Chapter 32 Family
By the evening, Senna had made a mental list of six sealing and protection charms she believed Stuan had used around the house. Some she had concluded by the way the magic felt when she ran her hand over it, and others, she had just made an educated guess. The counter spells were of mostly advanced magic, none of which she could perform in her wandless state—she had tried many times, practicing on the window. She had to admit she hadn't used all the force she was capable of—that would leave obvious marks and traces of magic.
She didn't know what Struan would do if he discovered she was trying to escape, and she did not want to find out. He seemed sweet to her now, but he was a murderer and a master manipulator, and she wouldn't put anything past him.
She jumped when someone knocked on the door. She was so deep in her own mind, that she didn't hear footsteps approaching. But moments after, she heard the thoughts of Rina, which were quickly followed by her words. "Senna, I've come to help you prepare for dinner. May I please come in?" Her voice shook.
"Uh, sure."
The pretty blonde entered the room with an armful of dresses, and then laid them carefully on the bed. Senna just stared at the pile of expensive-looking fabric.
Rina took in Senna's blank stare, and decided to explain, "Master Riddle wishes for you to wear one of these evening dresses for dinner tonight."
Senna lifted the first dress in the pile in utter disgust. It was frilly and red, with so many holes and flaps she wasn't sure which hole the head was supposed to go through, not to mention the rest of her body parts. "I don't even know what this is. If this is a dress, I think a werewolf got to it first."
To her surprise, a small laugh escaped Rina. Senna looked away from the dress to see a smile on Rina's face. She was even more beautiful when she smiled.
"If I may, Master Senna," Rina reached out and took the dress from her, then flipped it over and handed it back to her.
"I told you not to call me Master." Senna grumbled, embarrassed that she was holding the dress upside down. But she still couldn't figure out the mess of fabric.
"Ugh, this is more appropriate for a strip club than dinner."
"Um… If I may ask you, Senna, what is a syrup club?"
"Strip." Senna corrected.
"Syrup?"
"No. Strip. Like stripping clothes." Senna had forgotten she had no knowledge of muggle things. And she wasn't sure the wizarding world had an equivalent. "Um… Well… It's a place. A muggle thing..." Senna paused, thinking, "A place where… people pay to go see girls."
"Girls?" Rina questioned, "What for?"
Senna felt heat creep into her face. This was bad. She was going to corrupt the poor squib girl. "Um. They take off their clothes."
Rina tilted her head, not comprehending. "What do they change into?"
"I'm not really sure, I've never been to one, it's just something that I've heard about you see." Senna lied.
"Oh," Rina said, a shy smile on her face. "I just thought you did, since you said they wear such dresses to them." The muggle world sounds like a strange place, Rina thought.
Senna changed the subject. "Can't I wear what I am wearing now?"
But Rina's frown answered her question.
Senna groaned then continued to sort through the dresses. The others weren't as bad as the red dress, but they were still quite revealing. Her scars would most definitely show in these. Her brother seemed to have a taste for scanty apparel. Senna was grateful that Rina wasn't forced to wear such garments too, though her uniform seemed very much like a costume, at least it wasn't scanty.
Senna settled on a dark blue dress. It was the least revealing, though the dip in the back would show her scars, and the spaghetti straps would expose her arms, which Senna thought was unfeminine since her arms were rather muscular, it would be unflattering.
But she shouldn't care what he thought of her. So what if he was disgusted with her? Maybe then, he'd leave her alone.
She donned the stupid dress.
Rina gasped when she saw her scars.
"Master Senna…" She trailed off, once again ignoring her request to stop calling her Master.
"Senna." She corrected.
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. But…"
Senna sighed. She wasn't in the mood to explain the reason her skin was this hideous. "Don't ask."
Rina did as she was told, pressing her pink lips together. She continued her silence as she zipped up the dress, and brushed Senna's hair until it was immaculate.
Once she was done, Senna grabbed for her blazer.
"Oh, that is rather filthy," Rina jumped in horror and confiscated Senna's white—or used to be white—blazer. "Please, if you are cold, I will provide you with an alternative."
It wasn't that Senna was cold, but she felt exposed by the skin-tight dress.
Rina dug up a piece of fabric and draped it over her shoulder. "How is this—" Master? Rina completed the sentence in her head, as to not upset Senna. But it didn't stop Senna from hearing it. She sighed. At least she was trying.
"It'll do, thank you."
When Senna entered the dining room, she noticed the long wooden table filled with food and surrounded by people. Senna thought that Rina probably had the help of a house elf or something, this meal was not the feat of one person alone. Upon her arrival, the strangers sitting at the table all stood and bowed—except for Struan, who leisurely nodded at her, a smile on his perfect face.
"Thank you for joining us, my love, you look wonderful in that dress." His voice was a gentle caress, but it made her skin crawl with disgust.
A dozen insults rested on the tip of her tongue, but she fought the urge. She took a deep breath, focused on her mental shield, and smiled at him.
She was going to placate him—for now. She gave him the smile that she knew from her years of legilimency, often left boys speechless.
"Thank you." She watched his pupils grow, and a shining look entered his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, it worked. He was charmed.
Senna took in the bowed heads at the table. Many of them were older, maybe forties and fifties. There was not a single person, aside from Struan, that she recognized.
"Allow me to introduce you to our extended family," Struan stood, his voice soft and soothing, "Yaxley," he gestured to a tall and middle aged man, "Crabbe, Goyle, Lee, Macnair," he continued to the other side of the table, "Malfoy, Avery, Nott, and Lee."
Senna's eyes focused on the man called Malfoy. She immediately recognized his likeness to his eldest daughter, Rina. The same straight blonde hair, and grey eyes. He was relatively handsome, but Rina's looks were in a league of their own.
The men around the table began mumbling greetings in hushed and respectful tones. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Princess." The man named Yaxley said.
"A true pleasure, Princess." Avery bowed again.
"A pleasure indeed." Senna tried to sound pleased.
She looked around, and then pretended to look disappointed, "Is Tusk not joining us today?" Senna asked.
"No, love, he is on important business, but I'm sure you'll see him soon." Struan reassured her. "You can come sit next to me." Struan gestured to his left side.
Senna resisted the urge to stomp defiantly to her assigned chair. She tried to walk like Struan, with an air of grace, but the more she thought about walking, the more she forgot how to walk.
She probably looked like a waddling penguin.
When she sat, Struan placed his hand on her thigh, and let it rest there. The rage in the pit of her stomach flared then, but just like before, she squashed it down.
"Let's eat." Struan announced.
After a beat of silence, the others, Senna presumed to be Death Eaters, began to dig into the meal. Senna complied, taking bits of food onto her plate, though she did not have an appetite. She was just trying to appease Struan until she could find a way out of this place.
It was an awkward dinner. There was an odd tension in the room, people moved rigidly, some foreheads were glistening with sweat though it was a chilly evening.
Nobody spoke freely.
Senna grit her teeth together every time Struan moved his hand on her thigh. He seemed to keep placing it higher and higher.
Some of them made nervous and awed glances in their direction. The fear in the air was so thick, Senna felt as though she would choke on it.
Senna thought it was pathetic. A table full of grown men, frightful of a teenage boy. Struan had walked this earth for sixteen years, just as she had, how scary could he be?
Senna assumed that they were forbidden from discussing their plans at the dinner table.
Struan raised his glass. Everyone looked at him.
"Let us have a toast." The golden liquid in his glass shimmered in the chandelier's light, "In celebration of my dearest sister coming home."
The table raised their glasses as well, giving ingenuine and fearful smiles in their direction.
"Welcome home, Princess."
"We are honored to have you back."
They continued to murmur hushed words of appreciation. Senna sat there, staring at her own glass of champagne. It made her stomach churn uncomfortably. She knew how fake it was. They were not happy she was here, they didn't even know she existed until a few weeks ago. They had no idea who she was.
Senna thought she would rather go back to Hogwarts and be treated like vermin—at least that was real.
Senna had to push the words out of her throat, it was getting more difficult to pretend, "It is good to be here."
Struan squeezed her leg, and she turned to see the corner of his mouth turned upwards. Senna wanted to stab his hand with a fork.
"My love, we are inviting you to join us in our vision." Struan spoke to them. "We envision a world where we don't have to hide who we are, a world where we can be ourselves. We are going to end the suffering of our kind." Struan turned to her, his dark eyes smoldering, "You have suffered at the hands of the muggles, simply for what you are, have you not?"
Senna wasn't sure what to say. The way he said it made it sound like an understatement. She hadn't just suffered… she had gone through absolute hell. The caretakers and the other orphans had all contributed to her suffering—she could not deny it.
"Wouldn't it be great," Struan continued in his velvety voice, "To walk out into the world, not fearing persecution for what we are born."
"Yes." Senna said softly, her voice cracked a bit. "That is a great dream."
A vision of that world flitted through her mind, a world where she was treated just like everyone else... a world where she was not beaten to a pulp—just because the nuns did not understand her power.
Struan smiled, he was pleased.
Rina had made an appearance then. With her head bowed low, she came around to refill the water glasses around the table.
That's when the realization hit her. Even if wizards demanded equal treatment from the muggle world… What about people like Rina? Forced into humiliating servitude because of the circumstance of their birth. It was no different than the way the muggles treated her. Struan meant to end the suffering for only pureblooded witches and wizards of ample ability.
As Rina drew closer to Struan, her hands began the tremble. When she got to Yaxley, who was sitting next to Senna, her hands were trembling so much that the water was missing the glass entirely.
"You stupid squib!" Yaxley shot his chair backwards as water dripped off the table.
Senna saw his wand hand move out of his robe, and Senna thought quickly. She could've used magic, but didn't want Struan to know that she could perform wandless magic, in case he would tighten security.
So she did the only non-magic thing she excelled at—moving very quickly. Yaxly waved his wand the same moment Senna stepped in front of Rina. She crouched low in a sturdy stance. The flash of purple light hit Senna like a rock, and the force of it would have thrown her back if not for her proper stance. Her feet slid across the marble flooring, but she remained upright.
Yaxley's expression went from rage, to surprise, to absolute horror.
Pain blossomed from her collar bone, and down her arm, but Senna clenched her teeth to bear it. This was a bruising jinx, a spell that bombarded the victim with painful welts.
Rage welled up from Senna's chest. A grown man, jinxing a defenseless teenage squib… Senna was enraged. It brought up memories of her past, she knew what it was like being powerless at the hands of an abuser. And she wasn't going to let it happen in front of her.
A string of nasty words were on the tip of her tongue—but Struan spoke up.
"Enough." Struan called out. Yaxley immediately fell to his knees, screaming.
Senna stared, horrified.
Yaxley grabbed his wrist in pain, the skull and snake tattoo was moving, black veins extended from the tattoo and began spreading up his arm.
He continued to scream.
Whatever this mark was—it was hurting Yaxley. A Lot.
And Struan was causing it.
For a long moment, the only noise in the room was Yaxley's screams. No one at the table moved. Rina cowered, but did not dare to run. Struan's face was blank. If she didn't see his eyes focused on Yaxley, she wouldn't have known that he was torturing him.
And then the screaming stopped.
Yaxley collapsed into an unmoving heap on the floor. No one at the table moved, or even looked at Yaxley. They stared at the dining table, their heads bowed.
"Rina, you are dismissed." Struan's voice was soft, pleasant even. No indication of irritation or anger. Rina scambered into the kitchen. "Senna my love, are you okay?"
"Yes Brother, thank you for your concern." The fake appreciation tasted bitter on her tongue.
Struan walked over to her and put his hand on her waist, "Come with me, I have something that will make it better." Struan led her by the waist into his study, leaving the silent Death Eaters by themselves.
Struan closed the door behind them. Senna gulped. Would she be in trouble?
"May I take a look?" Struan gestured to the cloth that draped her shoulders. Senna didn't think she had a choice. She nodded.
Struan pulled off the covering, his eyes settling on the purple welts that covered her chest, and part of her neck.
Struan frowned. He ran a finger gently over the bruised skin of her shoulder. It tickled, and Senna involuntarily shivered. "I apologize for the savage behavior of my men." He told her, "When they were Father's men, they tormented muggles and squibs for fun."
"Don't you?" Senna asked in a whisper.
Struan gave her a smile then, which made him look like a real Prince. A smile most girls—except for Senna—would swoon over.
"Father's ways are different then mine." He said. "My higher ranks are made up of the veterans, who are stuck in their ways. I don't encourage needless savagery." Struan took his wand and waved it over Senna's bruises. The bruises began to fade. "Brutality should only be used when necessary, otherwise it just causes more trouble." Struan stepped away from her, observing the rest of her skin. "For example, the servant spilled water because she is afraid of Yaxley. And now that he's attacked her, again, her anxiety will only get worse. And she will continue to spill water. See? His aggression is absolutely pointless."
Senna nodded.
Struan stepped closer to her again. His eyes were shining with something, but she couldn't read his mind. He reached out and stroked her face with the back of his hand. Senna didn't dare to move. She only looked into his eyes, trying to figure out what he was thinking. "Can you forgive my men's actions today? I will make sure they are punished thoroughly."
Senna gulped. She found herself worrying about Yaxley, despite the fact he deserved it.
Senna took a deep breath to prepare herself for fraud. She took his hand that rested on her cheek and leaned her face into his palm. "Of course."
He smiled again, his eyes shining.
"That is very generous of you." He said.
Senna released his hand, and then he took a step back, "I am going to finish the meeting with my men, so if you could please head to your room, I can send the servant up with some more food if you feel you did not get enough to eat."
"Oh, no thank you. I am fine."
"Alight, then."
Senna turned around to grab the shawl again.
Suddenly, she felt Struan's warm hand on her shoulder.
"What?" Senna exclaimed in surprise.
Struan held her firmly, standing behind her. She could feel his gaze on her back.
Oh, that. Senna just remembered the evening gown had a revealing dip in the back. He was staring at her scars.
"How did this happen?" He asked in a low voice.
Senna didn't answer right away.
"Who did this? Your Headmaster?" His voice sounded strained.
"No." Senna shook her head.
"Then, who?" He raised his voice.
"I don't want to talk about it." Senna pulled her shoulder back, but he squeezed tighter.
Senna turned to face him, and was shocked to see the look of rage on his face. He had been so calm this entire time, even while torturing his own men, and the sudden change frightened her. His brows were pulled together, nose wrinkled, and his lips were curled inwards—an expression of absolute fury.
He was no longer the gentlemanly Prince.
"I want to know who did this." He repeated in a dangerous voice.
"Um…"
Struan squeezed her shoulder, growing impatient. The black rage in his eyes frightened her.
"Well?"
"Remember when you couldn't answer my question, because you didn't know if you could trust me yet?" Senna whispered. Her heart was hammering in her chest.
Struan's black eyes narrowed. "Yes."
"Well, I don't know if I can trust you yet either." Senna said in a small voice. "It'll come with time." She repeated his words.
Senna braced herself, looking into his angry eyes. Had she gone too far?
He released her and stepped away.
"That's fair." His voice returned to its calm state, though his perfect eyebrows were still furrowed. The black rage in his eyes had not retreated. "This is the pain of your past, isn't it?"
Senna wanted to roll her eyes at the dramatic wording. But instead, she nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"I won't make you tell me, for now." He walked to the door, then paused. "But I want to know about the ones responsible for mutilating you as soon as you come around. I will hold them accountable for what they've done." He promised.
He left then, leaving her alone in the study.
Senna made her way back to her assigned bedroom. She was trying to reach the numbness that helped her get through time with her sanity intact, but it wouldn't come to her. There was a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.
She looked out the bedroom window. The streets were very dark, there were no street lamps, only the occasional porch light. With the tips of her fingers, she could feel the tingling sensation of the sealing spell Struan had used on the window.
She thought she hated the pity of others, but right now, she could not discern the pleasure she felt. Was someone being angry on your behalf the same thing as pity? She did not know the answer.
It felt like relief. Because there was a part of her that was still very angry. Angry at the corrupt caretakers who ran the orphanage. They were cruel to her, evil even. She was angry that they convinced her it was all her fault, and that she deserved everything they did to her.
Her chest was always heavy with anger. That is why she had to keep the numbness within reach, in case she needed it.
But seeing Struan's rage, hearing his promise of vengeance, it made the weight in her chest a little bit lighter. It was comforting.
For the first time ever, she felt like her painful memories were not just being tolerated. They were being acknowledged. They were being avenged. And this made an unwelcome feeling of appreciation for Struan rise up in her chest.
And she hated it.