Of Death and Fire

divide


Author's warning: Sexual references, torture, substance abuse. Avoid if you object, Read on if you have been waiting for this.
Before reading this chapter, remember we are dealing with Volrt art and Death Eaters. Those guys haven't been helping old ladies cross the street. What they would possibly be doing is rape, torture, murder. And not necessarily in that order.
Additional notes: Some of you have wondered over the purpose of the fluffy scene two chapters ago. This is why.
Wormwood is the main ingredient of absinthe, in case anyone is wondering over this.
 
CHAPTER 36: Divide and Conquer.
 
When Morgaine finally aparated at the appointed place in the Dark Forest, Snape was at the edge of a complete breakdown. Dumbledore was equally worried, since Snape's account of the Death Eater meeting proved to be worse than anything he had anticipated. Perhaps their lives had been spared, but still, the toll was too high. And he had no idea of what lies Voldemort had poured into Morgaine's soul.
And then she came. She looked tired but she was still standing. As soon as she adjusted to the new environment, she looked at the two men with dark, haunted eyes. And then she turned away and walked to the castle. Behind her, the two men exchanged fearful glances. Without giving it a second thought, Snape ran behind her and reached out to grasp her arm, making her stop.
"Morgaine, wait! What happened? Are you alright?" And although he attempted to sound in control, his voice faltered just a little.
She shook his grip off her arm.
"I'm still alive, obviously," she replied in an unusually cold voice.
"What happened? What did he do to you?" he asked again, trying hard to hide his fear.
"Believe me, this is one of those things you don't really want to know," she said, and her smile made his blood freeze. "But I'll tell you what he told me: 'Walk with me in Death and Fire'." She paused, studying his face in the darkness. "And now, if you excuse me, I have a proposal to consider." And she turned and walked away in fast strides. Both Snape and Dumbledore were left in a dumbstruck silence.
When the first shock lost its grip, Snape ran behind her.
~*~
He found Morgaine in her chambers, brushing her long hair with a dreamy expression in her eyes, lost in her thoughts. He locked the door behind him and walked to her.
"Would you care to explain your last statement? What do you mean 'a proposal to consider'?" he hissed at her.
She looked at him in silent amusement.
"A girl has to settle down one day, Sever she she said, sarcasm lying under her calm surface.
"Settle down?" he spat. "In Merlin's name, Morgaine, it's Voldemort we're talking about! Please," he continued in a lower, softer tone, "please, Morgaine, tell me this is one of you jokes?"
She put the brush down and looked at him with cold eyes.
"I know who he is!" she cried, standing up. "I saw inside his mind, tonight. I heard his voice in my head, whispering promises of forbidden dreams. I know it's all a lie, but I desperatly want to believe him! I need to believe him!" She turned her back at the speechless man, hiding her face in her hands. After a moment of silence she raised her head and glanced at him sideways. "And where were you tonight, Severus? On your knees!" she spat, contempt colouring her voice. "On your knees before him, trembling like a mouse like the rest of your kind. I hoped you would have stood up and claim me, but no, you're too much of a coward to do such a thing. Hell, you're too scared even to admit you love me!"
She turned and faced him, seeangeanger and darkness rising inside him, as the blood had left his face and his mouth had been drawn to a tight ashen line. And she continued to play with him, singing in the tune Voldemort had planted in her mind.
"If he had wished, you would have stood there among the rest, watching one of the others rape me on the ground, without raising one word to stop it. In a wave of his hand, you would have done the same, performing as you have done so many times before, along with your good friend Malfoy." She paused and her eyes sparkled by a new thought. "Come to think of it, if he had asked it of you, you would have dropped down on all fours and allowed any of them to use you as their bitch. If such a game hasn't already been played," she mocked him.
This was too much for him to bear. He raised his fist and hit her face with all his strength. He felt something breaking under her skin and blood stained his hand. Still weak from the repeated 'Cruciatus' curses and under the force of the blow, Morgaine lost her balance and fell back at the side of the bed, hitting her back hard on the wooden surface. Another crack was heard, the sound of a broken rib against hard material. But she did not moan, she did not cry. She laughed, trying to get back to her feet.
"Shut up!" he yelled, unable to control the violent urge inside him. And she laughed even harder.
"Oh, there you are, my love," she mocked him again. "Here's the real Severus, the one you had tried to put under a leash. The one who takes pleasure in pain and torture. You have revealed your true face at last. Just like he said you would".
Another blow landed on her face sending her on the bed, her head hitting hard on the wall. Another sound of cracking bone, more laughter from her lips.
"You haven't seen 'pain' yet," he hissed, climbing on the beder her her.
Her sarcastic laughter pierced his ears like a hot blade. She wouldn't stop, not when he used his hands on her, not even when he used his leather belt or his wand. She momentarily stopped when he penetrated her, using his body as another instrument of torture. And then she smiled and this angered him more than her laughter, for she could see under the surface, aware of the pleasure he took by abusing her. He growled in anger and wicked bliss, thrusting harder inside her, feeling in every thrust something breaking inside her body. And when he finally reached his release, sinking his teeth in her throat, he heard her laughter again.
He stood up, rearranging his clothes and covered himself under the heavy Death Eater cloak to hide the stains of blood and semen on him.
"This is over," he said coldly. "If you want me, you know where to find me. And if you don't, stay clear of my path."
As he closed the door behind him, he could still hear her laughter.
~*~
As soon as he left, her laughter turned to uncontrollable crying. She turned to her side, embracing her legs in a fetal position, knowing she was bleeding badly. Over... It was over... Why had she done this to him? She could not know for sure. Perhaps it was the disappointment she had felt when he hadn't claimed her. Not in Voldemort's presence, not even when they were alone. It might have been her last act to protect him, to sever the ties between them and shield him from further suffering, if her time to die would come. Better to hate me than mourn me, she thought. And perhaps it was the sweet song of the Dark Lord's whispers, the visions he had planted in her brain, telling her how to play with the secret fears and untold desires, telling her of how to bring out the darkness.
She didn't know... She didn't care. All she craved for was sweet oblivion.
When Dumbledore found her a few hours later, she was cold and unconscious.
Pomfrey did an excellent job restoring her back to health. Her bones mended in a few hours and her wounds were healed even faster. The mediwitch passed the crystal over her abdomen, certain that the baby was dead. But the crystal turned to a shiny, steady light. Had the child dea dead, it would turn to a smoky shade. But it shone brightly. It did not pulsate though, and this was strange. But in the light of the recent events she never gave it another thought.
Although Morgaine's physical wounds healed fast, the ones in her soul did not. As soon as she could walk, she made her way to the crypt, seeking comfort among her beloved dead and locked herself inside.
~*~
Severus Snape had confined himself in his dungeon too. He had blocked all entrances, refusing to respond to Dumbledore's persistent attempts of communication. He refused food and indulged in strong alcohol, trying to numb his senses. He wished to erase that night from his mind, to wash away the guilt and shame of his act. And when the alcohol could help him no more, he added wormwood infusion to it, returning to his old habits. As gre green fairy of the absinthe seduced his mind, he felt better, even a sha short while. During those times he could dare hope that she would come back to him, to forgive him and kiss him as she had done before.
And when the nights passed and she didn't come, even absinthe lost its power. For the first time in ten years he wished he had not thrown away all of his poppy seeds supply.
~*~
At a different part of the Castle, Dumbledore had locked himself in his office as well. He felt old. He felt tired. He felt defeated. He gazed upon the portraits of the past Headmasters, seeking advice and consolation, but he could find neither. None of them had ever faced a similar situation, and in the past few nights he had wished he could have been spared this bitter cup.
He knew now that he should have never allowed Morgaine to meet the Dark Lord. She had not been ready for this. He should have used his authority, no matter the cost. He should have chained her in the dungeon, if it had come to it. But her strength and her willpower had fooled him, failing to see that this could be used in both ways. And now they would all pay the price of his bad judgement.
The enemy had crossed the gates.
 
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Three chapters in less than a week? I'm spoiling you, guys! Now, tell me how much you liked it.