Mai Gamit – This whole story is a challenge for me. Lol Really glad that you are still enjoying it! Thank you so much for the review!
dancing in rain – Thank you so much for catching my error! All fixed now! I was feeling that Hermione and Sirius weren't getting enough time to be at all romantic so I felt I had to give them some. The next few chapters may focus on them a bit more, we shall see. ;)
moonyNZ – I can't believe this is chapter 20 myself! I'm so thankful that it has been pouring out of me and each time I've been at all stuck I've just had to ask dancing in rain one question and she seems to inspire me. :) Thank you so much for your review!
Remus Gurl – Thank you so much! I'm so thrilled you gave the story a chance and that you enjoyed it! I really hope I can keep it just as good till the very end.
Hermione sucked in a deep breath and gathered her nerves before leaving the bathroom to face the enemy. The smells that assailed her nose were enough to make her mouth water and her stomach growled loudly. Sirius tilted his head up to look at her and she grimaced as she looked down at him.
"Not very ladylike is it?" She blushed furiously as she realized how conscious she was of Sirius's thoughts of her.
"Here goes nothing." She said softly before stepping down onto a step and continued on down till she could see Merlin working in the kitchen.
"Now don't think I was the cook, I'm just good at reheating really." Merlin called out to her as she approached. When he looked up he stopped moving and tilted his head.
"Ah that is much more you I think. Do you like the outfit?" He asked with a smile.
"Yes, it is beautiful. Thank you very much." She said softly, feeling traitorous for actually feeling thankful for her new clothing.
"Well it was rather foolish of Malcolm to expect you to wear that awful getup. Now I know that you want questions answered, but I insist you eat first." Merlin stated.
Hermione nodded and sat down on one of the stools at the island. She watched him quietly as he prepared their food, scooping it out of cartons and onto warmed plates from the oven. "I hope you like Chinese food…" he said.
"I do." She replied softly.
"Good." He said as he placed a plate in front of her. He removed the oven mitt from his hand and placed a fork and a pair of chopsticks beside it. "I didn't know what you preferred using."
She reached for the chopsticks, knowing that it would prevent her from shoveling the food into her mouth. Her diet in the cell had basically consisted of bread and a flavourless stew so when the different tastes hit her mouth she couldn't help but moan softly and close her eyes.
Sirius couldn't tear his gaze away from Hermione and Merlin filled a plate for him and set it down onto the floor. "Here ya go boy."
At that moment though it wasn't the food he wanted to eat, but he didn't want to give himself away so he acted as any dog would and gobbled up the food on the plate. Had he been human when he watched Hermione taking her first few bites he probably would have moaned himself. It wasn't hard to imagine her face being like that in the throes of sex and it was enough to make him hard. Thank Merlin for his fur to cover himself up.
Merlin sat down and started to eat as well, so all three of them were silent until Hermione's belly felt sated. When she pushed the plate away she wiped her mouth with her napkin and sat back regarding her handler.
"Why are you my handler now?" She asked bluntly.
Merlin looked at her for a few moments. "Why? Because you were wasted on Malcolm. He was a fool that could not see your potential, instead he saw a warm body to fuck."
"What makes you think I will be more cooperative with you?"
"I respect you as a brilliant mind as well as a beautiful woman. I know you feel like you are a captive, but you could be so much more. I want to offer that to you." He stated.
"Why would I want to work with someone that kills a defenseless old man?"
"That old man and his handler had been destroying people's lives for the fun of it Hermione." He stated.
She laughed. "You expect me to believe an old wizard who is collared is destroying lives for the fun of it. That is rich."
"You saw the relationship between them, do you really believe that they would not work together for a mutual cause?" He asked.
"Not when he had a collar around his neck and was placed within a cell. Cut the crap Merlin and just tell the truth. Your company captured someone whose magic was waning and instead of releasing him so that he could warn others your company had him killed." She said in a matter of fact tone.
Merlin sat and regarded her for a moment before continuing. "Perhaps I have misjudged you somewhat Hermione. Tell me, what is your view on power? Who do you consider powerful?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "I know that you are not the one with power here."
His eyes flared angrily from her comment. "You are the one with the collar on."
"True. I still hold to who I am though. I am not broken and nor will I be. Tell me, did you feel power when you killed the old man?" She asked, her eyes glinting curiously.
"It is powerful to take another life, so yes I felt power when I did so." He stated.
She laughed again causing his ire to rise again. "I think you are just a lackey." She continued.
"I think you are overstepping yourself Hermione and I would tread carefully." Merlin growled.
"Oh just listen will you, you asked my opinion and I'm giving it." She growled back. "You hold no true power because the greatest leaders, the ones with the greatest of power never have to get their hands dirty."
She sat back and smiled, letting him digest her words for a moment. "It was your boss's bidding that you rid the company of the man was it not? So tell me was it you or him that holds higher power?"
Merlin stared at her in awe. "Damn you are good woman. So tell me," He walked around the island and stepped close to her, tipping her head up with his finger so that she looked up at him. "What do you think of power? Is it something you crave?" His voice was low and seductive.
She gave him a seductive look. "I think power is the greatest of seductions. Who doesn't wish to achieve the greatest glory. Your boss does it this very moment as he tries to harness our power for his use. You are doing it now as you try and seduce me with bubbles and silks, and I'm doing it now as I try to seduce you with my abilities."
A low growling was heard and she chuckled softly as she tilted her face away from Merlin to look down at Sirius. "He is very protective of me." She said.
"I can understand why." Merlin stated, pulling away from her and clearing away the plates. "You are right of course. Power is a seductive thing, but so is self preservation."
Hermione watched Merlin as he cleaned the plates in the sink. "That is true. It would be foolish of you not to realize that I will do anything to remove this collar from my neck." She said to his back.
"So it looks as if we are at an impasse at the moment doesn't it? Do I trust you and believe that you seek power just as I do? Or do I not trust you and believe that you would do anything to escape?" Merlin wiped his hands on a towel and turned to face her.
"No matter what I believe though Hermione, you are mine."
The two of them stared at each other for a few minutes before Merlin broke the silence. "You will be sleeping here as I said from now on. Please make yourself at home. There is food in the refrigerator and I placed some nightclothes and other clothing in the drawers for you upstairs. I will let you be for the rest of the day and tomorrow if you wish it I let you visit your friends down in the cells."
Hermione looked surprise for a moment. "And if you cooperate, I will eventually give you free run of the second and third floor of the facility. Perhaps you may wish to even tutor the child if it will make you happy." He continued.
"Until tomorrow then." Merlin stated and after he left the room Hermione could hear the lock turn.
"From one cell to another Snuffles. At least this one is nicer though." She said with a sigh. Hermione walked over to the couch and slumped down into it. Sirius followed and hopped onto the couch, snuggling close to the young witch and resting his head on her lap.
Hermione pet his head distractedly. "I wish we could just have moments like this without them watching us, I wish you could truly be here for me so that I can feel you holding me."
Merlin stood in the hall as he thought on his conversation with Hermione. He thought of his loyalties to Devon and his own craving for power. Would he ever truly be powerful if he was under the yoke of his boss?
He scrubbed his chin with his hand and contemplated all the possibilities of the future with Devon as his boss, and then he wondered at a future where Devon had been disposed of and he was at the top. With Hermione at his side the second thought could be very achievable. Could he woo her to his cause? Money and power was a seductive thing, even she said it.
He smirked slightly and decided that he was going to make Hermione very aware of what money and power can do for someone. With plans in mind he made his way out of the building, Devon would be expecting a report soon and Merlin should keep his boss waiting. For now he would play the devoted right hand man, for now he would die for his boss but when the time was right the balance of power would shift and at that time Devon will not even realize it till too late.