A/N: Err... review? Please? Pretty, pretty please?
oOo Angels of Heaven and Hell oOo
Chapter 17 - Wicked Game
oOo
"Salazar," whispered Rowena in shock. He smiled at her and extended his hand towards her. The two only had eyes for each other and Harry was too stunned to say anything, while Voldemort was watching the scene like he was waiting for some signal.
"Finally," Salazar whispered back. Rowena slowly began to reach for his hand, her eyes shining with hope.
"Draco, I expected better of you," said Voldemort and broke the silent spell. "You disappoint your father and - worst of all - you disappoint me."
Rowenas hand was only mere millimetres away from Salazars now, but suddenly the air around the two began to crackle as if it was filled with electricity. Rowena flinched - that was a sign that they still couldnt touch each other. The look on her face turned from hopeful to desperate and frightful in an instant and Voldemort picked it up immediately.
Voldemort held that look dear to his non-existent heart - hed seen it so often. Usually his victims had that look on their faces in the second of their death. He smiled to himself, gripped Rowenas wrist tightly and pulled her back abruptly.
"You can play later, Draco," he said, the smile not leaving his face. It was a cold, cruel smile.
All this contributed to Salazars anger - the anger about his past mistakes, about losing the woman he loved time and time again and that smile. He narrowed his eyes.
"Im not Draco," he announced. "Dracos mind was replaced with mine - Salazar Slytherins." Salazar took a step forward and felt a smile to rival Voldemorts slip on his lips. "And I demand the respect that is due to me."
He took an other step, but Voldemort only huffed and it sounded like he was trying to hold back a laugh.
Rowena had seen too many scenes like this in the past and knew only to well how Salazars mind worked. She closed her eyes tightly in anticipation of a magical blow shaking the walls and crumbling everything to dust. She willed her mind to the continued draining of Voldemorts power and stopped it. Even though her eyes were closed she knew exactly that Salazar and Voldemort were staring at each other, each waiting for the other ones next move.
The next thing that would happen would be a fight. The only thing Rowena could do to prevent the fight was to drain Voldemort of all his magic at once - but that would surely kill Rhiannon. It was something she could not do. But with the help of Salazar and Harry it would work...
"My heir," she heard Salazar say to Voldemort. "Bow to me."
"I bow to no one!"
This was the beginning of the end. Rowenas eyes flew open again - just in time to see Voldemort bringing up his wand forcefully and screaming "Crucio!" and red light shooting at Salazar. Rowena jumped forward, forgetting Voldemort had still captured her hand. She was thrown back, out of the way, away from Salazar whom she wanted to help so badly.
He was writhing and trashing on the floor but no scream escaped his lips, though his face showed the pain he was going through. Rowenas eyes darted around the room frantically. She had to do something to help Salazar, but she didnt have a wand and the wandless magic didnt work with her in charge.
Her eyes fell on Harry. Yes, he was the key. It would only work if he was there and a strange calm came over Rowena as she made her decision.
Voldemort still had his wand pointed at Salazar and was paying no attention to Harry. Rowenas hand had became numb from the pressure already but she had to free herself. She tugged forcefully and Voldemorts head swivelled around, the mad smile still on his face.
But he broke the Crucio curse and in the split second that passed before her next action Rowena could hear Salazars heavy breathing.
Her face set, she smashed her body into Voldemorts thin frame and sending him to the floor. She could feel his bones poke sharply into her flesh. Rowena only saw his face long enough to realize his smile had vanished and had been replace by an angry grimace. He hissed at her.
She had to get off! She rolled over but Voldemort had already seized her again. There was nothing she could do.
From the corner of her eye Rowena could see Salazar slowly heaving himself up from the floor. He was still panting from what she could see.
"Harry!" she shouted.
This woke the boy up from his stupor. He jumped forwards to help her but stopped when he saw Voldemorts one hand wind around Rowenas neck and his wand raising to her temple.
"One more step, Potter, and she dies," Voldemort snarled. Rowena could feel his breath on her head and froze. She didnt know what she could do now. She was without magic, Salazar too, and Harry wouldnt do anything as long as Voldemort held her captive. They needed something like a miracle now.
Harry nodded and put his wand down. His eyes were narrowed, quietly observing the situation, trying to find the weakest link.
"Me for her," he said, his voice was without any trace of emotions. Rowenas eyes widened. Voldemorts hand tightened around her neck and she felt him lifting her upwards. Suddenly she was on her feet again and Voldemort had risen with her.
"Catch, Draco," Voldemort sneered and pushed Rowena away from himself. She stumbled towards Salazar and had almost reached him, but the air crackled again.
"Salazar..." she whispered again, but she looked over her shoulder, over to Harry and Voldemort. Harry had dropped his wand. "We have to do something."
Salazar looked at her and then to Voldemorts throne and an idea formed in his head. Voldemort was saying something to Harry but he didnt hear it. His mind was on something completely different. Rowena still stood around, watching Harry and Voldemort.
Salazar reached out for her. The air began to crackle again, but he ignored the searing pain this was sending through his body. The crackling became louder and louder the further he reached. Once, just once, before his ultimate death he wanted to feel her again. He touched her hand.
The pain was gone immediately. Rowena turned around and he smiled at her.
"Now," he whispered. She nodded, and they both understood that they knew what to do. Salazar took her hand into his and charged towards Voldemort, Rowena behind him.
"Potter! Take my hand!"
Voldemort and turned around, anger lit up his face again. "No," he hissed.
But before he could even raise his wand, they had passed him and they were on Harrys sides.
"Now you die!" Salazar shouted and grabbed Harrys hand. Rowena did the same and at the same time she also reached for Voldemorts. As her hand made contact with his, she gasped and Rhiannon was there again.
The change had come abruptly and she wasnt prepared for it. She looked around and almost screamed when she saw she was holding hands with Voldemort. But the black shadow behind him worried her more.
It was long and silent and kept to the shadows of the room, but it was definitely drawing nearer.
Salazar hissed and the shadow lunged forwards.
The snake, Rhiannon realised. It was Voldemorts snake, it was aiming right at his owner, the light reflecting on its coils in a terrible dance.
Rhiannon threw a quick look at Draco and recognized his confused look. Salazar had left his body. They were all on their own now.
The snake hissed and Voldemort tried to escape Rhiannons and Dracos grip, but they wouldnt let him. Whatever would happen, she wouldnt let go of him now, swore Rhiannon. Even if it killed her.
And just as the snake sunk its fangs into Voldemorts shoulder Rhiannon felt the surge of power, of magic and sad pictures fleeted through her mind. Pictures of a lonely, black-haired boy.
And then everything turned to white and Rhiannon gave in to oblivion.