The room was dark and hazy, Talia's head was swimming. She couldn't focus on her surroundings, it felt like she was underwater. "Drink." Came Nicholas' stern voice and a teacup came into contact with her lower lip.

She turned her head away sharply. "So you can poison me? Not bloody likely!"

"If I'd wanted you dead, you would have been by now. Now drink!" The impact of the cup to her lip was much more forceful this time, and she grudgingly drank from it. Her head cleared and she could tell that she was in the basement of her home. The room of the house that Nich used for "business". The smell of rotting cabbage hit her nostrils hard and she was sure she winced.

As she glanced around, she became aware of the fact that her wrists and ankles were bound and Nicholas was watching her. "So how do you feel now?"
"Better."
"Good to hear." Nicholas' Cheshire cat grin was starting to get to her, and she glared in response. "As I said before, I don't need you getting in the way of my perfect plan. I need you dead, but I don't need the blood on my hands. So you're going to commit suicide."

"Oh, well, thank you for informing me."

"At least, everyone will believe it's a suicide." He continued over her attempted interruption. "But it's very late, and I'm sure you're tired, so I will see you in the morning." Nicholas closed the door to the room as he left and his footsteps could be heard ascending the steps to the main level.

Talia's mind raced until her thoughts landed on one thing, her daggers. She moved her foot as much as possible against her bonds and found them to be gone. Such was the case with the two that were tucked in her skirt, and the one down her shirt. Her next thought was to summon her wand, but she quickly shot down that idea as well, thinking that Nich would certainly hear her, and the fact that she had soundproofed this room herself.

She slumped back in her chair and tried to plot another course of action. Finally, sleep overtook her.

"It's a fabulous afternoon, isn't it?" Talia wasn't aware she had fallen asleep, but her aching muscles and the migraine that was worsening proved she must have. "It's... afternoon?" she managed.

"Don't we feel confident and self-assured today? Pity." A plate was then set in front of her "Eat dear, we want to keep your strength up." She looked down at the plate and then back up at him. "Oh very funny."

"Silly me, I had forgotten. I shall have a house elf attend to you." He then yelled for an elf, who fed her. When she had finished, he lit a cigar, and began smoking it as he circled her. "There now. I suppose you're wondering a great many things. Like why I'm here, and not in Azkaban." He arched a brow and looked at her.

Talia's face shown curiosity, but she didn't speak.

"What have you heard about the place Talia? Have you heard that most wizards lose their sense of self, their powers, and their will to live within weeks? Well, it's true. But as you can see, I retained all of that."

"But... but how is that possible?" Talia was now on the verge of tears, but she didn't dare let him know that. She steadied her breathing and tried to remain as calm as possible.

"Quite simple, really. Have you ever been near a dementor before? Most people describe it as an intense cold, an overwhelming feeling that you will never be happy again. I didn't need to worry about that, as I was never happy to begin with."

Authors Notes:
Meh. I don't like this chapter. Help me fix it up, PLEASE? And also, does ANYONE like Nich? At all?