Inception: Rise of the Heir
After the murder of Hepzibah Smith, Tom Riddle disappeared for ten long years. He sank deeper into the Dark Arts & pursued knowledge that others could only dream of, consorting with the darkest members of wizarding society. With his eyes set on North America, he has no idea that the magic he so desperately seeks will shape his life & his inevitable future for years to come. TomxOC
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except for my o/c's and my own storyline.
Tom heard a stifled cry echo out from behind them as Alarie suddenly dragged a man out from the shadows, his face was weathered with deep wrinkle lines that lay etched heavily upon his skin, his grey-white hair matted around his thinning hairline. Glancing downwards, he noticed that the old mans arms were bound behind him with rope, his eyes covered with a scarf and as she made him kneel on the ground before them, he began to choke, gagging on a cloth that had been stuffed into his mouth, tears and sweat streaming down his face. Alarie stared at him in disgust as she looked down towards him, the drums beating heavily in the background.
"Release him from his bindings if you will." Madam Celestin said, motioning towards the young girl. "And take that rag out from his mouth. We're not animals."
Alarie frowned at the last request as if she was upset and spoke quietly in defense. "He would no go gracefully, he was making all sorts of noises Madam -"
Celestin put her hand up to silence the girl and spoke once more, this time her words harsh and cold. "Remove them."
The young woman nodded quietly, her shoulders shrinking in embarrassment as she pulled a knife from her robes and quickly cut the man loose, pulling the rags from his mouth and eyes hastily before walking away.
The man looked around the room and whimpered when he saw the women in black before him, sinking down to his knees, his hands clasped towards Madam Celestin. "P-please..please…I-I'll do anything. I'll -"
She closed her eyes and smiled gently as she cut him off, shaking her head. "There is nothing left to be done. I have been generous, far more generous than you deserve."
"B-but-"
"You came to me for aid and I helped you. But now there are debts to be paid. Instead of following my instructions and repaying me what was owed, you have squandered my generosity on liquor and your own pleasure -"
"-I have a family...p-please-"
"Yes. Your family. Who you have not seen in months, who you did not share any of your good fortune with. They will be fine without you I think."
Tom watched in revulsion as the man sobbed before them and noticed a small black mark upon his arm when he raised his hands towards Madam Celestin once more.
"I beg you -"
"Enough!" Madam Celestin said as she raised her hands towards him and smiled once more, this time her grin twisted and wicked. He watched in gleeful delight as the man's cries muffled, a smooth surface of skin now in place of where his lips had been. The old man widened his eyes in horror as he raised a wrinkled hand to his missing mouth, clawing frantically to rip at the flesh that had sealed together.
She turned around towards Tom and smiled, the drums still beating loudly around them as she shrugged. "Not everyone accepts their fate gracefully."
"You place your mark upon those who do not possess magic." He whispered disdainfully. She turned towards him and smiled, the light from the torches glowing against her ebony skin. "I believe that everyone has a use, whether their abilities lie within the realm of magic or not."
"I thought your government frowned against fraternization with muggles."
"They are not my government...no one rules over me. I do not adhere to their ridiculous restrictions. If you had spent more time in this city, you would know that most of us believe such measures are not beneficial to our livelihoods. You would be surprised at how often people without magical abilities bow down at your feet when they discover the advantages of aligning themselves with us."
He opened to his mouth to retort, but her hand rose to silence him.
"I would never lower myself in such a manner. Muggles need to be shown their place in life, not fraternized with."
He angrily looked towards the man once more, crying frantically on the floor and flexed his jaw in agitation, the sound of her voice now a point of contention.
"Come now Tom. We must prepare."
Walking slowly over to her side, he watched as she took the empty clay bowl before her and reached for a few ingredients around the altar. She murmured to him quietly as she began, taking handfuls of ingredients from around her and combining them within the empty bowl. Madam Celestin raised each one towards him as she continued, ensuring that he understood her instructions. "Black salt…Herbs-made of mint and rosemary...Funeral dirt."
He watched as she pulled the satchel of dust they had collected and patted it gently before pouring it into the bowl, murmuring under her breath. Grabbing a small pestle off the stone altar, she mixed the ingredients into the bowl, grinding them into a rough powder before she looked up and snapped her fingers. A figure came forward quickly and picked up the cage of chickens, ascending up the giant stone steps and quickly opening it, while Madam Celestin reached in, pulling one out by its outstretched neck. She returned to her former position and grinned sadistically at the bird, placing the chicken down upon the smooth stone slab, it's frantic sounds trapped in it's throat grasped tightly under her fingertips, its feathers distended in fear. Without warning she suddenly pulled a knife from her robes, swiftly bringing the blade down to behead the animal and he watched in curiosity as she held it's severed body, still twitching, over the bowl. It's blood oozed slowly into the powdered mixture and Tom watched the grizzly scene, noticing how the hens feet still twitched, its nerves still reacting to the fatal blow.
"Three drops is all that is needed and-" She shoved her fingers into its body and plucked three bones from inside, throwing them into the bowl with indifference and grinding the concoction once more until it was compounded. "-a few drops of serpent's venom. Zombi...if you would be so kind..."
She caressed the large snake, it's body slithering down her arm until it had reached the small bowl, baring it's fangs over the mixture of blood and ash. As if frozen in place, it patiently waited, until the woman placed her dark fingers into his mouth and squeezed, a few clear drops dripping into the bowl before he withdrew and slinked back to his position atop her shoulders.
Tom felt his heart pound heavily as she turned towards him, her hands covered in blood, her plush mouth parted slightly while she extended her hand out towards him. The blood still dripped off the tip of the blade as she motioned for him to take it, her eyes penetrating and cold. He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the crude weapon, confusion spreading across his face.
"Take it." She hissed. "If this is the magic you so desperately desired, you will take it so you can finish what needs to be done."
He felt the yellow eyes of Zombi upon him as he held his hand out, hesitating momentarily. "I do not need a blade, I have my w-"
She interrupted him, her voice low and dangerous. "How cowardly wizards have become that they need to hide behind little sticks made of wood. It might serve you up there." She pointed upwards, to the tombs roof. "But it will not down here. You will do things my way. The old way."
Tom's anger rose at her insults and he took the dagger from her hands, hearing the snake hiss at him in displeasure. Tom looked towards enormous serpent and frowned, its yellow eyes piercing his own. He opened his mouth to ask what it was he needed to do, unsure of her intentions, but the snake's raspy voice addressed him instead.
"Your task awaitss you. Do not make uss wait." Its white head turned towards the pitiful man before looking back at Tom, its tongue flicking anxiously in and out from its mouth. "To create life, you musst take it."
He considered Zombi's words momentarily before he narrowed his eyes and walked down the altar towards the kneeling man, whose noises had all but stopped, his demeanor now distant, far away, as if he had always resigned himself to his fate. He pulled the man up from the ground firmly and leaned his body against his leg, his heart beating fiercely as the sounds of drums and chanting suddenly filled his ears, rising to meet the dangerous tension in the crypt. Pressing the knife to the man's neck, he was suddenly reminded of Lyra words, how she had described what it felt like to take someone's life, without a wand, without the aid of magic and he grasped the leathery skin and sinew under his fingers in determination.
"It takes far more willpower to kill someone with your bare hands. You can see the fear in their eyes, you can feel their delicate bones underneath your hands and you can feel the life slip away from underneath you as they grow cold beneath your fingertips."
His own heart pounding heavily in his ears, Tom tilted the man's head upwards, his dark brown eyes meeting a fearful hazel. Without hesitation he pressed the blade down into his neck and slowly dragged it across his skin, feeling the man's warmth flow forth onto his fingers from the fatal wound. He steadied his hand on the blade, feeling it almost slip from his grasp, slick with blood and watched the emotions in the man's eyes change. Fear turned to shock, a strange gurgling escaped from the slit and Tom observed the color in his eyes growing dull, signifying that life had left his body.
"Is this what empowers you?" He silently asked, as if Lyra stood beside him, marveling at his feat. His chest heaved slowly, taking a deep breath as he admired his handiwork, feeling a strange sensation fill his body full of pride and satisfaction.
He had killed before, but it had never felt like this.
"When it is finished, you feel what it is you have done radiate through your entire body...because you and you alone did it. To me that is power."
"To take a life without magic...I now understand why she would admire such methods, there is more satisfaction to be had. But such archaic practices are unnecessary...too time consuming -" He stepped back from the limp body, letting it drop to the floor like a rag doll as he looked down to the knife and his blood covered hands, grimacing. "-and filthy beyond measure. Madam Celestin prefers these conditions but I have a feeling the cause of death whether knife or wand would not make any difference."
"You've done well Tom."
He broke from his thoughts as Madam Celestin appeared beside him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder, reaching out for the knife. She murmured quietly into his ear. "I see that I was right in my assumption that you have taken life before. How intoxicating it can be, no?"
Zombi slithered down her shoulders and curled up at her feet, hissing in delight at his actions. Tom felt a grin tug at his lips and placed the blade into her outstretched hand, watching her delicately clean it off on her robes before kneeling next to the body. She raised the deceased man's head, pressing the bowl under his wound and waited patiently as his blood leaked into it's well, pools of vermillion covering the thick gruesome paste. Satisfied with the amount she had collected, Madam Celestin placed the bowl down upon the ground and used the knife to cut a few locks of hair from his head, mixing it in with the rest of the grisly ingredients.
"The hair and blood is essential." She whispered as she formed the mixture into a small cake. "You need items that once belonged to the living."
When she had finished Madam Celestin clapped her hands and waited as two members of the congregation picked the man's corpse from off the floor and placed him into the coffin. "Do as I say and you will know what it is to create 'life'."
She waved her hand over the man's face and waited until his mouth reappeared, opening it slowly and with her other hand handed the bowl to Tom. "The cake must be placed inside."
He looked towards the grotesque medley of blood, dirt and hair, trying to ignore the putrid smell as he scooped it out and brought it towards the man's lips, the cold touch of death on his skin as he placed the foul concoction inside. Madam Celestin nodded in gratification, closing the man's mouth before she stood up, waiting as a hooded figure stepped towards them, placing a small clay jar into her hands.
Looking down towards the corpse, she opened the jar and handed it to Tom. "Are you familiar with the nature of spirits Mr. Marvolo?"
He felt his heart skip at the sound of his pseudo alias and lied, thinking back to the creations of his horcruxes. "A little, although I hardly would consider myself as knowledgeable as you."
Madam Celestin smiled at him arrogantly and continued. "Spirits linger on even after the body has been...ravaged. In order to reanimate le zombi cadavre in the future, we must trap its soul in this world. It cannot be allowed to pass into the next."
"I see...and in capturing its soul you-"
"Control its very existence...yes."
"Interesting...it would appear the creation of an Inferi and a horcrux are similar in theory. Perhaps I'm also correct in thinking that all of these extra...steps...are necessary when one does not practice magic with a wand or is unable to use the killing curse due to the restrictions of this country. I won't have to worry about either of these hindrances when I return home." He smiled as she turned away from him as the beating of the drums eased slightly, the sound more menacing than before, it's patter reminding him of a slow beating heart.
Tom watched as she placed her hands over the corpse and started to murmur in a language he did not fully understand. The mixture of french and another tongue did not bother him, he already knew the words that needed to be spoken. Instead, he kept a close watch on her hands and the way she delicately moved them about the body, repeating the motions and phrases over and over until a light blue mist rose from the corpses lips. An evil grin spread across his face as the familiar scene played out before his eyes.
Madam Celestin motioned for him to grab the small clay container and he obliged, watching as she captured the corporeal mist inside it and closed the lid slowly. Placing it gently beside her she took up the knife once more and tore fabric from the deceased man's clothing, shoving it into Tom's hands.
"This is perhaps the most important part. To keep the soul in its place you must trick it into thinking it still resides within the body. Wrap the cloth tightly around the seal and follow me." She commanded firmly, lifting herself from up off the ground, wiping the dirt and residue from her clothing.
He followed her instructions and when he had finished he tied the fabric off tightly, following her shrouded figure back towards the altar. Zombi slithered behind her closely and curled up tightly at her feet, his head swaying dangerously back and forth.
"Place it here." She motioned towards the altar, still covered in blood and ash as he situated it in front of her, his finger sliding off the jar slowly. Madam Celestin nodded and raised her arms upwards above her head and started to chant. The flames of the candles around the altar that had danced wildly throughout the entire process suddenly became eerily still and Tom felt the hair on the back of his neck rise as her words echoed around them.
"Cruelest of servants, your soul I now own
Your master awakens you from your dark demise
Blood from thine own heart, ashes from bone
From the doors of the underworld, I bid thee rise"
Tom felt the goosebumps on his arm rise, the room suddenly dropping in temperature as a cold chill set in. He was unsure of when the drums had stopped beating, but the sudden absence of noise seemed louder to him than the strange haunting rhythms had. A small groan emanated from the wooden coffin placed in the middle of the room, followed by a choked gurgling. He narrowed his eyes, observing a leathery hand move slowly from inside the coffin, the sound of nails scratching against the wooden panels could be heard as the animated corpse suddenly rose from the box, its eyes clouded and hollow. Tom suffocated a gasp as Madam Celestin turned to smile at him, her eyes cold and smug.
"Now you see why our magic is stronger than yours. Only here can such feats be accomplished, to make the dead living once more."
"Incredible." He whispered as he watched the corpse stand inside the box, like a puppet waiting for its master to pull the strings.
"Indeed it is." She said, watching a hungry look take over his dark features. She slowly picked up the clay jar and whispered into it, like a loving parent would speak to its child.
"You've done well my serviteur, sleep and await my word."
Tom watched as the corpse fell where it stood, its body laying in a crumpled heap inside the pine box. Madam Celestin clapped her hands and pointed towards her congregation and spoke. "You know where the body must be taken. After that leave us. I am no longer in need of your services tonight -Alarie!" She said loudly as she looked behind them, the young girl scuttling towards them her head bowed. "Take Zombi and make sure he feeds well."
"Perhapss we shall meet again…" The snake looked towards Tom and bowed its head, slithering from her feet and continued to follow the girl into the shadows along with the others, leaving the two of them alone in the dark tomb together.
Tom frowned as he looked towards her, disappointed that she had commanded the corpse no further, extinguishing his excitement.
"You are disappointed somehow?" She said silkily, her obsidian eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I had hoped that I would see more."
Madam Celestin let out a soft laugh. "What would you have liked to see? More blood? More death? I think we have seen enough of that tonight."
"What do you do with them?"
Her head turned towards him sharply and she narrowed her eyes. "That is not your business. But-if you are inclined to think that I keep hordes of cadavers at my disposal you would be mistaken. I do not disrespect the dead in such ways. I will only trap a soul until I feel their debt to me has been repaid. Once the debt has been satisfied, I release the spirit...enabling it to pass on peacefully."
She frowned as she looked at him, noticing the disappointment in his eyes. "I can see that you disagree."
"Would it not serve you better to keep them? The amount of power you could wield would be unfathomable."
Madam Celestin grabbed his wrist violently and hissed. "To trap a soul for an eternity and deny them absolution is an abomination."
Tom looked at her hand in disgust and felt his back stiffen in anger, her eye's suddenly softening when she realized her mistake and released his arm. "While my practices might seem...unforgiving to others...I am not so cruel as to refuse a soul the opportunity to be at rest. You would do well to follow the same sentiments."
Tom looked at the disdain in her eyes and wiped the anger from his face, lightening the mood between them. "Forgive me for my ignorance, it was merely a question."
Her mouth tugged upwards and she smiled, gesturing towards him. "Curiosity is natural. I'm sure your mind must be swimming with questions. Come, let me escort you back."
He nodded silently as they walked past the large pool of blood he had spilled earlier and out from the large tomb, his mind racing.
"The Inferi ritual has proved most intriguing and while I can appreciate Celestin's methods, they will not do if I should ever find myself in need to amass a large number of them...Now that I've witnessed the process myself, I'm sure I can make a few adjustments of my own."
He stole a glance at Madam Celestin as she walked next to him, her skin stretched tightly against her high cheekbones, her face as young and vibrant as his own and what he had not thought to question earlier, suddenly struck him as unnatural.
"She is nearly twice my age, yet she looks to be no older than thirty. How can this be?" He looked towards her hands and smiled wickedly, although the skin was tight and firm, he noticed the age spots that had suddenly appeared, scattered atop her flesh that gave her secret away. "Ah..so that's how it's done..."
"How long have you resided in New Orleans?"
"Too many years to count my dear Tom."
"I see. Forgive me if I'm being too forward, but how is it possible that a witch who has resided in this place for -as you have described it- so long, does not look a day over thirty?"
Madam Celestin narrowed her eyes at his question and let out a small laugh. "I should have anticipated that you would notice…"
"I have, although I must admit I did not at first."
"There are many ways to retain a youthful appearance...but none are permanent I'm afraid." She smiled wickedly as they continued to walk down the tunnel together. "And there are many ways to maintain power as well...but there will always be those who seek to take your place."
He grinned smugly. "I've noticed you are very close with your shopkeep."
"Yes. She has worked alongside me since she was a child...I've taught her everything she knows."
He let out a small laugh as he turned towards her. "How long will it be before you kill her and assume her identity as well?"
Madam Celestin turned towards him abruptly, her eyes twinkling dangerously as he continued.
"You see, I noticed your polyjuice potion is wearing off...your hands-" He motioned towards her. "-gave it away."
She gave him a mischievous look and waved her hand in front of him. "How clever of you."
"So that is how you maintain your power."
"Beauty is an illusion and youth is a powerful tool...I would be lying if I said that neither had anything to do with my success. You see, one can not dabble in the spirit world or within the Dark Arts for too long before they take their toll."
"How many names have you stolen in order to protect your legacy?" He spoke softly, his dark amber eyes upon hers.
"One can hardly live as long as I have and maintain power without question and suspicion. I knew if I wanted to continue my reign I would have to transform many times over and when it is time for this identity to retire...I will start anew."
"Does she know?" He asked gently.
"Of course not." She smiled smugly. "Not everyone knows the price they have to pay when they come to me for help. Some have larger debts than others." She turned her heads towards him, her voice cold. "You would oblige me of course if I ask you to forget this conversation we had tonight."
He laughed softly and shook his head. "I have no desire to spread your secrets, it was only a mere curiosity."
"...and I've just ensured that I have the upper hand regarding our situation."
Madam Celestin eyed him suspiciously and stopped walking, her voice less friendly than it was before. "Now that our time has come to and end...It is time for you to fulfill your part of our agreement."
Tom's eyes flashed greedily as her hand reached towards her robes and he knew what she was going to ask. "The gem...if I were to attain a gem of that size, I would be able to fully realize the stones potential without having to worry about wasting the little scraps I have..."
He placed his hand on hers and clasped it in his gently. "I'm afraid our arrangement isn't complete. This was only the first of two things you promised to me."
"So then...you have finally decided to accept my offer?" Celestin's eyes danced dangerously once more, a mischevious look upon her face.
"I have." He said quietly.
"Then it appears we shall spend one more night together."
"It appears so." He let a small laugh and then frowned, quickly thinking back to Lyra.
"I see you are still worried about your mon cheri." She smiled exposing her bright white teeth.
At the mention of the phrase, Tom looked at her quickly and narrowed his eyes, displeased with her enthusiasm.
"Do not use that term."
She smiled once more and bowed her head. "As you wish. But as I told you there is no need to trouble yourself. Bring her with you tomorrow and meet me on the banks of Bayou St. John at eight o' clock."
He nodded as they made their way down the dark and damp tomb and frowned once more, his wind wandering back towards Lyra. A nagging ache erupted in his chest and he reluctantly turned towards Madam Celestin, daring to ask a question, the answer to which he felt shouldn't matter to him.
"Will you help her?"
She sighed and sucked her teeth, a dark look overtaking her features. "I was not lying when I told her I may not be able to solve her problems. I sense something very dark within her...something that I am not familiar with."
He mulled over her words quietly as they passed the rows of coffins that let back to the steps they had descended down.
"You are concerned about her."
"I am concerned about binding myself to something I cannot control."
Madam Celestin laughed and gave him a wry look. "While I understand your concern, that is not why you asked the question. You care about her fate more than you'd like to admit."
He scoffed softly and pursed his lips in thought. "Perhaps."
"These things are natural...you should not have to choose between your desires and your ambition. You need only know how to discern the difference between them and do what is more beneficial to yourself when neccessary."
He considered her words silently as they reached the steps and she nodded courteously, signifying to him that their time spent together was at an end. He grabbed her hand and raised it to his mouth slowly, placing a gentle kiss upon it.
"Our time spent together has been quite enlightening. I admire your talents and I am honoured to have been allowed to witness them." He said softly, turning around to make his way back up the steps.
"It has indeed. I look forward to tomorrow Mr. Marvolo."
Tom nodded curtly at her before he ascended up the steps and back out into the night air, his mind racing.
OK. Long chapter and it took me a lot to write and rewrite until I was satisfied. So one whole Tom chapter...and we now know how to make an Inferi. It was really hard to write all of this without going into the religious aspect of Vodou, JK Rowling has written so little about it so there isn't much to go on as to how it works in the world of Harry Potter. That being said, I hope you all enjoyed it, thank you so much to my new followers and don't forget to follow, fav & review if you enjoy it! Xxx
BTW My next update might take a little longer since I'm heading back to work, but don't fret if it takes a little longer than a week! I promise you it'll be up!