Chapter 85: How Long In Torture Must I Lie
It hadn't worked. The potion was still inside of him. "This is never going to be over," Regulus said. The despair he heard in his own voice only made it worse. Suddenly he needed to be alone. Not for himself but for Kreacher and Dora. They shouldn't have to be around him like this. He was no good to them...No good to anyone. Rising to his feet, he glanced from Kreacher to Dora before dropping his gaze to the toilet. He'd never seen vampire vomit before. As it turned out, it only looked like a ton of red wine in the toilet bowl, which is, of course, just what it was. There wasn't even a hint of green. "I'm not doing that again," he said firmly. "It tasted disgusting and obviously isn't going to work." Though the bathroom was large, it did not feel so at present. "Excuse me," Regulus murmured. "I'll just..." Slipping around Dora as Kreacher attempted to reach for the sleeve of his robe, Regulus fled. He did not stop until he was in his bedroom with the door closed quietly behind him. Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes, wishing he could will the oppressive misery away that threatened to engulf him. Must he live with Voldemort's potion inside of him forever? At that thought he let out a short bitter laugh. Were this to be the case, the Dark Lord had won after all. He may not have killed Regulus, but a life frequented by the self loathing and misery induced by the phosphorescent green potion provided a life sentence of torture. "Neatly done, you soulless bastard."
Not until he spoke the words aloud, did he realize that of course Voldemort could've had no idea Regulus would become a vampire then drink his potion, thus making the misery an immortal part of him. That made it even better...Or worse depending on whose perspective one was looking from. Voldemort was probably cackling over it in hell, Regulus thought darkly. Hopefully he was too occupied with being tortured for his numerous sins against humanity to derive too much pleasure from his victory, though. When he heard a soft yet persistent knock at the door, Regulus wasn't surprised. Sighing, he turned to open it, knowing they wouldn't go away if he did not. Dora stood with Kreacher, both wearing equally concerned expressions. Mortis sailed past their heads to land reproachfully on Regulus's shoulder. How a bird could land reproachfully was beyond Regulus, but Mortis managed it quite well nonetheless.
"There is no need to give up," Dora said gently. "We only need the assistance of someone magical with expertise in potions or healing to pitch in on the matter." She smiled.
"Kreacher said as much before we followed you up here, and he is a very wise elf, so you know he is right."
Kreacher gave Dora an appreciative grin. "Miss Dora is right. She says this is probably a one and only sort of situation, so methods to correct it are completely untried," Kreacher said.
"If we could get some of that potion from the cave to study," Dora said thoughtfully and Regulus stiffened, alarm shooting through him. Even at mention of the dread place, images of darkness so black that it was difficult for light to pierce it flooded Regulus's mind along with flickering of a phosphorescent green potion and a tar black lake of death. If he thought on the images for too long, he was certain he would hyperventilate as his mind returned to the most evil experience of his life. "No! None of us is ever going back there. That bastard and his dark magics have done enough to us."
Dora and Kreacher exchanged a look and Dora nodded. "Yes, very well, but we can pay someone else to do it." Kreacher brightened, nodding enthusiastically. "You mean other vampires," Regulus asked. Dora shrugged.
"Or other elves," Kreacher said.
"Or both," Dora added.
"If we must, but let us investigate the situation with the aid of the best healers and potion masters first," Regulus said.
"Very well," Kreacher said. "We can start with that."
Regulus smiled. "Good. I shall write Severus at once!" It was a relief having something to do other than wallowing in his misery. It was good, at times like these, to recall feelings of purpose and intent and not to feel helpless. While Kreacher and Dora watched, he sat down at his desk and wrote a quick note asking if Severus and Mag could come visit today if possible, advising that they use the floo. He was in the midst of folding the parchment for Mortis to take when a sudden urge struck him. The urge was so strong that it was akin to a need so he straightened the page and wrote a P.S asking Mag to bring her fiddle. "Would you mind taking this to Severus and Mag in Bulgaria," Regulus asked Mortis and the bird extended a claw to take the parchment. Regulus gave him the address that he'd gotten from Raislen and the black phoenix vanished in his usual way. "I wrote asking if they could come today. If they cannot, I am certain they will do as soon as possible," he said.
"Should we return to the library to wait," Kreacher asked and Regulus shrugged listlessly. His mood had slipped a bit now that he'd carried out his task and was left with nothing to do but wait.
"You should feed now that you've disrupted your body," Dora told him.
"Kreacher can wait here, and you and I will go grab dinner. It won't take too long especially if you just allow me to call a few lost souls who truly want to die." Dora knew that Regulus preferred to hunt down criminals rather than praying on the vulnerable who wanted to die, but he found himself nodding in agreement. At least he wouldn't be murdering innocents if they wanted to die, he told himself. "Is that alright, Kreacher," he asked, looking to the elf.
Often Kreacher accompanied him when hunting, but if Severus and Mag came quickly, he would need to be present.
"Kreacher will wait in the library for them to come through the floo," he said. "Kreacher would be pleased if Master Regulus and Miss Dora hurried back," he added, touching Regulus's arm.
"I promise, we shall," Dora said and Regulus bent to give Kreacher a farewell kiss and embrace that lasted for several seconds as the two clung together. When they at last drew apart, Regulus was more than ready to have dinner over with and return to Kreacher's side and he hadn't even left yet! Once he and Dora were out in the night, he allowed her to lead the way, indicating as much by falling back a pace or two. Rather than walking ahead, though, she caught his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "It's going to be alright, Regulus," she promised softly. "And until it is, we'll get through it together." She grinned over at him. "I think Kreacher could love you right out of any depression. How could you have ever doubted him? I don't understand."
Regulus's heart tugged at the wistfulness he saw in her eyes as she spoke of such a love. She deserved to have that and some day he and Kreacher were going to kill Marius so that she might be free to find it. Regulus shook his head. "I don't understand why I thought he didn't want me either. I suppose it was the potion and my own self loathing. I understand the potion brings that out, but I do believe it had to have something to work with." He sighed. "I really don't feel well. I can't believe the throwing up didn't work!" He was weak and his stomach ached.
"Come along then," Dora said, tugging his hand gently. "We'll get some blood into you and you'll feel better. You won't feel completely yourself until tomorrow probably, but your body really doesn't like having what it now sees as foreign matter that it cannot digest pushed into it." Regulus nodded and allowed her to tug him along to the nearest busy street corner. Once there, he stood dazedly at her side as she worked her vampire mojo, opening her mind to call to the minds of those in the area who desired escape. Soon two young men and a young woman were standing calmly before her, their faces placid and tranquil as their minds accepted the words of gentle promise she spoke to them. "Follow us and you shall have the peace for which you long." She led them to the nearest alley, and there she took one of the young men, leaving the other two people for Regulus. "Two meals this night shall do your body good," she told him.
He was quick about it and gentle, hoping the poor down and out Muggles at least found their peace. With fresh warm blood running through his system he did feel much better. "Thank you," he told Dora with a warm smile, and she smiled back.
"It's nothing," Dora said.
Regulus shook his head. But it was. "No, it really is," Regulus insisted. "You aren't social and you don't deal with many people. I want you to know that I appreciate you, Dora."
She smiled again, embarrassed. "You and Kreacher give me a lot. You're like the family I never had."
"Good," Regulus said. "Don't you ever forget it." When they arrived back at 12 Grimmauld Place, Kreacher and Mortis were in the library with Severus, Mag and the large white owl they always had with them. As usual, it sat on the back of Severus's chair, round owl eyes watching over the room. Regulus had never seen another wizard taking their owl about so much and it was interesting. He took Mortis about, but Mortis was far better than any owl in all ways. He was rare and magical and as intelligent as any human. As such, he'd grow bored sitting about in a cage or on a perch. "Severus! Mag! Thank you so much for coming," Regulus said warmly.
"We were glad to get out for a bit," Severus said and Mag nodded eagerly.
"Especially when you told me to bring my fiddle!" At her words Kreacher cringed openly and shot Regulus an accusing look that Severus echoed! "If the two of you don't wish to listen to us play, you can always go elsewhere in the house so as not to become wet blankets," Mag suggested, lips twitching slightly.
"Can Magritte and Master Regulus not play something nice," Kreacher asked plaintively.
"Everything we play is nice," Mag said.
"I think he means something that won't make everyone want to die," Severus said tartly.
"As you have likely noticed, the house is huge," Mag told Severus with a frown. "We won't mind if you aren't in here every second."
"Dora plays piano," Regulus told Mag, returning the subject to the topic at hand.
"Oh," Mag brightened, turning eagerly to Dora. "Would you like to join in?"
Dora shrugged, looking thoughtful. "I could try, I suppose."
Mag clapped her hands together once, bouncing slightly in her chair in a rare show of glee from the generally reserved young woman. "Brilliant! I bet we will sound amazing!"
"That's one word for it," Severus murmured and Kreacher nodded firmly, sliding Severus a conspiratorial glance.
"First, though, we should talk of the initial reason Regulus invited you here tonight," Dora said, expression turning grave.
"Kreacher has already filled them in, while Miss Dora and Master Regulus were having their dinner," the elf said proudly.
Severus leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on his thin face. "It's quite the quandary. It would really help to have the potion to study, but Kreacher's description as well as Albus's has given me some ideas to work with. I shall have to try to reproduce it to be certain." Regulus nodded, recalling that Dumbledore had also suffered the effects of the infernal cave.