Of Mercury and Ebony : Finding a Thrill

Chapter 1 : Power
Lord Voldemort gazed slowly around at his assembled Death-Eaters. Each one of them swiftly broke eye contact submissively, until his gaze came to meet Snape's. Snape held his gaze far too neutrally, as he had done for months, lowering his eyes as if it was something that he had been told to do, rather than out of any need or wish to. Irritated Lord Voldemort let his eyes shift to Mulciber, subtly glancing back to Snape he noticed that the black eyes were watching him impassively. No, this wouldn't do, all the other Death-Eaters respected his power and Snape seemed to look upon him with almost a calculated mimicry of respect.

Snape stood straight, his muscles forcedly relaxed, as Voldemort's eyes catalogued each and every Death-Eater. Snape watched each reaction carefully, noting that they held his gaze only for a split second before dropping it. As the icy silver eyes met his, he looked back before looking at the floor, he felt the Dark Lord's eyes rest upon him for an instant, before the Dark Lord looked away. Snape released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, each meeting the Dark Lord let his gaze linger on Snape more than any other Death-Eater, and those eyes always returned to him, watching just out the corner of his eyes. He felt the Dark Lord looking at him and tried not to tense up, desperately ignoring him.

The Dark Lord saw Severus shift under his watchful eye and purposely looked at him for longer than any other Death-Eater. Snape’s desperately struggle to remain impassive, glinted briefly in the Death-Eater’s black eyes before it was gone. Making Snape shift uncomfortably without threatening him, gave him a soft thrill of power. He watched in amusement, Snape as usual was pretending not to notice his eyes, he listened with magically-enhanced hearing as Snape’s breath started to become ragged.

Snape silently begged the Dark Lord to look away, to pay attention to something else. The Dark Lord couldn’t possibly have noticed that he was aware of the Dark Lord’s gaze upon him. He tried to force his breath to stay even, but each second he was under the Dark Lord’s scrutiny, his breath was that little more gasping, unable to breathe evenly he forced himself to breathe softly. His chest became tight as he began to run out of oxygen.

The Dark Lord inwardly smirked as he watched Snape gasp for breath and his eyes flicker with fear before reluctantly looking away. A thrill of power rushed through him as he thought of Snape desperately fighting back his fear. After looking away he listened to Snape composing himself, no other game could give him that thrill, and the game only worked with Snape. Part of the adrenaline rush was that with all the other people in the room Snape was the only one who noticed.

Severus Snape felt the Dark Lord’s eyes leave him, his pounding heart slow and his breath begin to return to normal. He shivered softly as he contemplated the Dark Lord’s reason for watching him so intently, the Dark Lord didn’t seem suspicious. It must be a game, he thought desperately, but he never seems to ‘play’ it with any other Death-Eater.
Snape listened his fellow Death-Eaters report, repeating the report he had so carefully compiled from the information Professor Dumbledore had told him to reveal in his head like a mantra. Anticipating the Dark Lord’s silver gaze his throat tightened and before he could stop himself, he gulped compulsively.

The Dark Lord turned to Snape maintaining eye contact for a count of three before “Snape, you will stay behind to give me your report in private.” He felt Snape’s eyes stay on him, and he could practically taste his trepidation and confusion. The Dark Lord allowed himself to silently revel in the soft buzz that ran through him.

Severus Snape heard the Dark Lord address him, the Dark Lord very rarely asked anyone to stay behind, and now the Dark Lord was no longer looking at him he felt more anxious and confused than ever. ‘Pull yourself together,’ he silently begged himself ‘He only does it to make you feel off-balance and he isn’t doing it now so relax.’

The Dark Lord let Snape watch him, purposely looking in the opposite direction. He inwardly basked in it, oh yes the game had been fun but this was so much more. Never before had Snape let himself be dominated by his fear for him, it was intoxicating. He mused over the urge to spin around quickly and meet Snape’s gaze, ‘no, subtlety is far more fun’ he thought to himself.

Snape felt the back of his neck tingle and snapped his eyes open, only to see eyes the colour of mercury, he felt like he was almost drowning in them. Snape tossed aside any idea of composure and forced himself to remain still as the Dark Lord’s eyes pinned him. Knowing that after the initial sign of submission they had to hold eye contact, he struggled to look back and his breath came in short icy gasps that tickled his throat.

The Dark Lord began to make a speech, then stared at Snape, who looked almost asleep. He saw the ebony eyes open to meet his and he looked straight back, he could see Snape shiver almost imperceptibly under his gaze. But Snape managed to hold his eyes, this time the thrill was greater than ever and he felt his trousers grow tight. He felt his eyes be drawn downwards lingering on Snape’s soft looking lips and the delicate yet strong hands.

Snape felt the Dark Lord looking him over and fear rushed through him. ‘Please just let this be another intimidation technique.’ he mentally pleaded, ‘The Dark Lord has never been one for such activities.’ Snape let his eyes flutter shut and leant against the wall, his chest heaving as he allowed the Dark Lord’s eyes to rake over him.

The Dark Lord heard Snape’s breathe faster and faster as Snape silently submitted to his gaze. He regretfully started to scan over his Death-Eaters, after all he didn’t want Snape to suffocate.

Snape felt the Dark Lord move his eyes off him and he sank further into the wall feeling like everything that had ever kept him strong was falling away. He slowly shifted to an almost upright position against the wall keeping his eyes closed. He stayed there until the end of the meeting before opening his eyes and kneeling in front of the Dark Lord feeling numb.

The Dark Lord studied Snape as he knelt before him. Snape’s head was bowed and his hair hung over his face. He looked so small almost weak but the Dark Lord knew better, he had seen Snape’s eyes and knew he was far from broken. ‘Do you want him to be broken? Mentally weak?’ he asked himself. ‘No,’ he answered himself ‘not broken, I just want something from him, something only he can give me, that power rush, the warmth.’

Severus Snape felt the Dark Lord’s eyes sweep over him, the stone floor pressed into his knees and he longed to rise. He felt Voldemort’s gaze drift off him, ’Oh, brilliant’ he mentally commented, ’now you call him Voldemort , Albus would be so fucking proud.’

Lord Voldemort experienced a strange urge to kiss Snape, so he grabbed Snape by the hair and half-pulled him to his feet. Voldemort slammed Snape hard against the wall and brought his mouth crashing down. Snape wriggled underneath him uncomfortably, weakly trying to push him away.

Severus gasped in pain as the Dark Lord twined his hand deep into his hair and tugged him to his feet, Severus trying to the lessen the pain by stumbling to a standing position awkwardly. He felt himself half-thrown into the stone wall, felt lips forced against his, he struggled before going limp, a memory of another dark-haired man flitting through his mind.

Voldemort felt Snape stop struggling, heard him whimper, “Please, father….no.” The Dark Lord was filled with fury and after watching his eyes flicker open and slowly fill with fear, he smirked coldly before changing tactics. He very slowly, very gently, picked up Snape and carried him to his bed.

Snape felt a soft coolness beneath him, ‘a bed’ he mentally decided before reluctantly opening his eyes. He watched Voldemort slowly bring his hand to hover over his stomach before lowering it so slowly that when the cool fingers rested under his shirt he barely flinched.

The Dark Lord let his fingers rest on the warm skin for a few minutes before drawing circles. Severus stiffened beneath his fingertips, a flicker of irritation darted through Voldemort, he rolled on top of Snape. “You will satisfy me, we can do it this way or…….another way.” The Dark Lord slipped his hands underneath Snape, cupping his bum, using his knee to force Snape’s legs apart.

Terror ran through Severus and fighting against his instincts he relaxed. He let the Dark Lord resume the swirling motion of his fingers. Snape’s breath quickened softly as the Dark Lord’s fingertips grazed his nipple, one hand returned to its lazy circling while the other rolled his nipple experimentally, before lightly touching his nails to the pink skin.

The Dark Lord gave a gentle squeeze, noting Snape’s clenched jaw, fisted hands and closed eyes. He smirked outwardly feeling less happy than he anticipated-the power rush felt weaker, his left hand undoing each button with a brush of wandless magic, his right hand turning the still soft squeeze slightly, rougher but still nowhere near rough enough to cause pain. He quickly lowered his mouth to the delicate nipple, removing his hand just before his lips touched the warm skin. He sucked gently, letting his tongue swirl around the nipple, he heard Severus give a muted whimper.

Snape closed his eyes, anticipating the inevitable rush of pain as his nipple was twisted viciously. Suddenly he felt a wet warmth over his nipple, and a pulse of pleasure as his nipple was massaged. He tried to stifle a whimper and involuntarily tightened his legs around the Dark Lord’s thigh. Severus released the grip his legs had the instant he noticed, turning his head to the side in shame hoping that Dark Lord hadn’t noticed.