Choosing Darkness

Ah, finally, some smut to sink your teeth into!


He was \'at the draw\' at precisely 9:30pm. Arista\'s peculiar name for the main entrance to Hogwarts puzzled him for a moment, but it did not confuse him. He paced impatiently with his thick winter cloak fluttering behind him, wondering when Arista would show up and if she\'d show up on time. At least she would hopefully have the presence of mind not to be late.

About 15 minutes later, Arista walked up from the far corridor on silent feet. She grinnned wickedly at his back, wondering how distracted the \'master of control\' was. She crept up to him on silent feet, breathing against his ear as soon as he paused.

\"Boo.\"

Severus was around and had his wand at Arista\'s throat as her eyes twinkled in merriment. A chuckle escaped from within her as he stared at her. He was a little slow in lowering his weapon as he fought the pink flush creeping to his cheeks. Arista wore a deep hued cloak of hunter green while her clothng was a simple pair of tight fitting jeans and a black turtleneck. Tiny skulls adorned silver thread dangled from her ears as a choker of crossbones surrounded the fabric clad throat. The garments was simple, and it was in that simplicity that her finer assets were revealed, and Snape wanted nothing more than her. Here. Now.

He straigtened, pissed at himself for being distracted. \"Never sneak up on me, woman,\" he warned in a silky, dangerous tone. He didn\'t miss the curve of her mouth as her lips upturned.

\"Are you ready, then? Your wands\'s still at attention,\" she said briskly while heading out into the darkness.

Snape glanced down. He was still clutching the wooden instrument with a tense hand. He roughly pocketted the mahogany tool, only partially relieved that she had been using the term \'wand\' literally. The rest of him was not so easily pocketted away.

\"Are we to walk across the grounds?\" He hissed after her, loathing that he was the one who needed to catch up. Arista was still striding away along the north wall.

\"We\'re riding,\" she answered once he caught up. \"Have you ridden before?\" Arista turned, giving Snape a coy look.

He returned the look with a feral grin. Here, the powerplay would begin. And he would succeed. \"Many times.\"

\"Excellent. I\'m in the mood for a challenge.\" Arista clicked something in her mouth; it was almost metallic sound, if Severus needed to describe it. It had a jolting effect upon his person.

A moment later, the Black Beast and a white unicorn appeared from the lazy night mists as if emerging from a dream. The Black gave a whicker of greeting to the woman who leapped upon his back in one fluid movement. Arista sat upon his strong back like a wild amazon. Snape immediately wished he was the one between her thighs. He kept the thought to himself as he gracefully mounted the white unicorn, feeling more than a little silly he was going to follow with this girlish adventure.

\"Unicorns are more than bits of fluff in girls\' dreams and wishes,\" Arista commented as animal and woman moved as one towards the forest.

Severus wondered if she had skills in Legilimency as the unicorn seemed to have procured a mind of its own and followed Arista docily. Soon the animal increased its pace to a gallop to keep up with the Black. The unicorn\'s gait was smooth and Snape noticed he needed to do very little to keep his seat. A few moments later and he was beside Arista and her steed. She had such a look of bliss upon her face that Severus wished he was causing her happiness.

The pair slowed at the edge of the forest and trotted within, picking their own windy path to ensure footing was stable. They came to a clearing surrounded by hawthorn trees and the unicorns stopped. Arista slid off the Black, murmured a few words that Severus could not hear and the unicorn moved off to the west side. He dismounted himself, and the white Unicorn darted away as if glad to be rid of him.

\"They\'re always so flighty,\" Arista murmured as she walked up to Snape\'s side. \"And to think, they\'re the dominating color. Any road, here is my home away from home...away from home. It reminds me a little of my own cairn. And the denizens have been kind in making me feel welcome.\" She gestured to the glittering stones along the trunks of the trees and trinkets and herbs hanging from prickly, throny branches. \"I\'ve received a huge store of deadly nightshade. I\'m certain you\'ll find a good use for it? I don\'t use that much in five years!\"

Snape wasn\'t paying attention. He was still examining his surroundings, wondering who could possibly know Arista and bring her gifts out in the middle of the Forbidden Forest. His eyes slid back to his companion. She was walking slowly around the circle as if admiring these bits of fluff. She must think them treasures. Next thing she\'ll say is that the trees talk.

\"This place makes me feel free, you know? I don\'t feel...constrained like I do in the castle.\"

\"The school has numerous wards and charms to prevent Apparation, for the protection of the students.\" Severus explained, thinking that maybe Arista was unstable.

\"It sometimes feels like iron around my throat,\" she commented absently, her fingers trailing along her neck.

He watched her hand as if it was a rare and newly formed butterfly. Every movement was captivating. \"Why would iron trouble you?\"

She turned to look at him and Snape caught a flash of slate grey silhouette of something. He blinked slowly as she responded. \"Hellooo, iron? Poisonous to fae creatures? Toxic to unicorns, it is,\" Arista stepped closer to Snape, her voice entwining him into a strange spell. \"Severus, I must tell you that this potion we exchanged...it links us together. We can feel each other\'s thoughts and desires for it mirrors our own. When such feelings are...denied...\" her voice trailed off as she brushed her fingers along his hand.

Snape didn\'t bother hiding the shudder that tore him. Every spell had its reaction time. \"How much longer before it wears off?\"

He heard silver bells for an answer Snape realized that his eyes had been closed and opened them to the sight of Arista\'s face smiling at him. \"Our threads are intertwined, Severus! Yes, the heat of their binding feels so combustible, but even the oldest marriages fade to a cheery warm fire. I\'m afaid that won\'t happen for a while, m\'dear. Enjoy it now, while it\'s hot.\"

Arista turned away briefly, swinging her arms in a wide circle. She stopped suddenly with a mock lethal sneer on her face. \"Iggilty, Bigilty, gigilty sop! Everything magic is nothing but slop. Piggily, wiggily diggily goo! Everything magic is nothing but you--\" she could barely utter the last syllable when Severus grabbed her and crushed his mouth across hers. He was faintly suprised when she responded with similar passions as she wound her fingers into his hair and darting her tongue into his mouth. He felt something click against his teeth and he pulled back, remembering that wonderful pearl.

\"What is that?\"

\"What is what?\" Arista asked with a concerned tone to her voice.

\"In your mouth, it clicked-\"

\"Ah, the tonge ring.\" She clicked the barbell clearly against her bare teeth, making a distinct sound that Severus had heard when Arista was concentrating on a problem or perplexed about something.

\"You can put an entire ring through your tongue?\" Snape questioned skeptically.

\"Not exactly. It\'s a barbell. Usually, they\'re made of metal or plastic, but I had this custom made; a quartz post with lapis balls.\" Arista stuck out her tongue so that Snape could see the glittering stone set in the middle of her tongue like a black pearl.

Arista didn\'t move when he poked at it with a finger. \"And this...ornament...is for nothing but shock value?\"

She grinned wickedly as she ran her hands along her arms. \"Any and all kinds of shock value.\"

He had a pretty good memeory of \'all kinds\' as she twirled her tongue around his probing finger and then sucked it into her hot mouth. The shocks that charged up and down his spine made him moan as she played with his finger as if it were a cock. He could feel the crystal ball drag across his fingertip, causing his cock to spasn. If she was mind blowing when she was delerious, then Snape was almost afraid to find out what she was like when she was coherent.

At the moment, it was splendid. Arista was matching his passions, his \'comfort zone\' move for move. Why was he the one loosing control? Snape\'s mind swirled as he felt her grind her thigh against his engorged cock, her fingers toying with the fine hairs on the nape of his neck. Snape felt that he couldn\'t get enough of her as he retracted his finger from Arista\'s mouth and gripped the back of her head to bruise her lips against his. His other hand quickly occupied itself by palming one breast, feeling the hard pebble at its center through the fabric of her shirt.

It was a need borne of a spell exchanged and mutual attraction. Arista knew this lust and tempered it with knowledge but Severus was slowly panicking inside. He had no idea why he was loosing control, only that he was, and if he didn\'t, he would die. Arista seemed oblivious to this observation, but was more than willing to go along with this tidal wave. It was something that had been denied them for far too long. Arista\'s mouth never left his as her fingers began unfastening the multitudes of buttons on his frock coat. She hooked one leg possessively around his calf as she pulled her head back to catch a breath before feasting along his jaw to his ear. She was beginning to find it difficult to remain upright as Snape tore her woolen shirt up to her collarbone and tear down her bra to expose both nipples to the cold. She moaned and threw her head back as fingers tweaked one and his mouth worshipped the other. She stumbled backwards with a squeal.

Snape caught her, and with the suprising strength he had used when Arista was injured, he grabbed both her bottocks and stalked to the nearest tree. He felt her legs wrap around his waist and her groin grind more directly on his engorged member. Arista ignored the rough bark biting into her back as she dove her hands beneath Severus\' frock coat to tweak his own hardened nipples. She felt more than heard his groan as he thrust his hips into hers.

Severus was never one for words unless it involved witty banter. At the moment, he had little desire for conversation as he squeezed one hand between them to try to unfasten fly of her trousers. This was no longer fun and games, all this clothing was becoming downright frustrating.

\"Why couldn\'t you have worn a dress as usual, woman?\" he demanded hotly in her ear before he sucked on it.

\"It\'s freezing out here! Or haven\'t you noticed?\" She panted back, running her nails down his sides and enjoying the feel of his muscles ripple.

All he could think of was sinking his aching cock into that hot, welcoming hole and fucking her into next week. He had managed to reach for his belt buckle as his other hand fumbled with her jeans. Arista was contentedly sucking down his bottom lip as her hand reached between them to scratch at the long impression of his cock not enough bloody room he cursed. \"You don\'t know how long I\'ve been waiting for you to fuck me with this,\" Arista whispered as her fingers squeezed around him with emphasis.

Searing pain shot through Severus\' left arm. Arista hissed as she grabbed her left forearm. His eyes locked with hers. \"Merde.\"

\"What the hell?\" She tilted her head to one side as Snape shut his eyes in frustration. \"What\'s going on, Severus?\"

\"He\'s calling a bloody meeting.\" of all the fucking inconvienent times.

\"Who is?\" Before Arista could say anything else, her world turned upside down. One nearly deafining crack later, the tree behind her disappeared and she fell hard on her back with Snape\'s weight on top of her. She felt a hand clamp down on her mouth and shut the instinct to struggle.

Well, isn\'t this a pleasant suprise? Arista did NOT feel like getting caught with her shirt hiked up over her boobs and her hands practically down Snape\'s pants. She scanned what she could see of the area, breathing a sigh of relief that their sudden appearance had been shielded by warehouse crates.

Severus had frozen in place as they Apparated to the meeting\'s location. All too late he realized that the reason why Arista felt unrestrained at the forest was because it was one of the spots that was not shielded with anti-apparation spells. Even worse, she was being crushed beneath him in a very compromising position. Luckily, the Death Eaters did not apparate in the same spot when called by their Dark Lord.

He shot her a look don\'t dare make a sound and he pursed his lips when she nodded that she understood. He slowly released her mouth and stood up to quickly rearrange his clothes. Whispering a spell had Snape back in order and swirling his robes in Arista\'s face as he left.

Arista remained frozen in position for a few minutes before slowly creeping to her feet. As almost an afterthought, she righted her shirt and crepted further into the shadows. From this vantage point, she could barely make out the outer edge of Death Eaters that were congregating.

Then she heard The Voice. It was the same one that haunted her dreams; it had the same effect on her as nails on chalkboard did. Her knuckles grew white as she clutched the edge of the crate. \"Ah...Ssseverusss,\" The Voice hissed.

\"My lord,\" Snaped responded with a slight muffle. She couldn\'t see that she was prostrated flat before his Dark Lord.

\"Lucius tells me that there is a new Defense professor in that cursed school. And she is quite fetching.\"

Snape didn\'t dare look up at Voldemort or glare at Lucius. He didn\'t even dare to hope that Arista would stay hidden. He kept his voice neutral and non committal. \"My Lord.\"

\"He also claims that she is a Necromancer.\"

\"The students are prone to fits of rumor,\" Snape responded, feeling the tap on his shoulder giving permission. He rose to his full height, crossing his arms before him.

\"Do you believe in those rumors?\"

\"I beleive that since the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts is cursed, the children will believe any piece of fluff set against their professor.\"

\"I have also heard that she fancies you,\" Voldemort plainly stated as he moved. \"She has you make potions for her.\"

\"For her class.\"

\"The way she speaks and watches you.\"

\"I would assume she is merely infatuated on some enigma she perseves me to be.\"

\"Exssellent,\" crooned the Dark Lord as he clapped Snape on the shoulder. \"Then you must play upon that, dear Ssseveruss, and bring her to me. Evidently, Lucius is not her type,\" he gestured a hand towards the known Blond God. Lucius stiffened and tried to remain stoic, but eyes of hate threw daggers at the Potions Master.

Snape gave a single, curt nod. \"Yes, my Lord.\"

\"Now, for your pleasure...\"

They brought out a Muggle girl roped to a chair. Her eyes were wide with fear and her mouth had been cruelly taped. Bruises and minor cuts marred her bare legs and arms. Arista crept farther than she dared to watch the proceedings. Her stomach dropped at the thought of what they may do to her.

\"Come, Potions Master! It is time to try out your latest experiment.\"

The girl\'s eyes opened even wider and tears streamed down them as she saw the Angel of Death sweep towards her. A black vial was in his hand and a grim expression was on his face. Arista didn\'t know what was in his hand, and would not creep father from her haven of storage boxes. A Death Eater stood behind the girl and waited for Snape. A brief nod later, the duct tape was torn from her mouth and she screamed in both agony and terror.

\"Please! I\'ll do anything! Just let me go! I won\'t tell anyone who you are...I won\'t even say what happened to Derek. PLEASE!\" she shrieked again as her hair was roughly pulled back, exposing her throat and fluttering pulse.

Snape leaned down and growled into her ear as she sobbed. \"You will drink this. Every. Last. Drop. If you do not, I will make you drink another one. If you do not after that...My associates will punish you.\"

A low, keening wail came from the girl\'s mouth that quickly became a sputter as Snape ran the potion down her throat. He rose again. \"It will take a few minutes to take effect, should the mating be successful. Then...we\'ll see.\"

Voldemort nodded, seating himself into a chair to watch the proceedings. Arista didn\'t understand what Snape was saying as she watched the girl. She gasped softly when a girl\'s whisper clammored in her ear.

~You have to save her!~

No one heard her intake of breath, but Arista did catch Snape stiffen slightly. Then Arista heard the girl squeal. \"What\'s happening to me?!\" Her abdomen began to bloat.

~It\'ll kill her. You have to save her!~

Snape jolted Arista. \"Your pregnancy has been accellerated to inconceivable proportions,\" he growled. \"Nine months is occurring in the span of one hour.\"

Arista\'s eyes revealed her shock. Accellerate gestation? She could see the terror and pain in the girl\'s eyes. She had never been pregnant and hardley knew what to do. Knowing how things would work, she would die with the birth of the child. And what of the child? Would that survive as well? One thing at a time, Arista reminded herself.

~They\'ll kill her even if she survives.~

~The child has no soul.~

They were the voices of the girls before this one. They all knew the suffering involved in this potion. Arista couldn\'t begin by running up there, to save her. She didn\'t even know if this was a reversable event. Evidently not, with the critical look Snape was giving the girl.

Arista took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. In her mind\'s eye was the vision of the groaning girl. The Death Eaters were semi solid shaddows as she passed by them unnoticed. The girl\'s eyes widened.

\"W-who are you?\" she asked painfully.

Snape watched the girl as her belly continued to swell. He knew that the soft question wasn\'t posed to any of the Death Eaters. He fought the urge to look back at Arista\'s hiding spot. Luckily, the others ignored the girl, assuming that her ramblings was due to the potion.

\"It matters not, who I am,\" Arista responded softly. \"They will kill you. Whether or not this experiment is successful, you will die.\"

\"But the baby. What will happen-\"

\"The baby is dead. It was never alive in the first place.\" Arista held out her hand towards the girl. \"Come with me. There\'s another place where you\'ll be safe. I will show you the path.\"

\"No, I can\'t leave. Derek-\"

\"He\'ll be there. I promise.\"

The girl\'s eyes fluttered closed as something surged against the taut skin of her stomach and fabric of her sweater. A moment later, the stomach exploded with gore and the vestiges of a grossly deformed fetus. Arista felt herself slam back against the crates with her hands cupping something. She kept her face close to her hands as Voldemort roared with rage.

\"You TOLD me it was perfect, now!\"

\"I do not understand what happened, My Lord,\" Snape responded a little desperately. \"The potion-\"

\"The potion has proven itself useless without a Necromancer! You will bring her to me! Crucio!\"

Arista cringed at the sound of a strangled scream, but she did not budge. Her voice was hidden by Snape\'s cries of agony as she held the blue-white spark in her hands. \"Follow the Black Unicorn. You will be safe.\"

It was a long time before the Unforgivable was lifted. Longer still before the Dark Lord and the other Death Eaters dis-apparated from the warehouse. Arista released the spark and slowly emerged from her hiding spot. Snape was on the floor admist the blood and bits of tissue, lying very still. She darted out to his side, turning his body over and touching his neck. Half his face was coated in crimson, but he was alive. Arista bowed her head, touching her forehead to Severus\'. Off to her left stood another chair with a handsome young man. His throat had been slit. Arista only glanced at the boy\'s eyes to confirm that he too had left for the River. The voices had left her as she sent the spark away, so Arista had no questions and no answers. Her eyes went to the broken girl\'s body and fell to the deformed fetus. There was a reason why the potion didn\'t work. Cells without the guidance of a soul did not form successfully. Her imagination ran wild with the possibilities Voldemort may have if she ever followed him. But why he would need a new shell in the form of an infant...

Snape groaned softly, and she was at his side in an instant. \"Severus.\"

\"\'Rista.\" His throat was raw from him screaming. His eyes widened as he remembered the meeting. \"The others!\"

\"Gone. We\'re the only ones here. Why didn\'t you tell me that\'s why Voldemort wanted me?\" Her grey eyes were pained as she searched his squinted orbs. \"Can you get us out of here?\"

\"I am in...no condition to Apparate.\"

\"Great,\" she blew out in a frustrated breath. She tried cleaning off as much blood off his face as she could with the inner lining of her cloak and then lifted Snape to his feet. \"Then we get to leave the old fashioned way. If we\'re lucky, we won\'t be spotted with your gothy make up.\"

\"Gothy?\"

\"Just follow my lead, allright? You\'ve been drinking too much.\"

\"That will not be hard to play,\" Severus said quietly as his stomach lurched. If Arista kept moving him like this, he would loose whatever dinner they had at Hogwarts.

\"Do you know where this meeting was held?\"

\"The Apparation location is a secret to us. Only He knows.\"

\"Well, I guess we\'ll find out once we hit the front door.\"