Seduced By Darkness

Note : Hi everyone, family just left today so things are settling a bit and getting back to normal. Here I am with Chapter 20. I must warn you that there are only three more chapters left in this story. However, because it has been received so exceptionally well I decided to post the sequel that I am currently writing for it once this one is over.

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Chapter 20 : Family

For a split second Caleb Olmo was rendered speechless by the audacity of the young man in front of him. He had kidnapped his daughter and had the nerve to show up to his home acting the injured party. The anger that he was feeling towards Tom overrode his surprise at his statement and his chest swelled with indignation as he confronted his son-in-law, a situation that he planned to rectify early the next morning, “You fucking bastard, you have a lot of nerve showing up here, trying to claim your husbandly rights! You kidnapped my daughter, forced her to marry you, how DARE you show your face here!” Caleb was yelling now, Claudia and her mother came up behind him. Well Claudia did, but her mother trailed right behind her, telling her to let her father handle it but Claudia ignored her. “Daddy Stop this! I was trying to tell you that Thomas and I...” But her father cut her off. “Go back to the sitting room sweetheart, I will handle this.”

Angrily, Claudia stomped her foot in frustration because her father’s voice had gone down several decibels and he was talking to her as if she were a child, “You are not listening to me. There is nothing to handle. Let Thomas in so that we can all talk about this. Calmly, just like the reasonable adults we all are. Daddy? Just listen to me, please.” Caleb still glared at Tom but he moved to let him pass only because the sooner they got this over with then the sooner that Riddle would be out of their lives. Claudia sighted softly and looked pleadingly at Tom. It was obvious to him that she had no idea of what her father had planned. It was also apparent that she was trying to come up with some sort of understanding and wanted to handle it herself. He would let her do so but he would not stand silently by for long. Nodding slightly at her she visibly relaxed when she understood that he was letting her take control of the situation.

Once they entered the sitting room Tom and Caleb stayed standing, still facing each other, neither of them willing to back down. Claudia stood near her father as he seemed to be the one that needed placating. Her mother, Cora, stood next to her, seemingly ready to support her in whatever she said. “Daddy, I was taken against my will, and... a-and I married Thomas against my will. That is all true and I won’t try to excuse him...” Her father’s eyes rounded on her, disbelief creeping into them so she quickly continued, “But things have changed. My feelings...” Caleb now gave her his full attention as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What is he doing? Has he threatened you? Given you a potion? I think that Severus should test your blood to see...”

“Caleb, she isn’t under the influence of any potion or Severus would have detected it when he tested her blood after she was poisoned.” her mother said calmly. Cora had come to realize, that Claudia was trying to tell them that she wanted to be with her husband. She had caught the meaningful look Claudia threw Riddle’s way and the way that his eyes softened ever so slightly before he nodded and let her deal with Caleb. She didn’t understand it but her daughter had been through enough and she wasn’t about to make her go through more pain. Her husband’s eyes held tenderness, warmth and reluctance as he said, “Just say it Claudia. You tell me that you want this marriage dissolved and I will take you to the ministry, he cannot force you to stay with him.” Tom clenched his fists tightly as he tried to remain calm and not say anything that would only make things worse.

Claudia looked from him to her father, closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and then opened them again. Looking at her father, her face a mixture of sadness and awe, “I want to stay with him Daddy. I don’t know how… or when … but ... I fell in love with him. I need him in my life, just like I need you and mom, and all the people that I love. Do not make me choose Daddy, please.” Caleb looked at her in disbelief but his eyes found Tom quickly and he furiously said, “This will never sit right with me. You raped…” Tom took a threatening step forward and said very low, “I never raped her. Do not assume to know that you have any understanding of what she and I have.” Caleb's face flushed, he was so incensed, Claudia saw the scene rapidly deteriorating. She saw her father take out his wand and point it at Tom who remained eerily still. “Put it away, if I wanted to kill you I would, but that would upset Claudia. It is only because of her that I am holding onto my self control Mr. Olmo.” Tom said in a clipped voice.

At that precise moment the doors burst open, Lucius and Severus rushed inside. “Caleb, stop this.” Severus said as he came to stand between Caleb and Tom. Lucius stayed behind Tom, he looked ready for a fight if need be. “I do not think… that this is the best way to handle things Caleb.” Severus said in an even voice. “How do you propose I handle the man that stole my daughter and now has her brainwashed? I just cannot fathom what she’s telling me.” Claudia’s hands went to her face in a tired gesture and she sat in the nearest chair. Tom’s eyes immediately went to her, concern etched all over his face. Caleb saw this and frowned. He didn’t like it because he had also witnessed the young man saving his daughter’s life almost at the expense of his own. “Daddy... We need to talk. Actually, I need to talk and you need to listen to me.” His eyes held hers and he slowly nodded. She looked at Tom and at everyone else present, save her mother, “Can we have a few moments alone please?”

Tom gave in for her benefit and turned to leave. “Mr. Olmo, do not try to leave with her again. You can’t anyway as I’ve put wards around the manor to guard against it.” Then strode out just as Caleb gave him a murderous look but he was also slightly awed at the young man’s cunning. “Well, I must tell you that as far as in-laws are concerned that was a pretty cozy scene. Why one time, an Uncle of Narcissa’s who was drunk and never liked me, attempted to turn me into a rodent. Fortunately, he had awful aim and the spell caught his mother instead. It was one of the funniest sights I have ever seen, especially since our cat went crazy and tried to eat her.” His eyes were twinkling as he remembered the memory. Tom looked at him with a grin softening his features, and Severus wanted to eat his tongue. He just couldn’t believe that after how tense it had been that these two, especially Tom Riddle, was letting Lucius amuse him with a stupid story. It was a funny story, yes as he remembered that scene since he had been there, but stupid.

Their attentions were diverted when two young figures came in out of the cold night air. The young girl gave a little frightened yelp while the boy’s face looked stunned at first and then widened into a mischievous grin. “Father! What are you doing here?” Looking around, Draco noted his potions master and another man, very young and handsome, and he wondered if this was Tom Riddle? “Does this mean that you are free now?” He asked as he walked up to Lucius, “It’s either that or we’ve killed everyone inside and were attempting to make a quick get-a-way when you two interrupted us” The girl blanched then recovered quickly, “That is SO not funny Mr. Malfoy!” Lucius turned his surprised gaze to hers as he could not believe that she had just reprimanded him. Her blonde hair was coming loose all over her face and her blue eyes flashed at them all, save Severus, angrily. “Professor? Is Claudia alright? What about my Godparents?” She asked quickly, unable to hide the fear that had entered her voice.

“They are fine Miss Thornton, although Claudia is speaking to her parents now about something important, I suggest that you wait out here with us until they have things sorted out in there.” Keely didn’t particularly feel like waiting, but she had been told that Claudia intended to stay married to Tom Riddle and knew that must be the discussion that might be taking place now. She eyed the dark haired stranger suspiciously, thinking him to be Tom. If that was the truth then she knew that her Godfather would not take the news well. She didn’t particularly want to talk to Tom, she already had a huge dislike for the man for what he had put Ginny through and yet, this wasn’t the same Tom Riddle. It was all very confusing, so she could only imagine how Claudia must have felt when she had been isolated with him for so long. Not only that but he was just about the most gorgeous boy, man actually, that she had ever seen. Not including Draco, of course. Oh dear, had she actually chastised Draco’s father? She blushed in mortification after taking a quick peek at him.

Draco and Lucius had moved off to a corner while the others talked. Lucius was eyeing Keely and saw her blush and turn away as she looked in his direction. “This girl, Draco, Is she your girlfriend?” He asked, his voice not betraying any of his thoughts. “And if she were father? Would you approve? Because I have to let you know that even if you didn’t I wouldn’t bloody care. The only things you have told me about girls, especially ones that I plan on actually dating instead of just have fun with, is that she must be a pureblood. She must come from good family. She fits your criteria.” Lucius stared at him sternly, “I can challenge that ‘good’ family bit. Caleb is already ready to explode because Claudia wants to stay married to Tom and now you are telling me that you and his Goddaughter are dating? I think that the man will have a nervous breakdown. So on second thought for that alone son, I think she’s a good match.” He gave Draco a wicked grin which his son returned.

Keely was perplexed and intrigued seeing Draco and Lucius interact. They seemed close and yet it was obvious that they didn’t have what one would call a ‘loving’ relationship. They probably loved each other but the way that they hadn’t even hugged after not having seen each other in nearly two years was telling. Although she could tell by Draco’s eyes that he was immensely happy and his father seemed happy as well. Maybe they reserved that kind of show of attention for when they were in private. Once again she looked over at Tom who alternated from looking at Lucius and Draco to the closed door. She slowly walked up to him and took in a deep breath. “She is like my sister you know.”

He turned and gave her his full attention and for a moment she forgot what else she had been planning to tell him. Surely Ginny never said anything about him being so beautiful. It was one thing looking at him from the other side of the room but up close his beauty was a bit distracting. When she kept mutely staring at him, as if in some kind of trance; Tom raised an eyebrow and asked, “Yes?” She mentally shook herself and blushed, “Err... Right…and so I love her very much. Do you love her? They say that you do, that you are not... Vol-Voldermort. I have to think that they are right for her to love you back.” Tom could tell that this girl did love Claudia, however he was not about to explain his feelings about Claudia to her or anyone he didn’t trust. “They? Claudia will be safe with me and if she believed that I didn’t care for her then she would not want to stay with me.” Keely noted that he had expertly avoided answering her and yet had answered her anyway. Frowning slightly but only nodding she turned away from him. She didn't want to start staring at him like a besotted idiot again.

Back inside Claudia explained to her parents what she had gone through. She described the anger, shame, confusion, fear and despair that had gone through her heart at her feelings. She told them that things had not started off as love, how could they? However, somewhere along the way her feelings had changed. Tom was kind and gentle with her, and that if he wasn’t then she would not stay with him. She again told her father to not make her choose, almost pleadingly.

Caleb knew without her saying it that if he made her choose that she would choose her husband and thus be lost to them forever. He loved her too much, no matter that he would never like this man, to lose her again. He turned and took her face gently in his hands, “You will always be my little girl and I love you. Nothing could ever make me love you any less. If anything, I love you more every day.” He then kissed her cheek as he hugged her tightly to him.

At that moment Keely came into the room. She had been trying to stay outside but she felt uncomfortable with those men. Even Draco, now that his dad was there as she wasn't very familiar with the elder Malfoy. That was something that she would have to get used to after what she knew of Lucius Malfoy, but then again, didn’t she think that she knew all there was to know about Tom Riddle? And that her best friend and sister would never fall for such a guy?

“Claudia!” She ran to her and hugged her. “I’m sorry, I tried to stay outside but I couldn’t wait any longer. How are you?” Claudia smiled at her, “Keels, I am fine. We have so much to talk about but I am just so tired tonight. Mom can you ask Thomas to come in here? I think that tomorrow we can talk Keels, Is that ok?” Keely nodded as Tom walked in and went to Claudia right away, taking her hand in his and squeezing gently. “I think that we should go now. Tomorrow you can come and catch up?” He said knowingly and she smiled at him. “We will also need to talk about Claudia’s future tomorrow Mr. Riddle. While she’s now your wife she is also only seventeen still and was in her last year of school.” Claudia’s mother had said. For his part, Caleb was trying very hard to remain quiet. He was only accepting the situation for his daughter and because he didn’t want to lose her.

Before Tom could say anything Severus spoke, “The Headmaster had foreseen this might be an issue Caleb and we have made arrangements. When everyone is gathered together tomorrow, and rested, that can be discussed.” Caleb nodded but said nothing as did Tom. He began to lead her away. “Um… Tom? Where do you plan on living?” It was Claudia’s mother who had spoken and he was a bit startled that she had used his name. She looked like Claudia with the exception that she had black hair and green eyes. Tom guessed that Claudia got her hair color from her father and the honeyed eyes from her grandmother. He had seen a picture of her while in the foyer. The old woman kept looking him up and down in her portrait, giggling and whispering to something that was hidden from his view. “We will live in Rosewood Manor, which lays about five miles from Malfoy Manor.” Cora nodded and said nothing else, happy to know that her daughter would be close by.

“Are you ready to go home?” He asked her softly, so that no one else could hear him. “Yes.” And they walked out into the foyer. Claudia was startled to see Draco there, “Draco? What...err... never mind, I will find out tomorrow. Hello Lucius.” Lucius smiled brightly at her, “Ready to go home and get some rest? Coming back tomorrow for round two?” He asked as he winked at her. She smiled, “Round two, hopefully not but I do want to get some rest. Goodnight Lucius, Draco.”

“Lucius I will see you tomorrow then.” Tom said and Lucius nodded. “It was a pleasure to meet you Draco.” He said, extending a hand for Draco to shake. Draco took it but said nothing only nodded in return. When they walked outside Tom wrapped his arms around her shoulders and said, “You know, it’s a damn nuisance that they are your parents and that you love them. Hexing them would have given me tremendous satisfaction, specially your father.” She hit him in the ribs with her elbow then stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips, “I love you.” He kissed her back, “So do I.” They then disapparated with a small pop and headed to their new home.