"Grief can be a burden, but also an anchor. You get used to the weight, how it holds you in place."
The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 41 Separation
October 16th, 1971
On a Saturday, Seth went to Hogsmead to apparate to Malfoy manor. He had asked to speak with him by owl, then received an invitation. His house-elf opened the door, inviting him in. Abraxas received him with open arms and hugged him.
''My dear friend. May I invite you to join me to the main living room?'' Said Abraxas.
It was not polite to speak in the entrance hall in Malfoy manor, and Abraxas always held high standards for anything concerning courtesy.
''Certainly.'' Said Seth, following him after giving his long coat to Dobby and thanking him.
''Why do you even lower yourself to speak to house-elves, I never understood.'' Said Abraxas, his head still held high.
''What matters to me should not be your concern, Abraxas.'' Said Seth as they entered the living room. ''Where's your wife?'' Added Seth as he could not hear any other heartbeats in the mansion.
''Oh, but you matter to me. Very much indeed. As for my wife, she's out.'' Said Abraxas as he took place in a large sofa. Abraxas patted the sofa beside him, inviting Seth to sit beside him, which he did. Abraxas also offered him a glass of wine that Dobby had on a floating fancy plate. ''It's your favorite. Please, feel free to indulge yourself.'' Added the blonde with a smile.
Seth raised an eyebrow at the implication and checked the wine with a quick silent spell before drinking the whole glass. He had not taken wine since he had come back from Miami, and he must say that it was very, good, wine.
Dobby gave him another glass and Seth drank half before Abraxas spoke again.
''I must say, seeing you as a teacher never occurred to me. Being a King and all, I thought you would have your mind… elsewhere.'' Said Abraxas.
Of course, he meant away from Deatheater's business. Seth sighed and turned his wine in his glass.
''Why?'' Muttered Seth. ''You know that Voldemort is Tom Riddle, right?''
Abraxas sniffed. Of course, he knew.
''All the better. He is a genius. The ministry is corrupted and siphons the wizards will to see the truth right in front of them. We need to reform our world for something greater. The Dark Lord can bring us that and I do know…'' Said Abraxas as he sat closer to Seth. ''… that vampires would love you to be by our side. You know vampires are restless after being marked yet again after Grindelwald's shenanigans.''
''Shenanigans?'' Scoffed Seth. ''He ruled over the United States for two years and played with muggles as he wanted.'' Said Seth before drinking again.
God had he missed the effects of alcohol. That wine was good.
''You just said it. He played with muggles. He thought he was in control, and everything was just… fake.'' Said Abraxas as he moved a finger to Dobby to give Seth wine again. ''The Dark Lord takes care of muggles the way it should have always been, and every wizard should join him, and taste the little power he would graciously offer. You, yourself, tried that with my father and grand-father so many years ago.''
Abraxas was speaking softly as he caressed Seth's face with a finger, making him look in his eyes.
''And by doing what? Killing whoever does not want to be controlled or thinks like him? Magical blood should not be spilt, and I thought you knew that.'' Said Seth.
Abraxas went even closer if that was possible.
''Seth… I love power. Maybe more than my parents ever loved it. My father died of a stupid illness just like grand-father did, and I am sure you were the one to kill my mother, if not that childe of yours… who is who knows where, and I don't even hold a grudge against either of you. This… this is important to me. You are important to me.'' Said Abraxas, who was now holding Seth's cheek with his right hand. ''I miss you… terribly, and I'll do whatever you want… if you'd just… listen, for a while.''
Seth narrowed his eyes, but he felt a great warmth in his belly, a mix of well-being, tipsiness and perhaps lust, of smelling the wild perfume of Abraxas, whom in twenty-five years had not seem to have ever changed it. His habits of searching for any means of pleasure possible during the last years had not gone away, and seeing his long-friend was bringing old emotions. Seth swallowed before asking something so juvenile, he maybe should have thought of something else, but the wine was good and his brain fuzzy.
''I want my book to be accepted by the board and get to be learned by the students at Hogwarts.'' Said Seth.
Abraxas blinked several times, then chuckled softly.
''It will be done.'' Said Abraxas before landing a kiss on Seth's lips.
It felt hesitant, but Seth kissed back, then grabbed his blonde hair and pulled, bringing Abraxas's head back.
''What do you want from me?'' Hissed Seth.
''You. I want you.'' Said Abraxas precipitately.
Seth stared momently. He did not believe him. Feeling the dark mark so close to his skin was reminding him constantly that his friend had been branded by someone he now despised. Nevertheless, he could still enjoy the lust of his friend, and see his real intentions in his blood. With that thought in mind, Seth kissed Abraxas again more ferociously and tossed his wine away, hearing a soft pop as Dobby had already cleaned the mess.
Abraxas began to reach Seth's clothes and undo the buttons of the tunic he wore. Seth leaned back on the sofa and the blonde took the opportunity to take advantage and reveal Seth's chest. Abraxas let go of the mouth he loved and kissed Seth's chest as he expertly unbuttoned Seth's pants next. Seth stood for a second as Abraxas pulled down Seth's pants and removed them completely, then kneeled as he often did in the past, and had no reason to wait before sucking on the raised member of the vampire king.
Seth's head fell back, and his hand rested on the blonde's head. He moaned and felt the heat rising even more. There was no one else that was as good as Abraxas, except maybe Corban. God, his thoughts had gone again on his dead husband.
Not enough wine. Not enough drugs. Maybe he should not care if someone placed extasy in his drinks. That was the addict talking, or his sorrow, perhaps. Abraxas stopped and stood, going to kiss Seth again.
''Keep your thoughts on me.'' Said Abraxas as if he had read his mind.
The blonde pushed him on the sofa and sat on him. Their cocks were rubbing on each other between their bellies. Abraxas passed a very big amount of time kissing and nibbling on Seth's lips, his hands intertwined in the white silvery hair of the vampire.
Seth suddenly took Abraxas by the shoulders and moved him on the sofa so that Seth was on top of him.
''That's more like it.'' Said Abraxas, bucking his hips under Seth. Their lips joined again, and Abraxas scraped Seth's back, pushing him closer to his body. ''Take my blood already!''
Seth's eyes turned to black. His teeth elongated and his nails became sharp as razors. No one could ever expect a different reaction when telling that to a vampire.
Seth placed himself between Abraxas's legs and moved his cock right by his dark hole.
''Yes! YES! It's been so long!'' Moaned Abraxas as Seth entered him.
Seth made a few quick thrusts in him, then moved a finger on Abraxas's lips. Abraxas took the finger in his mouth and cut his tongue on the sharp nail. He winced but made Seth smile before kissing him and absorbing the drops of blood. Then, Seth planted his hands on the sofa and moved his mouth to the blonde's neck before sinking his teeth in the bare skin.
''Get up.'' Said coldly Voldemort.
Abraxas chuckled lightly under his mask. He knew the man to be Nott from the screams he just heard. Well, he should not have missed that auror anyway. Voldemort moved his wand to the side, indicating that he was done with Nott, then turned towards Abraxas.
''News?'' Asked Voldemort.
''Seth is back in England.'' Said Abraxas. Voldemort's lips twitched. ''The minister tried to make it seemed like they did not want him but ended by asking his help to… stop your activities.''
''What did he say?'' Asked Voldemort.
''He did not seem to want to, my Lord. He asked them to spare the vampires, mostly, before you get to them.'' Abraxas said and Voldemort made a faint smile, but it quickly disappeared. The deatheater made a step forward, wanting to ask his master a favor. ''Please… my Lord… he still wants the same thing as we do. He believes the muggle scums should be gone! We could have Seth on our side…''
''Dumbledore went to get him from Miami because of his daughter!'' Said the voice of Avery which Abraxas also recognized despite the mask. ''He surely does not want to help our cause! He wants to hunt us, I know it! He looked at us in a way…''
''No, he did not! You hate him!'' Abraxas replied.
The memory changed and Voldemort was standing by a window, and it was raining. Abraxas knelt behind him before speaking.
''My Lord. Seth is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! He will be able to influence every student at Hogwarts to our…''
''Silence.''
Abraxas closed his mouth shut and Voldemort turned around, his white wand sliding between fingers. He kept his head down, thinking he might receive the cruciatus curse for speaking before being allowed to. Voldemort made a few light steps to the side, where a small library was and picked out a book where he could not read the title.
''Hm. I wonder…'' Mumbled Voldemort more to himself. ''Abraxas. Let me know if Seth… likes to be a teacher in a few months time…''
''Yes, My Lord. There is something else… Merebelle Dumont is also the History teacher, and Ruma Vulken is in Slytherin house too!'' Abraxas spoke with cheerfulness but was quickly disenchanted as Voldemort let go of his book before moving his wand towards Abraxas and casting a spell, lifting the blonde in the air, and making him choke.
Abraxas placed his hands on his throat, trying to push away an imaginary hand as he was being strangled. Voldemort started hissing in parseltongue.
''Would you ever be able to hear and see this memory from your dear Abraxas, Seth, know this: Dumbledore has seen through you too and knows your weaknesses like I do, trying to protect your dear loved ones from me when you should be by my side as your weaknesses are instead your strengths! You belong with me! You are mine! I wonder…'' Voldemort let go of Abraxas who fell on the floor, gasping for air. ''… do you think the blood pact protects you from my curse?''
Seth stopped drinking Abraxas's blood and stood abruptly. Abraxas mumbled something and passed out, completely spent and cum covering his belly. Abraxas's heart was dangerously low. He had seen more than enough… Abraxas was still his friend, after all. He cleaned him up, and healed his bite wound. He asked Dobby for a covering sheet, but with a snap of fingers from the elf, Abraxas was back in his clothes.
''Master would not want to wake up naked.'' Said Dobby. ''Master also took a potion before you came…''
Seth nodded as he did taste the blood regenerative potion in his blood. He put back his clothes and sat beside Abraxas. He thought about what he had just seen in Abraxas's memories… Even Voldemort knew he would eventually drink the blonde's blood. He had mentioned the curse… which was probably what he had found in his class. He thought he could add a line or two in a precise way to the runes to make him immune too, and the difficult part was to know where to add the lines, so the curse didn't touch him too.
Abraxas's heartbeat was stronger and faster as the potion took effect in his body. Seth took the bottle of wine in front of him and drank directly from it, almost emptying its content in a few gulps. The alcohol blurred his mind like he wanted. He attempted to enlarge the sofa clumsily, which made the sofa vibrate before expanding a little only. Seth laid down beside Abraxas, an arm over him before feeling the drowsiness of the aftersex and the alcohol and slumbering rapidly into the night.
OoOoO
''SETH!''
Seth jerked up as Danyck was screaming in his head to gain attention. Abraxas had not moved, still sleeping soundlessly beside him.
''How long have you been screaming my name?'' Asked Seth.
''About two minutes. The long distance is probably the cause.'' Said Danyck. ''And you were asleep as I can see.''
''So? Are you okay?'' Asked Seth.
''Yes…'' Danyck's thoughts lingered away for a short moment. ''I do not want to be linked with you anymore.'' Said Danyck abruptly.
Seth frowned, confused at this… unusual request.
''Why?'' Asked Seth, wondering if it could be done anyway.
''We may have difficulty speaking because of the distance, but your feelings keep bothering me everyday, and since you got back in London… I just can't take it anymore. Your withdrawal of drugs was even worse than seven years ago. I have spoken with Sanguini, and he thinks since you have magical powers, and the crown power, it would be possible.'' Said Danyck with hope in his voice, which Seth felt all too much from him.
''Is that all the reason for it?'' Asked Seth carefully. ''What if something happens to you? Or even to me…''
Seth tried to know what was going on in Danyck's mind, but for the first time, he found a wall and could not see anything, which made him even more suspicious. Danyck stayed silent for a moment, and Seth wondered what he was doing, or even thinking.
''That's also another reason. I do not…'' Danyck paused. ''I do not want to feel what I felt when you lost Corban. I have been practicing my mind to block you in a lot of ways, but you still manage to get in my head, like you did last night.''
''But I do not know how to…'' Began Seth.
''YOU BLOCKED ME FOR SEVEN YEARS! CAN'T YOU DO IT PERMENENTLY?'' Bellowed Danyck.
Seth winced at the mental attack and instinctively blocked his mind to Danyck like he, indeed, had done it for seven years. No matter how much battering at his own wall Danyck tried, nothing could get through, but he was still linked to him anyway. He would not try that in Malfoy's home either.
''Is everything alright, sir?'' Asked Dobby.
Seth stood up, away from the sofa and nodded.
''Yes, Dobby. Let Abraxas know that I will come to see him again soon enough.'' Said Seth.
''Of course, sir.'' Answered Dobby.
Seth concentrated on apparating to Meadowfields and left Malfoy manor. It was almost dawn as the colors of the sky were purple and pink. The cold air was refreshing and there was still birds around that began to sing.
His thoughts were again on Corban and how he would have liked to have another morning like this with him, then sorrow filled him. Right… that's what was bothering Danyck so much. He hurried back to Hogwarts, avoiding the early students and locked himself in his office. He knew he must not be disturbed in any way, so he placed an alarm, and a soundproofing spell on top of the locking charm.
He went to his bed and sat cross-legged, hands on his knees before closing his eyes. He was going to use the meditation to go within his own mind like he had done often in Uagadou. But he was not looking for his magic… he was looking for something he had never really looked for: the bonds he had with Corban and Danyck. He opened up his mind and immediately felt assaulted by Danyck.
''FINALLY! HOW DARE YOU IGN…''
''Hollen or-.'' Said Seth in Venthyr.
The order was not to shut him up completely but was used to make him listen to what he was going to say.
''What?'' Said Danyck coldly.
''First of all, I could not do what you asked me where I was. Secondly, no one has to right to yell at me and leave unharmed, unless your name is Merebelle or Ruma.'' Said Seth, irritated. Danyck stayed silent and Seth continued. ''Are you in a safe place?''
''I'm in my personal room. There's my guard at my door. Sanguini is in a sofa by my window with a smirk on his face.'' Said Danyck.
''If that's what you call safe…'' Said Seth.
''Someone else… Anton is there too.'' Said Danyck.
Anton? Seth frowned. The only vampire who had followed Gellert but had not fought Seth seven years ago.
''Where are you?'' Asked Seth.
There was a silence for a minute and Seth thought Danyck was hiding something.
''Beaudelaire's mansion.'' Said Danyck when Seth was going to ask. ''I could not stay in Miami any longer, and the other… safe place I knew of was here.''
''Not stay any longer?'' Wonder Seth. ''What happened?''
''I killed him, alright? He pissed me off.'' Said Danyck about what Seth though to be the drug lord.
Seth thought he heard a chuckle where Danyck was. Could they hear his thoughts? Or was Danyck speaking out loud?
''Say you had problems with the MACUSA, instead, maybe I would believe you.'' Said Seth.
''Well, if you can't keep your emotions for yourself, imagine the effects on me? Alright? All those fucking years looking after you has driven me nuts and those mental dabs I'm having all day because of you is driving me mad!'' Said Danyck.
Seth sighed and looked inside his mind, finding his own magical core easily. It was shining in a purple hue, which was oddly similar to his enchantment on his shoulder. That was not what he was looking for. He could see his own magical barriers and even the wards of his island that was all connected to his magical core, but what about childes?
''What are you doing?'' Asked Danyck.
''Looking for our bond.'' Answered Seth.
''Anton says to remember what you felt when you made me. That connection feeling that was asked upon your mind.'' Said Danyck.
''Why would Anton know about that?''
''Because he was connected to Gellert and Gellert was able to… control Anton completely, even his body.'' Said Danyck.
Seth frowned again. Gellert knew how to control his childes in ways that could be so cruel then. If he really thought about who Gellert was, that should not have surprised him in the slightest. That just gave him another reason to think he should never regret what he had done.
Seth took a deep breath and went into his mind again, trying to remember perfectly what he had felt when he made Corban, or when he made Danyck. Something else opened in his mind. He went to it, attracted like a moth to a flame.
That place within his mind felt vast, as if you could fall into it. There were two anchors attached to an edge of a hard structure. One of the anchor had a golden rope attached to it and seemed to cross the void in his mind. The other anchor, which was so close to the golden one, had a somewhat burnt rope falling into that void. He could not describe it, but his heart clenched when he looked at it.
''Are you finding anything?'' Asked Danyck's voice.
It came loud and clear, startling him, as the golden rope vibrated, and the sound echoed into that void. Was that Danyck's link? What if he approached his conscience to it? He took a cautious step towards the golden rope and suddenly felt dragged along the rope to the other side of the void. When he opened his eyes, he was not in his room.
''Nin Aran.''
''Nin Aran.''
Both Anton and Sanguini bowed their heads in greeting. Something must have told them who was in front of them as Seth looked at his hands and they were Danyck's.
''Good. Now get off my head and cut that off.'' Said Danyck's voice in his head. ''Feels weird to have someone else control my body.''
''I see now what Gellert had done to you, Anton, and to many others.'' Said Seth as he looked at the bright red-haired vampire.
Anton pursed his lips.
''I could not act against you, my King, and never will. Your parents had always been great to me.'' Said Anton. ''I am glad you feel better.''
''Body back, please.'' Said Danyck.
''Thank you, Anton. Be nice to Danyck.'' Said Seth.
Not really knowing Sanguini, he only nodded at him, then closed his eyes and went back to his mind, which felt faster. He could still feel the anchor and see the golden rope. Danyck's aura was at the other end, and he felt him close this time.
''Is that our bond?''
The golden rope vibrated again, and the voice was loud and clear.
''It is.'' Answered Seth.
Suddenly, he could feel Danyck's emotions fill his mind. Bewilderment and amazement were all over the place, but Seth also felt nervousness, and weariness, but he attributed that to his own as he, too, was wondering what would happen once their bond would be no more.
Seth grabbed that golden rope with his mind, his magic, and he felt the anchor tremble in his mind as if nothing was holding on to it anymore. Danyck stayed still, in the emptiness, right at the other side. Seth thought he was holding something more than just a connection. It felt like a piece of himself, and doubt filled his mind. If he thought how it was supposed to be, if he let go of that rope, he would not be connected to Danyck anymore… just like that burnt rope beside that could be no other than Corban's.
''Let go.'' Said Danyck. ''You are still my King. You are still my maker… Do that for me, please.''
''What if I… what if I always needed you, after all?'' Said Seth softly.
''I'm not dead. You don't want me here. Let me go.'' Said Danyck.
Seth hung onto that rope, remembering everything he did with Danyck, and they always had been different from one another. It was nothing from what he had been with Corban.
''If… if that's what you really want…'' Muttered Seth.
His mind vibrated, just like a hand would tremble before a decision, and he let go. The rope lost in intensity and became black as it fell in the void.
Seth stared at the wall in front of him, and he had never felt so empty.
Venthyr translation
''Hollen or-.''
''Shut up.''