Lovers In a Dangerous Time

Chapter Nine

Try to Scream

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Harry awoke to find his head throbbing painfully and his body aching. He tried to raise his hands to feel his head but was startled that he couldn't. Opening his eyes slowly he looked down and realized he had been tied to an old rusty chair, his hands at his sides, wrapped around the back legs. His feet had been bound to the front legs. He tried to look around the room to get his senses straight but everything was blurry as if a fog was floating in the room. It took him a moment to realize his glasses were gone.

"Looking for these?" Came a soft female voice from behind Harry. He tried to turn his head to look at her but she positioned her self just right so he couldn't. From behind she slipped his glasses over his face then tucked them behind his ears. "They fell off, so I put them on the table to keep them from getting scratched."

Harry looked around the room clearly this time, his heart sank as he knew exactly where he was. This was the small house he had dreamed about only days before. The walls were bear, made from wooden planks, strips of sunlight were seeping through the cracks. The smell of rotting fish and stagnate water filled the air along with blood, the blood he remembered from his dream. The windows were boarded shut and a thick heavy chain locked the door from the inside. The only furniture besides his own chair were overturned boxes, crates and one very dirty old coffee table.

Harry's head continued to bob dangerously as he glanced around the room, still looking for the woman who had placed his glasses back on. Suddenly she came rushing past him, long green robes billowing as she did so. She was an older woman but quite attractive, her face was pale and her lips were painted bright red, looking like a vampire from old muggle movies. Harry wasn't sure how he knew, but he did...this woman was defiantly a vampire. She sat herself down on the edge of the coffee table and looked into Harry's eyes.

"Tell me something Harry, how is it that you have resisted your urges so well?" She said.

Harry was confused, "I don't know what your talking about."

Suddenly she jumped up, pushed Harry's head back dangerously and looked down at him, "There have only been three vampires, sired by Malincov that have resisted the dark desires that reside in us all. Tell me how you do it, for I desire to know."

Harry felt like his head would snap off if she pushed any harder against his forehead. "I got lucky I guess, I never had any wish to be anyone but myself."

The woman looked aggravated as she let go of Harry's head, "Fools, you're all fools. I will never get a clean answer out of anyone. I'm doomed to my fate," she pushed her face only mere inches from Harry's and finished, "As are you my dear boy." Then she vanished without so much as an explanation for her question.

Harry whistled one long, low note, "What a nut job."

"Yes, Ternia can be a bit much to handle, Harry. But she's good company when I need it."

Harry turned his head to see the slimy, dark figure that is Malincov emerge from the shadows. Dressed in long black robes, trimmed in crimson red he too fit the vampire stereotype perfectly. His sunken black eyes, crooked nose and small mouth made him look nonhuman, which Harry had to remind himself, he was. His greasy red hair fell over his face as he took a seat on one of the overturned crates and eyed Harry closely.

"Good morning Harry." Malincov said with an unsettling smile. "I hope your comfortable, I'd offer you something to eat but seeing as we're in a fish house on a lake, in the middle of nowhere...there aren't many provisions around."

"Why are we in a fish house?" Harry asked as he eyed a bucket of decapitated fish heads with revulsion.

"Oh, I find the small muggle village just down the way to be quite fun to torment at night, they are such easy to manipulate people don't you think?" Malincov said with adoration unbecoming to him.

Anger was rising in Harry, "Muggles are not pets, you can't do with them what you want just because you can."

"Oh see your wrong Harry, muggles are the scum of the earth and I intend to continue Lord Voldemort's deed to rid the world of them."

"You won't get by with it, the Order members will..."

Malincov cut across Harry, "They will what? Point their wands at me? I have more power than you will ever know boy, I have lived longer than any person on this planet. I was there when Hogwarts was founded, I watched with horror as the Ministry was formed and our breed turned to vermin, while muggles were to go unharmed. I want my revenge, Harry, and I will have it."

"What do you want with me?" Harry asked.

"Only to avenge Voldemort's death, nothing more." Malincov said.

Suddenly there was a knock at the front door, Malincov jumped up quickly and walked over to it. "What do you want?"

A gruff voice call from the outside, "Master, I have the information you asked for."

"Very good." Malincov said then pulled his hood up over his head and completely covered his face in black cloth. He opened up the door blindly spilling sunlight into the room, Harry cringed as he felt the right side of his skin burn. Malincov received his message then quickly closed the door, locking the chains as he did so.

"Well Harry, it seems that today is your unlucky day. You see I have been watching you, very closely since I turned you. I had hopped that nobody would find you that night, you would have been left to the wild. But unfortunately for me, your friends are very loyal." Malincov said as he crossed the room and sat back down on his crate. "I also understand that a friend of yours lent you some reading material. I can assume then that you read all about what happens between a Sire and his fledgling?"

"I'm afraid not, I have been too concerned with other issues." Harry said.

"That's right, your lifemate. I must say that I am delighted to hear that one so young already has one, it is quite rare. Many of us spend our lives searching for that person. But you have neglected your learning none the less, let me enlighten you on the subject." Malincov leaned back and crossed his fingers. "When a Sire turns you into what you are, that persons blood runs in your veins. You have my blood Harry, which I had hopped would turn you to the dark creature I see swimming within you, but to my dismay you were able to remain yourself. Something few vampires can do, it's in our very nature to become creatures of the night."

"But no matter, we still have a connection, much like your connection with your lifemate. When I touch you, your skin will burn. When I die you will suffer like you never have felt before. It can be a wonderful thing, if you choose to serve me I can show you things that you wouldn't believe. Should you choose to not follow me, I will make you suffer. For I can read your thoughts, your desires, and your needs. I don't want to kill you Harry, but I will take away everything from you...making you wish you were dead."

Harry couldn't help but smile at him, he had been threatened before in his life. Idle chatter didn't mean much to him anymore. He had seen and felt pain, he had been inches from death more than once. Nothing Malincov could say would ever make him join the very thing he had been fighting his entire life. If he could truly read his mind then he should know this already. It was foolish for him to continue monologuing, it would be a waste of breath. "You are very aware that I will never join you, I have fought to hard to rid the world of people like you. I'm not about to stop now."

"You can't blame me for trying, Harry." Malincov smiled then called out to the room behind Harry. "Ternia, bring in the girl."

Harry froze, he knew before even seeing her that they had Ginny. He was mentally kicking himself for not staying with her tonight, he was so upset and now it seemed trivial. As much as he tried to fight it he still managed to hurt her, something he swore he would never do. As Ternia came into the room she was dragging Ginny who was kicking and twisting with all her mite. Her hands were bound and a black sash had been tied around her head, covering her mouth so she couldn't talk. Harry was surprised that she was still dressed in her night gown, a pair of trainers on her feet.

I'm sorry Harry, I went looking for you...I'm so sorry. Ginny said through their connection, looking at Harry with pleading eyes. I didn't mean to hurt you, I was only afraid. I love you Harry.

Despite their situation, Harry still found it hard to look at her. The events that night were still too fresh in his mind, but he loved her to much to ignore her. I'll get us out of here Ginny, somehow I'll get us out.

"She's a pretty little thing isn't she Harry, you choose well I think." Malincov said as he dismissed Ternia.

"She has nothing to do with this, let her go." Harry said calmly.

"Oh no Harry, she has everything to do with this. You see, I have seen your mind and I know the one thing you fear most is harming her. You fear more for her than your own death, which I must say I find foolish. No woman is worth that much pain, but you are not the brightest person I have ever seen. Which frankly upsets me that someone as weak as you managed to bring down Lord Voldemort. No, seeing you die won't do...I want to make you suffer, feel pain for the rest of your life...which could be quite awhile."

Don't do anything stupid... Ginny warned, Harry ignored her.

Having remembered his dream so vividly he knew what he was going to try to do to Ginny, he had to stop these events from unfolding at all costs. Harry was wracking his brain for a plan, something anything that would keep Ginny safe. His head was aching so badly he couldn't think, an immense pressure was pushing on his skull. He felt drugged, incapacitated, and he didn't know why. Suddenly he looked down at Ginny and noticed her eyes were rolling into the back of her head, he understood. He was feeling her emotions, the pressure he felt was coming from her.

"What did you do to her?" Harry asked with immense fear.

"Just a little charm to keep her from feeling anything, quite kind of me I think. After all it's not her I'm after...it's you." Malincov said with a grin, as if he just granted some huge favor.

"I refuse to turn her into a vampire."

"Oh, so you got the little message I sent you? I do so love toying with my fledgling's dreams."

"You gave me that dream? But how?" Harry asked.

Malincov shot Harry an annoyed look, "I'm bored with our conversation, you know what you have to do Harry. If you don't take her, I'm going to kill her. That's all there is to it...very simple. I'll give you..." Malincov looked down at a pocket watch that hung from his robes. "Three minuets to choose what to do."

As Malincov got up and left the room Harry desperately tried to reach Ginny's mind, putting all the energy he had into a mental scream. No reply. Whatever Malincov did, not only did it shut down her body but her mind as well. As he continued to reach her a sudden flash of light burst right in front of his face causing him to jump back in his chair. A small bit of parchment flashed before him, bearing the words. We're coming. -The VLG-.

The VLG? Harry thought, How do they know where I am, and how soon are they coming?

Malincov walked back into the room looking smug about something, Harry was grateful that he didn't see the paper that suddenly vanished in a large flame. "You have one minuet, What do you choose?"

"I won't harm her, no matter what you say." Harry said. Come on VLG, where are you? I just need to stall him until they get here.

"Fine have it your way." Malincov jumped off his chair, pulling a wooden stake out with him, the same stake Harry dreamed about. He hovered over Ginny, pointing it at her heart. "You know, it hurts humans as much as it does us." And he swung his arm high in the air, aiming for her chest.

"Please NO! Don't do this, she doesn't deserve it!" Harry screamed, deja vu creeping over him like never before.

Malincov stopped the stake mere inches from her chest as he brought his arm down. "Or shall I kill you instead? Either way, I come out happy. I'm giving you a choice. Either she dies or you take her...taste her flesh, make her yours. Consider your options boy, death or blood. Which will it be, your time is running down."

"Release me." Harry said, "and I'll do what you want, just don't harm her." Suddenly the ropes that bound his hands and feet vanished, setting him free.

Malincov grabbed the back of Harry's head and pushed him to the ground, kneeling over Ginny. Harry thought to himself, I have to stall long enough for the VLG to arrive, I have keep him talking. Harry twisted his head and looked at Malincov, "Please, I'm begging you. Let her go and I'll do anything you want of me. Kill me if you must, just don't make me hurt her."

"It's statements like those that make this oh so easy Harry. Don't you see that hurting her will cause you more pain that killing you. You deserve to suffer a thousands years for what you did to my master and I fear that you will think about this moment for the rest of you life. Now, do it or she dies."

Where are they! Harry tried to resist as Malincov pushed Harry's head down onto Ginny's neck but when he pushed the stake into her skin he panicked. He watched with horror as a small pool of blood showed through her dressing gown where he pierced the skin. The sight of blood jolted Harry, he tried to resist the urge but his fangs were bared against his most inner battles. Suddenly his natural instincts kicked in, telling him what to do. Malincov's voice was floating around his ears, Do it now!

As Malincov pushed the stake deeper into Ginny's chest he pushed harder on Harry's head. "You're taking too long, times up." Malincov declared then ran the stake the rest of the way trough Ginny's heart, splitting it in two. Blood spilled everywhere when he removed the stake, staining the floor and Harry's hands as he tried to cover her wound. Harry screamed out of anger then pushed Malincov away from her.

Harry knew what he had to do to save her, there was only one choice. As tears ran down his face, he sank his teeth into her neck and for the first time felt the ripping of flesh as her warm blood spilled down his tongue. Flashes from Ginny's memories swam through Harry's mind, sealing the even deeper connection they were about to share. Suddenly searing pain shot through Harry's body as he felt and absorbed Ginny's pain. Harry held out his wrist, Malincov sliced it open with the tip of the stake, then Harry pressed his blood over her lips, forcing it into her mouth. Just then the front door came smashing to the ground creating mass confusion, in marched at least a dozen men dressed from head to toe in black. Malincov screamed in rage as a dozen spells shot by him as he took off running. Harry put his body over Ginny's to protect her from the sunlight as he felt her wound heal it's self under his fingers.