Severus wanted to kill him. After everything he had been through and whatever was happening to his mind now, he had little patience for men who liked to pretend they were Gods. What he really wanted to do was rewind back to this morning, crawl back into bed with his wife, and hold her until it all just stopped...but this man, Morpheus, had taken her away, so the next best thing to that was probably just killing him.
He wouldn't though. He couldn't. Not when Morpheus was the only one who knew where Freya was. He would go along with whatever ridiculous plan Morpheus had to flaunt his power over whatever Morpheus wanted to flaunt over. He would play faithful servant once more, but this time would be different. He wouldn't fail her like he had failed Evans. He would get Freya back...and then he would kill Morpheus.
"I am yours to command." Severus answered, meeting Morpheus's gaze and willing him to believe the lie.
"No, you're not," Morpheus laughed, as though Severus had just told a joke, "That's a good one. You will do this for me though, because I do believe you care for her, in your own little mortal way. I simply don't believe it is enough. Prove me wrong, Severus. That is your goal today."
"How would you like for me to prove that, my Lord?" Severus asked in confusion.
"Drop the 'my lord' act. My name is Morpheus. You will call me by my name."
"As you wish, Morpheus." Severus agreed.
"I have set before you four trials. They will begin the moment you step foot outside your bedroom door. Pass them, and I will reliquish Freya. Fail them, and you will never see her again." Morpheus promised, "Not even in your dreams."
"What trials must I face?" Severus asked, studying him. There was nothing nervous or uncertain about Morpheus. He exuded confidence. Morpheus truly believed what he was saying.
"I have stolen your bride, Severus." Morpheus smiled, "Come and get her."
Morpheus opened the door for him, waiting for him to go first. On the other side of the door the house had changed. It was no longer the hallway leading to the staircase that he had walked up, only moments before. Now the door led to a shadowy stone chamber with a large crevice in the center of the floor. "After you," Morpheus said politely, motioning for Severus to enter the room before him.
He gave Severus a moment to study his surroundings before speaking again. The first thing Severus noticed was the smell. A horrendous stench seemed to be coming from a river of something vile and blue. It flowed freely out of a tunnel at one end of the crevice and into another on the other side. A narrow bridge was the only way to cross to a small wooden door opposite them. There was nothing else here.
"I thought a dungeon would be appropriate since you've spent most of your life in one." Morpheus explained. "I must warn you, once you cross the bridge you can't come back. The water-"
Severus cut him off. "That is not water."
Morpheus laughed, "No, it is definitely not water. Once you cross that bridge it will begin to rise. You will have no choice but to go through the door, and it will block the door behind you so you won't be able to turn back. I have to be certain of your decisions. People get hurt when you don't keep your word."
"This is where you sent Freya?" Severus asked. He loathed the thought of her being trapped in a place like this. He had to find her and bring her home. No, not home. After this they were moving. They would leave the country, if they had to. Severus wasn't sure if he could survive serving another "God". The first one had nearly killed him.
A searing pain shot through Severus's throat, just as it had at the ministry, when he'd had the vision of the mediwitch. He tried to lift his hand to his neck, but Morpheus grabbed his wrist. "You will want to focus, Severus. These trials are all about the decisions you choose to make and the way your mind works. I would hate for you to lose Freya because your mind was elsewhere."
Severus jerked his wrist from Morpheus's grasp and glared at him. "I know what is at stake. I will be focused. Is this where she is? If I make it to wherever you are leading me, will she be at the end."
"Yes," Morpheus answered finally, "Freya will be at the end."
"May I ask, where exactly we are?" Severus continued.
"This is my home. Not all of it, of course, but the dungeon has been transformed specifically to meet your needs. You're welcome." Morpheus explained, as though he had done Severus a tremendous favor.
Severus wanted to object and point out that none of this mess met any of his needs, but he resisted. He had pushed Morpheus's patience already. He had typically found it best to keep his temper to himself during times like these...at least until he could use it to his advantage. "What is my goal?"
"Get to the next chamber without dying." Morpheus answered simply.
"Easier said than done, I presume?" Severus muttered.
"Precisely," Morpheus replied. "Not having second thoughts already, are we?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at him. When this was over with, he would make Morpheus wish he'd had second thoughts. Without another word Severus began walking out towards the bridge.
"I'll take that as a no," Morpheus smiled gleefuly.