Cold Jealousy

It was around Christmas time when Tom Riddle got suspicious of his wife's whereabouts. He'd heard from one of his servants that she saw his wife sneak out of the house then into the forest then to return back home in the arms of a stranger. "Tell me Merope, are you having an affair while I'm sleeping?" he asked frantically one day at breakfast. Merope was silent for a moment, her eyes wide with fear then denied it calmly. "No, Tom, I'm not seeing anyone. Besides you're the handsomest man in town. Why on earth would I ever cheat on you?" Tom didn't answer but, felt convinced she was telling the 'truth'.

On Christmas Eve, the Riddle house was having a ball with the finest people in town with family and friends. As Riddle was greeting all the guest in the house there was only one person Merope was looking for: her beloved Leviathan. "Ah, Elliot! It's so nice to meet my favorite cousin again!" said Tom joyfully while shaking Elliot's hand with a grin. To Merope it looked more like he was baring his teeth. "Along with your lovely fiancée and…..your friend," said Tom in a hesitant manner. At that moment her heart was beating too fast for her to breathe.

"I'm sorry, sir, I've forgotten your name. What was it again?" he asked. Tom didn't know why but, he felt the stranger was a threat of some kind. The stranger was silent for a moment then said, "It's Levi Quirrell, Mr. Riddle." He looked at his wife with a smile, his sapphire eyes became more radiant. The band began to play. "May I take your wife?"

"What?"

"For a dance, Mr. Riddle." Tom looked as if he was about to protest at the idea but then nodded yes. As Merope was lead to the dance floor, Levi whispered into her ear, "The handsomest man in the world, huh?" The way he said the words were full of malice and envy. Merope might not know it but, she's being watched all the time by his Anima expect for Fern. His lovely Anima are great spies when Leviathan needs to kept his eyes on something important whenever he's not around. One of them reported the breakfast incident and what Merope had said. The most painful thing he felt was a broken heart. The first time was with Pandora now it was Merope.

Merope's eyes were wide with fright. "Lev, I just said that so he won't get suspicious. One of his servants said they saw me leave and then come back with a strange man carrying me like a bride," she whispered frantically. Leviathan's eyes changed briefly to a shade of red then back to sapphires again. They were both silent for a moment while dancing to the music. The music felt unbearably louder with the silence between them. "Alright, I want you to choose something for me."

"What is it?"

#

Tom Riddle watched his wife and Quirrell dance with each other. He didn't like how they were together, the way Quirrell was holding her close to him and the way Merope seemed to be comfortable being so close to each other. It was the way lovers would dance. Tom was about to go to them to break off what they were doing. It was as if they were fornicating in front of him. Tom was almost through the crowd when a beautiful hand took a hold of his shoulder then proceeded down his chest. "What's the matter, Riddle?" asked a silky French accented voice. "This is a party, you should be happy not worried."

#

"Which do you choose, the lady or the tiger?" asked Leviathan

"I don't understand?"

"Look behind you," Merope looked behind her. It was her husband in the arms of Angelique. He was looking at her with lust in his eyes. Merope couldn't help but, feel a little hurt inside. "I've kept her beauty because I wanted a child and I wanted a perfect killer without disfiguration, a personification of pleasure, the Lady. Now look to your left, Merope." As they made a turn, Merope saw Elliot moving effortlessly through the crowd with determination on his face.

"He is pain in the flesh and also the Tiger. You see, Angelique is his mate. Pain and pleasure indivisible. By the choice you make he would either be in the arms of the Lady or tortured by the hands of the Tiger. Which do you choose?" Merope looked at him, he was serious by what he was about to do to Tom. Leviathan made a hand gesture for his pupil to hold ground. Merope looked back at her husband whom was in a dreamy state in the arms of the Lady then back at the Tiger who looked more then ready to kill. Merope closed her eyes, whatever choice she was going to make was going to hurt her. "The Lady…Let Tom have the Lady."

#

Angelique and Xipe Totec were waiting for which choice Merope had made. Leviathan looked over at Angelique's direction. She chose, do what you want with him without harming him. Angelique nodded and dragged Tom upstairs. Xipe, she chose me. I want you to come up here and keep me company. Xipe followed right behind her feeling defeated. He was so looking forward to having his 'favorite cousin' on a hook. Not only was he feeling a little pissed that he wasn't going to skin Tom alive but, Tom was going to have his way with her. The thought of him touching his mistress was enough to make his race up the stairs.

#

The music stopped and everyone parts but them. "Since you made a decision, I want you to come with me. You have a lot of making up to do." Then they left outside to the horse stables.