Chapter 27: A Brush with Death
Kelria followed the Death Eater out of her dungeon, down more long twisting hallways, into a large room. She was thrown onto the floor, then the large door closed loudly as the Death Eater left.
She tasted blood, and spat onto the floor, not caring. She didn't have to clean up the mess, so she didn't care about making it.
She was alone in the room, she saw, and there was a large chair at the end opposite the door. Her blood ran cold as she recognised the room: it was the one Sara always brought her to in the dreams.
Since she was there alone and she didn't know how long she'd be there before someone came for her, she decided to look around.
It was a fairly plain room, the chair being the only furniture. There was no tapestry on the stone walls, nor were there any rugs on the floor.
"For such a rich group of people, their awfully skimpy on the furnishings," she muttered cynically.
She inspected the walls, as she had been taught at Auror School, to see if there was any way of escape, but she did it out of habit only. She did not expect to find a way out, and she was not disappointed.
All the same, she threw a bit of a fit and kicked the wall with her foot, which resulted only in a sore toe…
She bent over and inspected it. "I think it's broken," she announced aloud.
She hobbled to the center of the room, and sat down, broodingly crossing her arms.
"Alright, I'm sick of being in the dark by myself," she called. "Someone can show up now."
A cold laugh greeted her words.
"You're awfully brave, Miss Song. I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you."
"Well then, I guess it's a good thing you're not me," she replied, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.
It wasn't so dark in the room that she couldn't see, but she didn't see anyone else in the room with her.
The laugh came again, and she suddenly knew who was laughing at her.
"Alright, Voldemort, show yourself," she called angrily.
And he did. She was suddenly not the only one in the room; Lord Voldemort was sitting in the high back chair at the front of the room, looking at her over fingers steepled in front of his face.
"You look like Dumbledore," she told him bluntly.
Voldemort's eyes flashed angrily and his hands fell to his sides. Kelria smirked. She liked making him angry.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Miss Song. It's up to you."
Kelria said nothing. She had said all she planned to say.
It was Voldemort's turn to smirk. "I see. So that's how it's going to be, is it?"
Again Kelria said nothing.
Voldemort sighed. "I do so like you, Miss Song. I would hate to have to kill you because you won't cooperate."
"I'll never cooperate," Kelria hissed. She mentally kicked herself.
Say nothing more, she told herself angrily.
Voldemort grinned. "So she speaks. I think that by the end of our little session you will have changed your mind, Miss Song."
Kelria managed to hold her tongue, though barely. He really was irritating.
"I have several of your friends in my charge, Miss Song," Voldemort said lazily, inspecting his fingernails as if she did not exist.
Kelria did not reply. She knew he had Remus, but that was not several. She knew Voldemort was a chronic liar, however, and he could be merely trying to infuriate her. Well, it wasn't going to work.
Then she remembered her dream. What if he also had Khyana in his dungeons…?
Voldemort chuckled softly. "You know, of course, that we have your fiancé in our custody, but you will, I am sure, be delighted to hear that we also have your friend Miss Malfoy in our dungeons. She has been made to feel right at home; after all, she is at home."
Kelria started. She was in the Malfoy Estate? She was surprised. Khyana had painted it as a dark, cold place, but Kelria had never expected something as horrible as this.
"Of course, I have added a few of my own additions," Voldemort was saying, "So she wouldn't recognise it. She was also drugged when she was brought here, and when she had her dream about it, all she saw was this room. It used to be her father's study, you know. I changed some of the decorations."
Kelria rolled her eyes. The mindless babbling was getting on her nerves, as she was sure it was supposed to. Why was he telling her all this? She didn't want to be here, and it was pointless for him to try and butter her up, to recruit her. She would never join the Death Eaters.
"I am sure you are wondering why I am telling you all this," Voldemort finally said, sounding bored. "I don't like to get right down to business. It is much more enjoyable to talk to my prisoners and make them feel like I'm their friend. I am not your friend, Miss Song."
"I know," Kelria replied. "I don't want to be your friend."
Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that, Miss Song?"
Kelria nodded firmly. "Very sure," she replied. "I will never join your side. I have made my choice and nothing you can do or say will change my mind. Trust me."
Voldemort stood, looking at her furiously, and raised his wand. "Crucio."
The pain was like nothing Kelria'd ever experienced before. She cried out, unable to stop herself, and Voldemort laughed.
When it was over, Kelria collapsed upon herself on the floor, panting. She glared up at Voldemort, who was grinning at her.
"How did that feel, Miss Song?" he asked, grinning wickedly.
She didn't answer, just wiped a trail of blood from her mouth.
He laughed. "Yes, I thought it might hurt a little. However, you can stop it, Miss Song. We don't have to do it again. All you have to do is say you'll join my Death Eaters."
"Never," Kelria spat, and Voldemort angrily raised his wand again, sending more pain her way.
Again, Kelria found herself in excruciating pain. She cried out, and heard Voldemort's laughter yet again, but the laughter stopped when the door opened at the back of the room.
"I gave specific instructions that I was not to be disturbed!" Voldemort screamed at the Death Eater at the door.
"I know, Master," came Lucius Malfoy's voice, "But we're having some…difficulty…with one of the other prisoners."
Voldemort looked absolutely livid. "Take Miss Song back to her cell. You were instructed to deal with any prisoner problems."
Lucius bowed his head. "I know, Master, but she is being particularly difficult."
"She's ill, Merlin's beard!" Voldemort cried, leaving the room. He turned when he reached the doorway, and pointed at Kelria. "We are not finished, Miss Song."
Kelria smirked. Good ol' Yana. Trust her to make a ruckus and save her best friend's life.
Khyana woke up in a room that was vaguely familiar, although she couldn't quite place it. She racked her brain, trying to figure out how she'd arrived here. She remembered seeing Lightfingers' surprised face at the search party headquarters, but after that it was all a blank.
She stood and began to inspect the room. There were trinkets here that belonged in the room of a young girl…dolls, porcelain figurines…
Khyana recoiled and curled herself up in a ball in the corner. She knew where she was; this was her room when she was a child. She began to rock back and forth. She had told Sirius that Kelria and Remus weren't being held at the Malfoy Estate…she couldn't have been more wrong. Would they ever be rescued now? Even if they somehow got a lead pointing them in this direction, Sirius would correct them, saying that she had told him that this wasn't the right place.
They couldn't keep her here, they couldn't. She stood and began banging on the door, screaming. She knew the Death Eaters wouldn't care; they would find it amusing that she was in such pain. However, she thought if she could annoy them enough, they might let her out and put her somewhere else. Maybe they would put her in with Remus and/or Kelria…she resumed her banging.
A/N: YOU'RE WELCOME! I packed all day, then wrote this most of this evening! So you better be grateful! Anyway, I really am leaving tomorrow for two weeks, so you'll just have to wait for updates. The next chapter will explain what happpens between when Khyana starts banging and when Malfoy interrupts Kelria's session with Voldemort. R&R, people!