The Search Is Over,
Chapter 168, Chains
The next few hours passed quickly. With Leaf's help, Regulus and Kreacher worked with Dora on continuing Ballan and Greok's vampiric training. While they'd been out feeding, Dora had explained to the two new vampires a bit about mind shielding and mind reading, but the main focus had been on how to obtain dinner. When Regulus, then Kreacher were first turned, each was taken out into the world to practice their mental filtering skills. Regulus recalled well what an overwhelming experience that had been for him. It was so for all newly turned vampires, though Kreacher had managed it far better. With so many minds present, Ballan and Greok had the opportunity to practice in a smaller environment.
This spared them the overwhelming pressure of many minds assaulting them from streets away. Dora began by explaining the mental filters for opening to read thoughts and for shutting them out, then Ballan and Greok practiced the process on Regulus, Kreacher, Dora and Leaf. Both goblin and elf learned quickly. Just as Kreacher had, they progressed even faster than Regulus who had once impressed Dora with his own speedy adaption. He'd excelled in part due to his magical knowledge, and as goblins and elves were even stronger, the fact they were so fast at mastering their vampiric skills was no true surprise. When Ballan and Greok were able to shield from thoughts as well as read them from everyone present, Dora decided to allow them to rest for the rest of the night.
When Dora at last left with the two new vampires and Leaf, there were only a few hours until sunrise. "What ever shall we do with our time," Regulus wondered, turning to Kreacher with a suggestive glance that was entirely missed on his partner. Kreacher was standing by the window in the front hall, staring out into the night, a distant expression on his face. The two had just walked Dora and co out, so it may appear that Kreacher stared after them, save for the fact that Ballan had already apparated them away. The German elf had practiced his mind reading skills for a final time that night when he took the location of Dora's London home from her mind at her behest. Kreacher's distant demeanor caused Regulus's thoughts to return to their earlier talks with Leaf about the revolution. Moving closer, he dropped a hand on Kreacher's shoulder. "Is everything alright?"
Kreacher's shoulder stiffened slightly under his hand, and Regulus felt his stomach drop. A displeased Kreacher was never fun on so many levels, emotionally, and physically. Emotionally because when Kreacher was unhappy with him, Regulus felt unpleasantly disconnected in the worst, most difficult to describe of ways. And physically... Well when Kreacher was unhappy, Regulus rarely got shagged, and who wanted that?
"Kreacher is fine, he supposes," the elf murmured. At least he didn't pull away, Regulus thought gratefully.
"Is it about the upcoming changes to the wizarding world," he asked carefully. "Because I promise, we don't do anything you don't want. I don't do anything you don't want. I swear."
Sighing, Kreacher leaned into Regulus's touch. "Kreacher tries to remember that. Kreacher tries to trust that. Kreacher tries to believe that Master Regulus won't lose control of himself and his judgement if he feels that Kreacher or children are in danger," the elf murmured as if to himself.
Regulus sighed. "Well all that helps not to terrify me or anything," he shared dryly.
Kreacher let out a short laugh. "Perhaps now Master Regulus knows how Kreacher feels."
"I swear, Kreacher, we'll talk everything out and you will agree before anything happens," Regulus said, uncertain of what else he could promise to fix this. "No more jumping into black lakes and making you go home, I swear."
Kreacher gave a low growl, turning with a lightning quick fluid grace as one hand snaked up to grasp Regulus's wrist. Perhaps he should not have mentioned the lake even if it was looming large in the room, Regulus thought. Wordlessly the elf dragged him upstairs, choosing to walk rather than Apparating them for some reason. Pushing open the door to their bedroom, he pushed Regulus inside before slamming it shut behind them. Moving to the closet, still grasping Regulus by the wrist, he used his free hand to yank a belt from one of Regulus's robes. It was made of a soft shimmery silver fabric, and measured around twenty millimeters wide. Wordlessly, he dragged Regulus to the bed and pushed him down. Yanking Regulus's hands over his head he tied them to the headboard. Regulus let out a groan of raw anticipation for what was surely to come of this. "I like being completely under your control," he said, words coming out breathless.
"Master Regulus should remember that when things become dangerous," Kreacher said. His voice was so quiet, pitched just above a whisper. He undressed in seconds as Regulus watched avidly, vampiric eyes easily able to make out every detail in the dark. With a gesture, Kreacher caused Regulus's own clothes to burn away to nothing with a sudden, well directed jet of fire. Even now Regulus was impressed by the elf's easy power. Both Regulus and the sheets escaped being burned, and even the ash that the clothes would've been reduced to was gone without a trace. Fire plus a shielding charm, plus a cleaning charm cast nearly at once. Regulus's breath was coming fast as his body tingled from head to toe with need. "That was sexy," he managed.
"Good," Kreacher snapped, bending to run his lips over Regulus's throbbing erection. Regulus arched upward with a gasp, but Kreacher drew back with a wicked smirk. "Not yet," he whispered. Yes, Regulus decided. This was going to be good. Kreacher traced his lips across Regulus's thighs, then his chest. Unable to touch him in return, Regulus could only twist on the bed, making small sounds of encouragement. Kreacher ignored him, however, expression angry and nearly distant as he climbed onto the bed, and reached for the cream on the bedside table. After covering his own erection, he entered Regulus hard, driving in and out roughly enough to slam the top of the bed into the wall. Kreacher kept his hands on the bed as he moved, one to either side of Regulus's head. He ignored Regulus's erection, so the only contact it got was the brush of Kreacher's body as he moved over him.
"Yes," Regulus gasped. "Please... Kreacher. Keep me tied to you always. Then you shall be certain that I'll never lose my mind and leave again." As the words spilled forth, Regulus realized that he needed that protection as much as Kreacher needed to give it. Kreacher gave a growl of approval before tangling one hand in Regulus's hair and giving it a hard yank that pulled his head back. Leaning up he drove his fangs into Regulus's throat. Gods had anything ever felt so good? This was worth anything. "Kreacher!" As Kreacher continued to thrust into him his world spun. Sounds escaped Regulus that he would not have believed himself capable of making from shouts to guttural cries of need as Kreacher kept him on the edge.
When the sun was just about to rise, Kreacher drove him over the edge, allowing them to crest together. As Regulus felt the paralyzing grip of the day taking him over, he could feel the welcome pressure of Kreacher's body collapsing across his chest. His hands were still firmly tied to the headboard of the bed, a thing which he did not mind in the least. It made it easier to begin again when they woke, which they did. It turned out that being utterly helpless in Kreacher's hands was just what they both needed. Afterward they lay spent and satiated together in silence for some time. When Regulus's mind began to work again, it studiously turned itself toward ways to solve their problem more long term. "What sort of spell would reassure you to cast upon me when it comes to your fears," he asked Kreacher. His own words came out in a lazy murmur in spite of the gravity of the topic. His body was still pleasantly heavy from the riggers of passion as was his mind to a degree.
Kreacher considered for several thoughtful seconds before replying. "A spell that would restrict Master Regulus, Kreacher supposes."
"Which may not be safe if danger comes," Regulus murmured regretfully."
Kreacher nodded against his shoulder. "Kreacher considered that, and it is why he could never allow himself to cast such a spell even as a luxury to himself." Lifting a hand, he lightly trailed long slender fingers across Regulus's chest. "Kreacher does appreciate the offer, though. That Master Regulus is willing is mollifying even if not helpful."
Regulus chuckled, as always appreciating the elf's frank honesty. It always made him feel so easy and free to be himself because Kreacher was, and because Kreacher accepted him so completely. "I love you."
"Kreacher loves Master Regulus."
Once more they lapsed into an easy silence as they lay together. Regulus's thoughts continued to wrestle with the problem, and in doing so, he let himself imagine what it would be like to be bound and constrained by Kreacher's magic for his own good. Though the idea was logically rather comforting, it was unexpectedly terrifying on a visceral level that surprised him. It was nearly like a genetic memory if such could be credited and the overwhelming discomfort that came along with it was nearly unbearable. How fair was that, though?
Elves had been bound to wizards in at least a similar way for ages! "Do you think the brownies... Well elves perhaps agreed to be bound and thus restrained by humans as some manner of protection for the humans," he wondered suddenly. "But if fae in the world would ruin it for humans, why not just allow humans to fade out as the weaker race? Why bother?"There his mind went like a dog with a bone, chewing on an idea until he made something of it. In some ways just as he'd done with the Horcrux business, but hopefully this would end in a more productive fashion.
Kreacher shifted against him. "Hm. Perhaps a balance was required... even necessary. Perhaps their was a greater reason for the two races to work together and for the elves to submit to a degree."
"And it just got way out of control when the reason was forgotten," Regulus speculated.
Kreacher nodded. "Exactly."
"But how do we fix it now, and will freeing the elves ruin the balance even if it was being misused," Regulus wondered.
"Kreacher doesn't know," the elf replied thoughtfully.
Regulus sighed. "Well we're going to find out. The elves deserve to be freed, and if something catastrophic comes of it, we'll find a way to sort it out."
"Kreacher hopes so," the elf said.
After a long moment of hesitation, Regulus asked, "Are you feeling the pervasive foreboding, or is it just me?" He hadn't truly wanted to speak the words aloud, but he never kept his feelings from Kreacher. He hated the dread that gripped him, but he had no desire to dissuade Griphook from his revolution because it was a good and worthy one.
"Indeed Kreacher does." Regulus gave a slight smile, glad not to be alone even in that.