high adventure! → regulus black ✓

[9] grand ole family reunion

⋆☆.* ✧✰ .✦⋆*☆

THEY DISAPPARATED IMMEDIATELY, arriving at a large, grim-looking mansion with a gate that swung upon upon their arrival, and closed once they were through it. The tallest Death Eater walked in front of Stella and Regulus whilst the other two followed closely behind, their wands trained on the subject in front of them.

The doors to the large Manor flew open as the group neared them, and they walked in rather briskly—so briskly, in fact, that Stella's Death Eater jabbed her in the back with his wand to get her to move quicker, for she had slowed slightly to look around. She flinched, though she was practically shaking anyway, so it wasn't like she noticed.

They were led through to a large sitting room that had two sofas, a few armchairs, a coffee table, and a magnificent fireplace. A few others stood in the room: two men and a woman. Stella recognized the men from the forest; she recalled Regulus referring to them as the Lestranges whilst discussing the matter with Sirius.

"So you really do have them," breathed the woman, sounding as shocked as she looked. She was young, probably in her twenties, and the men didn't look much older.
"Rudolphus, call the Dark Lord." The man on her right pulled his wand and rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a mark identical to the one Regulus had. He then placed the tip of his wand on the mark, and Stella could've sworn she saw it move a little. Regulus suddenly gripped onto Stella's hand, and she wasn't sure whether to be comforted or worried by the sentiment.

"He'll be here any moment," said the blonde, emerging from behind Regulus and strolling to the other side of the room.
"Don't worry, he won't kill either of you, no, not yet. Though by the time everyone's done with you, you'll have wished he had killed you." A few low chuckles rang throughout the room, and Stella gripped Regulus's hand tighter than ever. They stood there for a minute in complete, still silence, but then the front door could be heard opening and closing, and Regulus released her hand as a man swept into the room.

"Do you have them?" he hissed, and the woman gestured to the two captives. Stela gasped against her will as the man faced them, for he didn't look like a man at all. His eyes were red, he had hardly any nose left, and his skin was paler than anyone she had ever seen. He simply didn't look human, but she knew he was—he had to be.
"My my my...Regulus, I have to say, I'm incredibly disappointed in you. You were one of my most loyal followers, what happened?"

"I woke up," said Regulus cooly, and Stella wondered how the hell he was able to keep it together—then again, it was his world, after all.

"A shame, really, but no matter. We can still use you, even if it's by force."

"You can't Imperius me," he said simply.
"Try as you might, it won't work."

"Oh, I know," said the cloaked man, his lips upturned into a strange sort of smile.
"But you will fight for my side, in time, because while you may be able to withstand anything we throw your way, I wouldn't be so sure about your little muggle friend here. You've grown quite attached to her, haven't you? You may be blocking me out of your mind, but even a blind man would be able to see your feelings for her." The cloaked man withdrew his wand from his robes, and the Death Eater still standing behind them had to restrain Regulus, who had attempted to make a go for the man. He struggled as the long, thin wand was trained on Stella, and the shaking girl did all she could not to blink, not to look away—she had to be strong, no matter what was coming.
"Crucio," he said simply, and Stella fell to the ground, writhing in pain, as it felt like she was being stabbed by a thousand hot knives. Her whole body was in pain, and she screamed until the curse was lifted less than a minute later—though it felt much, much longer.