Seduced By Darkness

Notes : I am so sorry for the delay everyone. I have power but I do not have internet and according to my cable company it might be another couple of weeks before I do. I was able to get my best friend Keely((HUGS)) to post the next two chapters for me though. Enjoy ... C.9 is rated R and C.10 is rated NC 17. See Chapter 1 for Disclaimers.

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Chapter 9 : A Cage

Sitting cross-legged in a secluded corner of the library, Claudia was reading an ancient looking book. The book, based on the Dark Arts, was a fascinating read. It helped her break what was becoming a boring routine. She felt like a caged animal and wanted to find things that occupied her mind. After getting through half the book she understood why it would never even grace Hogwarts\'s Restrictive Section. Most of the spells in it she had never heard of and was sure would land a person in Azkaban if used. She had already read a book on Unicorns, which extremely disgusted her as its author cared nothing for the beautiful creatures. He, in fact, seemed to revel in the many ways to torture and use them. Claudia had slammed it shut and considered throwing it across the room.

The only reason she didn’t was because she wanted to be alone. Nagi was nice but at the moment she didn’t feel like being around anyone and the elf was extremely fussy over her. Once again she had woken up alone, and it complete ate at her that it bothered her so much. She felt extremely lonely, even though she was hardly ever left alone. It was as if she were removed from the world, everyone that loved her and she loved gone forever. If everything that he wanted came to pass she would be trapped with him for the rest of her life. Many or all of the people she loved would be killed. The thought made her ill. He would do this, he would hurt them all and here she was, lusting after his body and falling in love with him. Why didn’t she just hate him?

She wondered when it was that he intended to force her to marry him. Her mind still refused to really accept that. She would soon marry the devil and she was powerless to prevent it. It was at these times that she felt equal parts rage, shame, despair and confusion. It had been almost a month since she’d been taken. Claudia missed her friends and family. The feelings that were growing inside her for Tom made her wish for her best friend, Keely. She needed someone to talk to so that she could make sense of the mess inside her head and heart.

Putting the book on the table in front of her, Claudia brought her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Hugging herself tightly she wished that it was her mother’s arms around her. The anguish her parents must be going through not knowing if she was alive or dead tore at her. She thought that if they believed her alive it might be worse for them, as they didn’t know what her fate was. Sighting as she rested her forehead on her knees she thought that it might be best if they never found out what really happened to her.

“You seem troubled, my Lady, may I be of assistance?” Lucius Malfoy’s drawling voice came from the room’s entrance. Claudia looked up and immediately straightened up. “If there was anything to assist me with, you Sir, would be the last person I would seek help from.” She replied icily. Silver eyes sparkling with amusement, he crossed the length of the room and sat across from her, “Come now girl. I am a great listener, really. I assume that you are upset about your upcoming wedding?”

He was amused to see the panic in her eyes at his mention of her upcoming nuptials. “When is it?” She asked quickly. Feigning ignorance at what she meant he asked, “When is what my dear?” Claudia ground her teeth in annoyance, certain that he was enjoying toying with her. When Claudia remained stonily silent, while her eyes were glaring daggers at him, Lucius pretended as if comprehension had finally dawned on him. “Oh, you mean, when is the blessed event taking place?” As much as she wanted to snap an insult at him, she also didn’t want to spend more time than it was necessary in his presence. Claudia also wanted to get as much information as he was willing to give her. “Yes, when will this damn thing happen?”

Lucius burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it as he thoroughly enjoyed the open honesty of all her reactions. It was a refreshing change from most of the women he knew, including his own wife. “I am afraid that I cannot help you there my Lady. You might try asking your fiancée that question.” Her eyes flashed at him and turned into liquid gold, he realized that he had hit a nerve. “I would if he weren’t determined to keep me in the dark about it.” Came her stiff retort. Lucius grinned at her, “Perhaps he means for it to be a surprise. Don’t women love things like that? Find it romantic?” He teased.

Her eyes narrowed into slits, “There is nothing romantic about this situation Mr. Malfoy.” She got up intending to walk away from him. Seeing her intent he also got up and bowed to her. She was certain that he was mocking her. “May I walk you to the stairs then or do you intend to go exploring about the castle? If so, I do not recommend you do so on your own.” She stepped further away from him as he was reaching for her elbow. “As I already told you, I do not need nor want your assistance for anything. Good day Mr. Malfoy.” Turning on her heel she walked out of the library in a foul mood.

“Getting to know my bride better Lucius?” A soft but noticeably chilly voice came from the half open terrace doors. A bit startled but recovering quickly, Lucius bowed to him and smiled, “I’m afraid, my Lord, that I was too curious to see what she would say to not approach her.” Stepping inside the library Tom’s expression was unreadable. “Was your curiosity satisfied?” Lucius knew that he had to choose his words carefully so as not to make his Lord think that he felt any sort of attraction toward the girl. “Indeed, I have concluded that you have a rebellious cat in your hands and not a meek lamb.”

Tom smiled coldly, “Yes, I had realized that too. There’s very little chance that her appeal will ever diminish with time.” Lucius nodded his agreement. “The wedding, my Lord, seems to be praying heavily on her mind. Will you tell her soon when it will be?” Tom walked around him, “Yes. She will find out soon enough.” Lucius turned as he had stopped directly behind him. Tom was looking back at him, his eyes hard and cold. “Try to see that you never find yourself completely alone with her again Lucius. I am sure that I do not have to give you my reasons for saying this.” Lucius wasn’t stupid so he nodded and bowed, “Of course my Lord, excuse my behavior.” Tom smiled and rested his hand on Lucius’s shoulder, “I do excuse it as I do not believe that you intended to cross any lines with her. Otherwise you would not be standing here as healthy as you are now, my friend.”

He left Lucius then as he wanted to go and have a talk with Claudia. When he reached her room he found her outside in the balcony looking out over the sea. Putting his arms around her and resting his chin on her head he said, “We will marry two weeks from today.” She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “I really hate you.” Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger he leaned down and kissed her, “Yes, but that’s not all that you feel towards me.” He kissed her again, sensually rubbing his tongue over hers. Lifting his head away from hers, “Claudia, never betray me with another man.” He squeezed her arms as he said this, and she frowned, “Oh? What will you do if I do? Kill me?” He squeezed tighter and slightly lifted her off her feet, “Do not play with me on this. No, I would not kill you, but you will wish I did if you ever betray me with another.”

In the back of her mind she realized that he must have seen her with Lucius and that he didn’t like it. However, she believed that he was only upset because he considered her his possession and thus wanted no one else to touch her. Otherwise there was no other reason why seeing her with Malfoy should really bother him. “There is no one here that I want with the exception of you.” She hated admitting that but she felt that he already knew this and if he didn’t that he could read her mind anyway. His hold on her relaxed and he set her back down on the floor. She wanted to leave things at that but she just couldn’t help asking “What about you? Will you keep seeing that woman?” He raised one eyebrow at her, pleased that she was still jealous of Bellatrix. “You want me to stop fucking her?” She hated that he was enjoying this, enjoying her jealousy but she didn’t care. She would not be with him while he was with that woman. “YES! If I must stay here, if I have to marry you, I will not tolerate you being with her. If you expect me to then you can continue ‘fucking her’ as you said and leave me the hell alone!”

He smiled, “You do realize that if I wanted to be with her you could not stop me. You also could not stop me from having you as well.” She was so angry and frustrated with him, he was really a selfish pig, “Yes I know. What I want doesn’t matter to you.” She tried to turn away from him but he didn’t let her, “Actually it does, but I will not bend to your will if it’s not in my best interest to do so. I want you to understand that Claudia, but in this I will concede to your wishes. However, Bellatrix does live here so stay away from the east wing if you don’t want to see her.”

“Fine but if she takes a tumble off a window do not blame me.” His eyes sparkled with merriment at her. She didn’t like it when he had these changes in mood. He went from being a tyrant one minute to being sweet and playful with her the next. As happy as it made her to know that he wouldn’t be seeing that woman anymore it also bothered her, why would he give in to her so easily? She needed to get away from him so that she could think, “Let go of me now, please.” He didn’t do as she asked, instead bent low and began kissing her neck. “Tom, please, I don’t want...” she gasped when she felt his tongue. “Missy, Nagi has your dinner.” Claudia’s eyes flew open at hearing the elf’s voice, “Fuck.” Was all that Tom said before releasing his hold on her. She was immensely pleased that he had not gotten his way and also because he was annoyed since he wanted her and was interrupted. She walked inside and thanked the elf who quickly left at catching her Master’s murderous look. Sitting down to eat, Claudia innocently looked up, “Tea my Lord? It’s delicious” She said, a bright smile on her face, eyes sparkling up at him. Tom realized that she was amused at his annoyance and happy over his promise to stay away from Bellatrix. Without saying another word to her he turned on his heels and walked out of her room.

Tom really didn’t understand why he had given in to her, but after seeing her smile he decided that it wasn’t such a bad thing. Bellatrix meant nothing to him really, and now that Claudia was his he had absolutely no desire for other women, especially someone like Bella. Still, he didn’t want this to become the norm which is why he told her that she wouldn’t always get her way. It disturbed him how light it made him feel to see her happy, even if it was for just a moment. Having her wasn’t supposed to be this complicated but he had never been around anyone like her, so everything about her felt strange and new. Intuitively he knew that lust was not the only reason that she responded to him the way she did. She felt more, and every time they touched he felt it as well. Those emotions mingled with his own feelings for her. He didn’t understand what those feelings were only that he was adamant about not letting them take a bigger hold of him than they already had.