, "but he knows how to build magical items. Find out what he knows."
Iris stepped artfully into the room. The man had not yet noticed her presence. She nearly gasped. The room was the same as the one she had found during her initial exploration into the tunnels. From this room she knew the way out of the tunnels. Once outside she would simply have to take her chances.
First she would have to deal with the man. It would be more difficult this time. If he gave her his hand she could control it. It would not make her weak like forcing it does. She needed those few minutes after the even to begin her escape.
"What are you doing here?" She startled him out of his reverie.
He looked Iris up and down suspiciously "I was sent for." His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"Why were you sent for?" It was best this way. To tell nothing. To show no weakness, only strength. Then they sought you. He took a step towards her, his question still looming in his eyes. "I am no one of importance. Who sent for you?"
"Tell me who you are little one. I dislike questions."
She smiled slightly. "My, but you are persistant." Her mouth curved into a seductive smile. "So am I." She pulled the string of her robe allowing it to fall to the floor and revealing her tautelizing dress.
"I will not touch you. No one takes what belongs to Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord owns everything within these walls."
"Does he?" She took slow steady steps towards him until they were only inches apart. "Does he own you then? You are, after all, within the same walls that I am."
"I serve him. Yes." His breath came out shakily. She was winning. "Whom do you serve?"
"You. If you'll allow it." He drew in another quick breath. She shrugged and turned away. "Perhaps I've made a mistake." Iris stepped back allowing him the opportunity to stop her.
He took her hand in his own as a strange reassurance. He gave over his mind to her almost willingly. She allowed the images to sweep through her mind scanning for anything that looked important or useful. Nothing interesting passed through except for one thing. His one creation that could hold some power, and it lay right here within her grasp. Voldemort must not have it.
Iris pulled on the small chain around his neck breaking it free and shoved the strange looking hourglass into her dress. A time turner. Not approved yet by the ministry of magic. Tampering with time was extremely dangerous. It also held power beyond recognition if he had truly succeeded in its creation. There had yet to be any evidence that it even worked.
Knowing Voldemort would soon be there to collect the man and return her to her room, she concentrated on blocking her thoughts from him. She formed a wall of all the other images the man had passed her. Quickly scanning the room for anything that might aide her escape her eyes fell on a long silver box, with a glass cover.
A wand.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Iris' scream echoed through the vast chamber as she fell onto the cold concrete.
"Stupid girl! You will never get away. Crucius." Voldemort's voice held only quiet displeasure. The curse came out almost a whisper. "Even if you had succeeded in finding a way out," He drew close to her and allowed his voice to enter her brain without even speaking, "I still have a hold on you." He began to laugh.
"No matter. I have tired of you, and I crave the blood ritual. I have never heard screams so sweet." To Iris' horror he his voice began to transform into a serious of bone chilling hisses.
Iris felt all of the blood in her body grow sharp and her limbs grow cold as the giant head of a snake emerged from the black depths of the otherwise still waters.
Iris closed her eyes and ran all the while feeling the hideous creature's breath at her heels. Voldemort's foul laugh echoed through the room. "Stop!" He commanded. Her body tried to fought the order but she slowed.
Iris knew it was over. She could not run. Not from this. "If I die I am damn well going to try to take you with me!" She felt strength return to her frail body and turning to face her captor and his monstrous weapon she drew the wand.
Her curse collided with Voldemort's sending waves of green light flying in every direction. Iris felt the force of his curse enter her wand and propel her backward. As she hit the floor below her arm was crushed beneath her torso and she felt sharp pain as shattered glass entered her skin. "The time turner" her word came out in a barely audible whisper. She looked up to see another flash of green hurtle towards her and a pair of giant yellow eyes.
Her body jolted backwards. Then she saw nothing. There was no snake no Voldemort, no earth. She felt her body pulled in every direction, and yet there was no pain.
Blackness surrounded her as she aimlessly wandered. It seemed she was there for an eternity. Always from the corner of her eye she saw the smiling faces of students running, but when she turned she saw only emptiness. It was as the earth, air, and even life had simply ceased to exist and in its place was an absence. There is no word to describe it. It is an absence.
Still those moments when she was certain a robe flashing the Gryffindor house colors caught the edge of her vision that she was certain of where she was. She was dead. This was her torment. This was her punishment for her contact with the dark arts. So as time flew by Iris continued her wanderings.
Then one day she heard a dim whisper in the distance, and a weight lifted off her shoulders. She saw a light ahead and ran for it. Blinding as it was it was something amidst all of the endless absence. For what felt like years she ran towards the light as it shifted and changed. Growing and growing until it finally began to come towards her. She ran to it as it grew closer to her. Finally she felt submerged in it. Then she noticed at its core was a red ball of fire. It screamed and moaned at her. Hypnotizing her with whispers of power or pain. She could not move. It had sealed her to her spot. Within that ghastly fire she saw Voldemort's eyes.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Skye Niall, thank you for your lovely review. It made me feel better. I was having a lot of difficulty trying to describe what I saw going on. I could only think of so many ways to say...really fucking gross. :)
Sinister Papaya Fondue, yeah...it was kinda hard to write like I said. I am actually really glad to be done with it. It just seemed like it had to be that way.
Nerd Girl Im so happy to oblige! I must warn that my chapters will take longer now because I start school on Tues. I am going to post a note but...well what can you do!?!
For a moment she forgot what had happened. The concrete floor was cold, and damp beneath Iris' cheek. As she raised her head off the ground she found her body too weak to fully respond. The memories flooded her mind, and Iris felt as though a large weight now covered her chest.
"Voldemort" she whispered the name into the stifled night air. The unfamiliar word burst from beneath her chapped lips causing her body to shiver in remembrance.
Finally pulling herself up into a sitting position Iris realized that she had been moved to different room. She lay at the edge of an indoor lake. The entire room was covered in a gray marble like stone and on the other side of the lake across from where she sat stood a giant stone sculpture of the head of Salazar Slytherin. She recognized him immediately from a painting she had seen in the dungeons. Quickly Iris scanned the room searching for other occupants. She was alone.
Taking a deep breath she raised herself slowly to her feet and began to explore her surroundings. The movement hurt her, but she found herself needing it. It was a pain she could identify, and concentrate on drawing her thoughts away from whatever horrors her future may now hold for her. Finding that all paths on her side of the lake only led to oversized sewer pipes Iris eyed Salazar's head suspiciously. A room like this was not built for mere looks. There was something important here and she would find it.
Without further thought Iris walked directly into the lake hoping that there were no strange animals in its shadowy depths who would not welcome a visitor she swiftly and efficiently occasionally feeling the brush of something against her leg and picking up her speed. Clutching the other edge she pulled herself up onto the dry ground. It must have been farther than she thought because she was out of breath, and staring up at the utterly enormous ear of the founder of Slytherin house.
Iris searched the stone sculpture for what felt like hours. She pressed on protruding parts like buttons, dug into recesses, and scanned as much of the upper sections as her aching eyes would allow. Finally somewhere around the side of the neck Iris pushed hard on a section of rock that looked a minute shade darker than the rest.
Lines of red light burst from underneath her hands and traced the outline of a door on the surface of the hard rock. Iris stepped back quickly as the door swung violently open revealing a long dark passage. Iris mentally cursed her lack of wand as she put one hand on either wall of the narrow hall and began her decent into the inside of the sculpture. It was not long before she felt a change in texture to her left. She brushed her hands over the surface feeling for a door knob or knot. She found a small bump where the door knob would have been and pressed roughly down on it. Another door swung open and this time she was in a well lit room full of strange artifacts and items.
Ever wall was covered in floor to ceiling shelves and these were packed with bottles jars and gruesome looking props. Knives, chains, shrunken heads, and withered lifeless hands. Iris turned to see a wall that contained only items made from human body parts. Iris shivered and pulled her tattered and wet robe tighter around herself.
It was then that she became aware that someone had dressed her again. Her robe was the same but underneath she wore a deep purple dress. It was drenched in water from her swim, but she saw that must have been extremely beautiful before. It was however, much too revealing for Iris' taste. The neckline plunged almost to her belly button revealing the entire midsection of her chest and cleavage. She was relieved to see that the rest of her breasts were completely covered and secure. There was a log slit in the skirt that caused her entire leg to reveal itself each time she took a step. The dress was beaded elegantly, and dark embroidered ribbons trimmed the neckline and the bottom hem.
Why would someone who had just tortured her dress her so extravagantly? Iris felt her stomach drop when her mind supplied her with the obvious reasons for primping young female captives. Closing her eyes Iris pushed those thoughts away and concentrated on the contents of the room. She ran her hand along the edge of a large dagger her teeth clenching as she imagined what its last task might have been.
A jolt of electricity ran up her arm and she lost all feeling in her body. Visions of black cloaks, blood, and sickening smiles filled her subconsciousness until she collapsed on the floor and the world went dark for a brief moment.
Iris stifled a sob. She was a seer. That's what just happened, she had a vision. Whatever Voldemort had done to her worked. Tears blurred her vision as she scrambled to her feet and ran out of the room and down the dark hallway frantically searching for a way out when she found her feet suddenly stuck to the floor and the grim face of Voldemort staring back at her.
"Where are you headed to my pet? I have a job for you, but what have you done with my beautiful gift." His fingered traced down the length of Iris' plunging neckline. As his skin grazed her own she felt a strange completeness. Like her body was reaching for his. She drew in a raspy breathe and willed her body to recoil to his touch the way her every emotion and thought did, but still her blood betrayed her. It wanted his touch.
He began a deep rumbling laugh that echoed through Iris' empty shell of a body. "Yes, my pet. You feel the connection now don't you? My blood flows through your veins. I have won you." With those words Voldemort stepped so close to Iris that his entire face became a blur of wrinkled and putrid skin. She could not even make out his features; she could only smell his stale breath, and pray for release from this nightmare. Iris closed her eyes knowing that no amount of soap, and boiling water could ever make her feel clean again.
He muttered a drying spell and pulled off Iris' torn outer robe. "Now, my pet, you look presentable. I will take you to my guest. You will tell me everything he knows."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Iris soon learned the extent of her powers she saw a new guest every night. She would charm them and the grab hold of them, opening up the hidden chambers of their mind. All of this was done within the secret confines of the stone statue of Salazar Slitherin. She was brought to a different room every night. He was deliberately making it impossible for her to know her way through the twisted passages.
Iris learned it was best to obey the Dark Lord. He had too much control over her body. He did not even need to point a wand at her anymore. He simply willed the crucius curse into her frail form, and laughed as she fell to the ground in screaming convulsions.
As the days went by she retreated more and more inside herself. Obeying, and yet diligently searching and planning for her escape. The men she was left with never carried a wand, but she checked each one while they lay on the floor recovering from her probing their thoughts.
Whenever she could she would travel through the long passages within the sculpture searching for a possible way out. Every time she thought she was nearing an exit there stood Voldemort blocking her path. He would lead her away from the hope of escape and deeper within the dark tunnels of her prison. Every night she was left in a different room. She was lost.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Voldemort guided her body through the passages. She let her mind go and allowed him to telepathically lead her right up to the stone door. Pressing the knob she felt a strange familiarity rush over her.
She stepped inside to see a man inside. Iris felt her blood turn cold. This man knew evil and embraced it. He was no simpleton like the ones before. That could be swayed with any sort of visible flesh. They had been tests. This was what she was made to face. "No one of consequence" she heard Voldemort slither inside her head, "but he knows how to build magical items. Find out what he knows."
Iris stepped artfully into the room. The man had not yet noticed her presence. She nearly gasped. The room was the same as the one she had found during her initial exploration into the tunnels. From this room she knew the way out of the tunnels. Once outside she would simply have to take her chances.
First she would have to deal with the man. It would be more difficult this time. If he gave her his hand she could control it. It would not make her weak like forcing it does. She needed those few minutes after the even to begin her escape.
"What are you doing here?" She startled him out of his reverie.
He looked Iris up and down suspiciously "I was sent for." His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"Why were you sent for?" It was best this way. To tell nothing. To show no weakness, only strength. Then they sought you. He took a step towards her, his question still looming in his eyes. "I am no one of importance. Who sent for you?"
"Tell me who you are little one. I dislike questions."
She smiled slightly. "My, but you are persistant." Her mouth curved into a seductive smile. "So am I." She pulled the string of her robe allowing it to fall to the floor and revealing her tautelizing dress.
"I will not touch you. No one takes what belongs to Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord owns everything within these walls."
"Does he?" She took slow steady steps towards him until they were only inches apart. "Does he own you then? You are, after all, within the same walls that I am."
"I serve him. Yes." His breath came out shakily. She was winning. "Whom do you serve?"
"You. If you'll allow it." He drew in another quick breath. She shrugged and turned away. "Perhaps I've made a mistake." Iris stepped back allowing him the opportunity to stop her.
He took her hand in his own as a strange reassurance. He gave over his mind to her almost willingly. She allowed the images to sweep through her mind scanning for anything that looked important or useful. Nothing interesting passed through except for one thing. His one creation that could hold some power, and it lay right here within her grasp. Voldemort must not have it.
Iris pulled on the small chain around his neck breaking it free and shoved the strange looking hourglass into her dress. A time turner. Not approved yet by the ministry of magic. Tampering with time was extremely dangerous. It also held power beyond recognition if he had truly succeeded in its creation. There had yet to be any evidence that it even worked.
Knowing Voldemort would soon be there to collect the man and return her to her room, she concentrated on blocking her thoughts from him. She formed a wall of all the other images the man had passed her. Quickly scanning the room for anything that might aide her escape her eyes fell on a long silver box, with a glass cover.
A wand.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Iris' scream echoed through the vast chamber as she fell onto the cold concrete.
"Stupid girl! You will never get away. Crucius." Voldemort's voice held only quiet displeasure. The curse came out almost a whisper. "Even if you had succeeded in finding a way out," He drew close to her and allowed his voice to enter her brain without even speaking, "I still have a hold on you." He began to laugh.
"No matter. I have tired of you, and I crave the blood ritual. I have never heard screams so sweet." To Iris' horror he his voice began to transform into a serious of bone chilling hisses.
Iris felt all of the blood in her body grow sharp and her limbs grow cold as the giant head of a snake emerged from the black depths of the otherwise still waters.
Iris closed her eyes and ran all the while feeling the hideous creature's breath at her heels. Voldemort's foul laugh echoed through the room. "Stop!" He commanded. Her body tried to fought the order but she slowed.
Iris knew it was over. She could not run. Not from this. "If I die I am damn well going to try to take you with me!" She felt strength return to her frail body and turning to face her captor and his monstrous weapon she drew the wand.
Her curse collided with Voldemort's sending waves of green light flying in every direction. Iris felt the force of his curse enter her wand and propel her backward. As she hit the floor below her arm was crushed beneath her torso and she felt sharp pain as shattered glass entered her skin. "The time turner" her word came out in a barely audible whisper. She looked up to see another flash of green hurtle towards her and a pair of giant yellow eyes.
Her body jolted backwards. Then she saw nothing. There was no snake no Voldemort, no earth. She felt her body pulled in every direction, and yet there was no pain.
Blackness surrounded her as she aimlessly wandered. It seemed she was there for an eternity. Always from the corner of her eye she saw the smiling faces of students running, but when she turned she saw only emptiness. It was as the earth, air, and even life had simply ceased to exist and in its place was an absence. There is no word to describe it. It is an absence.
Still those moments when she was certain a robe flashing the Gryffindor house colors caught the edge of her vision that she was certain of where she was. She was dead. This was her torment. This was her punishment for her contact with the dark arts. So as time flew by Iris continued her wanderings.
Then one day she heard a dim whisper in the distance, and a weight lifted off her shoulders. She saw a light ahead and ran for it. Blinding as it was it was something amidst all of the endless absence. For what felt like years she ran towards the light as it shifted and changed. Growing and growing until it finally began to come towards her. She ran to it as it grew closer to her. Finally she felt submerged in it. Then she noticed at its core was a red ball of fire. It screamed and moaned at her. Hypnotizing her with whispers of power or pain. She could not move. It had sealed her to her spot. Within that ghastly fire she saw Voldemort's eyes.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Skye Niall, thank you for your lovely review. It made me feel better. I was having a lot of difficulty trying to describe what I saw going on. I could only think of so many ways to say...really fucking gross. :)
Sinister Papaya Fondue, yeah...it was kinda hard to write like I said. I am actually really glad to be done with it. It just seemed like it had to be that way.
Nerd Girl Im so happy to oblige! I must warn that my chapters will take longer now because I start school on Tues. I am going to post a note but...well what can you do!?!