Author's Note:
A very happy birthday to Woody Guthrie!
Sorry about the lapse! My mother was convinced that I was addicted to fanfiction, which may or may not have been the case so I had to lay low for a bit. But for a few hours, I'm back! :) And to many of you, a very very happy UNbirthday, with love from the Mad Hatter and the March Hare!
"You're making this more difficult than it needs to be. Come back tomorrow and I'll let you have the girl," said Edward waspishly.
"Whatever," said Tick-Tock flippantly.
"What do you want with her?" asked Edward through clenched teeth. Oh very clever, Cullen. Get Tick-Tock to think of his answer. I'd be happy if you regurgitated it out loud for me. To Silwen's surprise, Edward nodded faintly and lessened the pressure of his foot, but not enough for her to escape.
"Because I'd tell a blood-sucking parasite my secret plans."
Grinning victoriously, Edward said, "You're going to play with her? Force her to love you, to idolize you as you conquer muggle England and the rest of the muggle world with your Archangel plan?"
Blanching, the Master stood there. "You-you read my mind. Freak!"
Thank you, Mr. Cullen. Silwen made a mental note to tell the Doctor when she saw him again...Or since this was out of the meeting information, perhaps she could send him something.
"You're hearing drums in your head-oh yes I can hear them banging in my head whenever you're near me-and you're calling me a freak?" Replied Edward sarcastically, lifting his foot up, but snatching Silwen into a hostage hold, pinning her arms to her side. Why did you do that?...Oh. I see.
Voldemort and Draco had arrived. "Mr. Cullen, I let you borrow my slave and I come back to see her stepped on and on the floor? My hospitality has its limits," said Voldemort smoothly, his eyes flashing in irritation. Draco stared at her, standing right beside Voldemort.
"I apologize, sir. The girl was misbehaving."
"I understand. Now, if I could have her back, I need her for a moment."
The arms holding her tightened. "Sorry, but that's not possible, Lord Voldemort," said Edward. "I need her for a bit longer. And perhaps if you'll allow it, to travel with me for a week to Italy."
"My slave isn't leaving this manor with you, vampire!" snarled Voldemort. Edward merely scoffed, slackening his grip on Silwen.
Slowly, the girl moved her hand, thinking of a random song's lyrics to keep Edward unaware of what she was doing. Her hand found his pocket, his wand sticking out of it. Carefully, she took the wand out and held it. "Relashio." Hands flying off her, he was flung to the other side of the room, shouting in surprise. "Incarcerus." To Edward's disbelief, cords shot around him-cords that didn't break when he strained against them.
"Well done," he said in a biting tone, his obsidian eyes dark with anger and humiliation.
Apologetically, Silwen replied, "I am sorry, Mr. Cullen. But you wouldn't have let go of me if I hadn't hexed you off." She turned to face Voldemort, Draco, and Tick-Tock. "Y-you needed me, my Lord?" she asked, her voice quavering.
"I want you to clean up the Dining Hall. It was left in a mess after today's meeting. You aren't leaving the room until it is pristine or sparkling," hissed Voldemort, smirking. "Master Time Lord, you will have to wait until tomorrow to spend time with her unless you want to watch her clean."
Licking his lips, Tick-Tock said, "I'd love to watch her clean."
From the back of the room, Edward gave a muffled shout; he was not going to be forgotten. "Liberacorpus," said the Dark Lord softly. "Mr. Cullen, you are dismissed from the manor. Draco, escort him out."
"That's not necessary," said Edward with repressed anger and defeat, walking to the doors.
"Wait," whispered Silwen. Pityingly, she looked at Cullen as he passed her. "Accio vial." A vial came swishing through the air and landed neatly into her palm. Finding a shard of a broken lamp on the ground, she picked it up and delicately cut her wrist. She held it over the vial and let the blood drop into it. When it was full, she placed a cork on it and whispered, "Geminio." Instantly, another vial exactly like the other one appeared in her hand. "Here. Set her free with these and send your friends my regards," she murmured as she handed the vials and his wand to a very shocked Edward.
"Thank you for your compassion," he said, his eyes softening into a calm, nocturnal sea. Looking at Voldemort disdainfully he said, "I don't need assistance leaving now. ... I have almost what I came for." And in a flash, Cullen was gone.
Voldemort strode over to Silwen and wrapped his fingers around her forearm. Wincing from the pressure, she stumbled as he started to drag her forward. "Little fool," he crooned in he ear, "saving a different damsel because you can't save yourself." He brushed past Draco, demanded that he stay out of the Dining Hall for the time being, and whisked Silwen away to their destination, the Master following eagerly behind them.
"Under no circumstance will you leave until this room is spotless. Then you will use your wand to contact me and I shall escort you to your quarters," murmured Voldemort, his other hand stroking her hair as he opened the doors and pushed her through them. She stumbled, only to be caught by the Master's stabilizing hands. The Dark Lord handed her her wand and and left. "Do not cast a single spell to defend yourself from the Master," he said as a final order before the Master thanked him and shut the doors, both of them smirking at Silwen's frightened shudders.