I woke to somebody stroking my foot; the fingers slipped up my naked arch and ran over my toes. Murmuring softly I pulled away from the sensation, but the hand followed, slinking up to my calf and gripping it. Eyes opening I looked down expecting to see Iron trying to kill me somehow, instead slightly glazed over blue eyes met mine.
"Malfoy!" gasping I shot up, violently trying to yank my food away, "Wha—what are doing, let me go."
But he didn't, if anything his grip tightened, and when I tried to rise he yanked me towards him. The covers stayed on me, but I quickly remembered that Iron had put me into the bed naked.
"Shhh, I only want to look, Riddle wouldn't mind." He seemed to almost be trying to convince himself; I was yanked further down the bed, the cover starting to fall off.
"Riddle would mind, h—he might hurt me again if you touch me…" I let it hang, and for a second Malfoy stopped and looked at me with eyes clear of fog.
He swallowed deep and looked down at his hand, "You might not survive if he hurts you again… he already is planning to punish you, for trying to escape." The hand slowly released me, the second I was free I grabbed the cover and hunched up near the headboard, panting heavily.
Groaning the blond gripped his head and sat on the end of the bed, "I can't seem to think straight when I'm around you." Fingers clenched in his hair and he shot a glare at me, "A Malfoy, brought low by a filthy Mudblood."
Somehow I knew, without a doubt, that he was going to make a grab for me again. "Calm down Abraxus," we both froze at my use of his first name, but the tension left him. "I—I'm sorry if I am causing you any pain, it isn't what I want." Sniffing, I twisted my hands in the covers, "I don't want to hurt anything."
"Well this was very touching." Malfoy and I jumped at the sarcastic voice, the later standing immediately as his leader seemed to appear from an empty corner. Lips twisting Riddle tossed what was in his hands from one to the other, it was books. Seeing my looking he smirked and walked over, conjuring a chair out of thin air so he could sit. "Guess who sent me mail today?"
No…oh god please no…
My face must have paled considerably, as my captors lips actually parted in a true smile. "One Jeremy Bones sent me a little bundle of books," he held them up so I could clearly see the covers; they were the ones Jenny had asked for. "Don't look so heartbroken, he really had no choice, and he sent you a letter as well, so I suppose he can't be all bad."
Riddle flicked me the letter, it deflected off my shoulder and onto the bed in front of me. Still holding the covers up with one hand, I grabbed the already opened parchment and started reading.
Dearest Antoinette,
Jenny told me about your recent problems with Riddle and his little 'gang', I'm so sorry I cannot be there to protect you (thankfully the one who does all the actual protecting, Jenny, is there). She also informed me of his claim that you are not a proper witch, utter rubbish if you ask me. You are the truest and kindest person I know, and you are more than worthy to call yourself a witch.
Please do not forget that I love you, I know it isn't much but I pray it is enough to help you through your final year.
I anxiously await your return letter.
Missing you always,
Jeremy Bones.
P.S I looked into those books Jenny asked me to find, but was unable to locate them. I will continue searching though, if only to give you a little peace of mind that you are not one of these 'creatures' Riddle believes you to be.
The letter fell from my hand; I watched it drift off the bed and into Malfoy's hand. Quickly he scanned the contents, rolling his eyes at some points and finally smirking at me when he was done.
"So her lover has abandoned her, no great surprise." It seemed he was back to his usual self, but I barely even registered his words. "I assume you read over the books, My Lord?"
Riddle was watching my face carefully, as if he expected me to go insane or attack him. I couldn't even thing at the moment; my heart seemed to be slowly melting in my chest. "I did, rather interesting reads actually. Very obscure texts, Mr Bones must have gone through a great deal to get them; I will have to remember to reward him at the next Revel, perhaps another blond Muggle, he did so enjoy the last."
Don't throw up.
Tossing one of the books to his follower, Riddle threw one on the bed next to me while his fingers slowly caressed the cover of what I knew was the important one. The book given to me was clearly about Veelas, on the cover it showed several beautiful women dancing.
Malfoy was in possession of one about succubae or 'soul-suckers'. He flipped it over in his hands, disinterested in it already; his gaze was centred on the book Riddle held.
"You could never be something as simple as a Veela; there are ways of telling one from a normal witch. Their beauty for starters," Riddle scoffed, "nobody could accuse you of being a graceful and stunning swan. And you're obviously not succubae; they are born through dark magic and devour souls from puberty onwards." He tilted his head at me, "and I haven't heard of any students losing their souls… It's obvious that your powers developed over time, it had to otherwise you would have been overwhelmed." The book in his hands opened and projected itself onto the wall behind Riddle, both Malfoy and I could read along as he spoke. "Nymphai, pure-blooded Nymphs were wiped out of existence in the early 10th century. The Nymphs power over men and wizards alike was so strong and uncontrollable, that the mystical creatures were destroyed by burning down their forests and thus depriving them of their connection to their gods.
Nymphs were known for their abilities to control both nature and animals; they often used this gift to curse those who had wronged them or destroyed their territory, killing thousands of humans by destroying their food sources, and trapping hundreds of witches and wizards in the animagus form.
It is not known if any descendants of the Nymphs survive today, they long ago learnt to hide or supress any gifts that might alert the Muggle and wizarding worlds alike. Any who believe they know of someone who might have Nymph blood, is law bound to alert their Ministry of Magic as they are still considered extremely dangerous." Riddle closed the book with a snap, "I will have to do more testing to determine exactly what the limits of your powers are."
"N—no!" something in me snapped, all I could feel was betrayal and it was making me brave. "No testing and n—no using me for some horrible end. I won't help you!" Panting, I held the covers to my chest, having felt them slip in my outburst. "I—I just want to make it through my last year…" I almost said 'and be with Jeremy', but then his treachery hit me again and I choked on the words.
Riddle was entirely calm throughout my claims; Malfoy meanwhile was clenching his fists, I didn't care to know if this was because he was angry or fearful.
"Hold her." Two softly spoken words instantly felled any bravery I felt.
Emotionlessly Malfoy moved to where I was hunched and yanked me down lower on the bed. Letting out a small shriek was all I could manage. He made to grab my hands; a small burst of energy gave me the strength to yank them away and above my head. He just grabbed them anyway and held them in place, then before I could move he bounded up onto the empty bedspace left above my head and transferred my wrists so they were trapped under his knees, leaving his hands free. At the moment he did nothing more, just settled back and looked at his Master. I did the same. Riddle had risen from his chair during Malfoy's and mine's struggle, he was currently removing his outer robe.
"It seems you need a reminder of exactly who I am, who you are speaking to." His red eyes flashed at mine, sending shivers down my spine. Folding his robe he placed it on the chair he had vacated, leaving him in a simple button up white shirt and tie. With a flick of his wrist the familiar black wand I knew so well was in his hand, confidently Riddle pointed it at me. "Now, Silencio."
I had flinched the second he pointed his wand at me, expecting another Crucio, but instead he silenced me? Apparently satisfied Riddle banished his wand again; some tension left me at this.
"You will follow my orders and you will 'allow' me to perform tests on you, or I will ensure that your little friend is shipped into the darkest Muggle mental hospital I can find. Did you know they do that? Lock people up for being what they are, another reason to hate the filthy creatures." Riddle sneered, standing over my trapped and thankfully covered body.
I clenched my eyes shut in embarrassment, somehow having forgotten exactly what Riddle had blackmailed me with in the first place.
"Hmm, what say you Mudblood? Betray your friend and save yourself from a few embarrassing moments, or do what I say and save the lesbian."
My lips wouldn't move even if I had wanted them to, so I instead slowly relaxed my body and turned my head to the side. Malfoy, feeling me relax under his knees, ran his fingers down my bared forearms. "Good girl."
"Yes, good girl."
I sensed Riddle step closer but didn't dare flinch or open my eyes, seeing the monster coming at you was far worse than simply hiding under the covers, or eyelids in my case. It started with a tickling sensation, taking me a moment to realize that the blanket that was covering me was slowly being pulled off. I forced myself still.
Do it for Jenny.
The cover slipped slowly down my chest, catching for only a second on my nipples, before baring my breasts to the world. There was only silence in the room.
Then, "how unexpected, but then I suppose there has always been something compelling about you." Riddle chuckled, "even if before it only caused me to want to make you miserable."
Malfoy must have moved closer, his breath puffed off my shoulder. "And now, My Lord?"
"Now?" There was the rustling of clothing and a warm body was pressed against mine, "Now I am curious exactly how strong our little Nymph is." My nipples were so hard in fear, that I had the insane notion that perhaps they might stab him, wishful and stupid thinking. "Are you cold Mudblood?" the chest pressed harder into mine, forcing a totally silent gasp to escape my mouth.
"Can you feel anything?" questioned Malfoy, his hands started running down my inner arms again, soothing me despite myself.
"There!" Malfoy stopped his movements at his Masters outburst and I tensed up again. "No, keep doing whatever you were just doing." His hands, slightly more hesitant now, carefully began moving again. My heart rate slowed and my eyelids relaxed, above me Riddle groaned for a second then put more of his weight on me. "Is this what you feel, my Mudblood? Merlin, everything is so strong, every sensation."
And suddenly I understood what he meant; I had always seemed to feel things stronger than others. It wasn't only emotionally though, it was physical. Whenever Jeremy and I were alone and he was kissing me – touching me – I wouldn't be able to stand it for too long, something in me aching for more of something that I wasn't ready to understand.
Jeremy had called me his 'sensitive darling' whenever this happened. The sudden memory of what Jeremy had done to me struck me like a ton of bricks, my mind curled in on itself and my heart ached.
Above me Riddle abruptly threw himself away, my eyes shot open in shock soon enough to see him leaning against one of the four posters, bare chest heaving like he had run a mile.
"My Lord?" Malfoy, forgetting about me, jumped up to help his Master. The second he touched Riddle's shoulder though, the tortured man tore himself away.
I had never seen Riddle like this, his hair was dishevelled and eyes were the brightest red I had ever seen them, and they were trained furiously on me.
"What was that!?" snarling he stormed forward; now free I scrambled into a sitting position, grabbing the cover with me.
I gaped like a fish for a moment, trying to talk before remembering the silencing charm. Growling Riddle's wand appeared in his hand and he swished it at me, the tightening in my vocals leaving.
"Speak."
"I—I don't know, I don't understand any of this. Please I'm not a—a Nymph, I'm just a witch." Stuttering, I edged further away when his eyes darkened.
"What were you thinking of? In that moment, what?!" He pointed his wand at me, a curse likely on the tip of his tongue.
"Jeremy!" it actually hurt to speak his name, "I was thinking about Jeremy and what he did to me..." My nose felt tight and my eyes watered, tears making invisible tracks on my skin.
"You will never again think of him, nor say his name in my presence again." The wand held against me was lowered; Riddle's voice was deceptively calm.
"B—but."
"Silence," shouted Riddle, any pretence of tranquillity gone. Malfoy took a step back from his Master, a look of shock on his face. "I would obliviate him from your memory, if it meant I would never again feel whatever it was you just felt, but I do not know how that would affect one of your kind."
"Sadness," my vision turned red for a second, "I felt sadness before, you monster."
Baring his teeth, my jailor stormed forward and gripped my throat. My hands flew to his wrists, trying to uselessly pull him away despite the current light pressure.
"I. Do. Not. Feel. I am Voldemort, and I will not be controlled by the memories of a mere boy who hurt you."
"Perhaps you should not be touching her, My Lord, if she can cause such damage." The calm voice of reason broke through both our anger. Riddle's hand, which had been tightening with his every word, slowly relaxed but stayed in place. My skin beneath would be bruised, of that I had no doubt.
"At the moment all I can feel is her fear, and I don't need her abilities to sense that. I can see it in her eyes, the way she quivers and is too flustered to even notice she is naked." Shock hit me, as well as the cold air on bits that neither of them had a right to see. "But you noticed, haven't you my loyal Knight?"
"My Lord, it is hard to miss." Chuckled the blond to our right, apparently now feeling it is safe enough for him to joke.
"Indeed, hard to miss…" At such close range to Riddle, I observed in embarrassment as his eyes drifted down my body and then slowly back to my own. "It would be wise to listen to me Antoinette," he pulled my frozen body closer, "When I touch you next I had best feel nothing like what I felt today… Or the death of young Mr Bones will be on your head. And I know that even after all his betrayals; you could never be the cause of another's death."
I was released slowly, one fingertip at a time pulling away from my neck. Riddle briefly caressed the marks he left behind, before gracefully pulling his shirt back on and leaving the room. I sat there for a moment, just staring at the door where my enemy had left. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Malfoy peruse me. Quickly, he moved forward and pulled the blanket back over me, but it immediately dropped back down.
"Antoinette?" I knew he was speaking to me, but I didn't care. Everything was rushing up at once on my brain and I just wanted to sleep, sleep for as long as it took for everybody I knew to forget I existed.
Easy wish…
"Mudblood." Snapped Malfoy, my eyes immediately met his. He winced a little at the emptiness of them; I didn't need to be able to read minds to know that. "Lie down," he sounded slightly unsure, but I did what he commanded, curling up with my arms wrapped around my knees. It was easier to follow orders then try and fight, fighting only seemed to result in more pain and at the moment I knew my mind couldn't take any more pain. Seemingly satisfied, Malfoy smiled at me "Good girl." He then pulled the cover over me and took a step back. For a second he stared at me, I blankly stared back. Then seeming to make up his mind he took off his robes and tossed them onto a nearby chair, followed by his shirt. He looked hesitant at me for a second with his hand on his waistband, but seemed to win an internal battle and shuck out of his trousers too. He stood there for a moment mostly naked, and I took notes in my head.
Broad shoulders, trim waist, thick thighs… a sports lover
Slowly, as though it would frighten me if he went fast, he climbed onto the bed with me and moved in behind me. Confident now, his hand grabbed the covers from around me and pulled them over us both, he moved until the back of me was pressed against his front. Slowly moulding himself to me, arms shifting around until it finally draped across my waist.
"You did well today… he didn't torture you, so you did well."
I didn't answer, didn't really have to. We both knew that he had tortured me, just not in a conventional way.
