Tʜᴇ Dᴀʀᴋ Lᴏʀᴅ's Aɴɢᴇʟ | Tom Riddle √

63: Unexpected Intrusion

"Where is she?"

Cassiopeia was awakened by a familiar maniacal voice in her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, and she felt the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She sensed that something was amiss.

As she cautiously got up from her position on Tom's chest, she realized that he had also awakened. Tom gestured for her to remain silent, pressing his index finger to his lips.

Quickly, Cassiopeia descended from the bed, taking her wand in hand, prepared for whatever might come their way. She couldn't help but wonder why Bellatrix had made an unexpected appearance.

"It's Bellatrix, you know," Cassiopeia whispered to Tom, who nodded in acknowledgment. "Why is she here?"

Before Tom could offer an explanation, the door to their room was flung open, startling Cassiopeia. Bellatrix entered, forcibly throwing the innocent elf into the room and pointing her wand at Cassiopeia, who responded in kind.

"What are you doing here, Bellatrix?" Cassiopeia refused to address her as "auntie."

Bellatrix's gaze shifted between Tom, who had already risen and stood beside Cassiopeia, and Cassiopeia herself.

"Where's the Dark Lord?" Bellatrix's voice was accusing as Cassiopeia felt a surge of anxiety.

Cassiopeia, attempting to project confidence, retorted, "How do I know?"

"He came to kill you, filthy blood-traitor, and he didn't come back," Bellatrix advanced toward her.

Cassiopeia wondered why Bellatrix assumed she had the power to harm Voldemort, a formidable dark wizard. Was Bellatrix truly this unhinged? Her loyalty seemed unwavering.

Bellatrix rolled up her sleeve, revealing her forearm with the Dark Mark, which was now half-faded. Cassiopeia had seen this Mark once before on Lucius.

"What happened to him? I know you—"

"Enough, Bellatrix," Tom's voice suddenly rose, startling Cassiopeia and Bellatrix alike.

Bellatrix had no intention of questioning the mysterious boy, her thoughts consumed by her missing Dark Lord.

"Who the hell are you to scream at me, pathetic boy?" Bellatrix pointed her wand at Tom, while Kreacher slowly got to his feet and moved to Cassiopeia's side.

"Voldemort is not there anymore," Tom declared firmly, angering Bellatrix further.

"How dare you call his name, you—"

"I said he's not there anymore," Tom reiterated, pointing his wand at Bellatrix, who stared at the wand he held.

Bellatrix's eyes widened, her mind processing the situation rapidly.

"Ma—my Lord," she stammered, unable to believe what she was witnessing. "How? My Lord cannot leave us like that? What will happen to the Death Eaters? The mission to purify the wizarding world?"

Her voice was desperate, and she lowered her wand, taking a cautious step toward Cassiopeia.

"What did you do to him?" She demanded, giving Cassiopeia a menacing glare.

Cassiopeia shook her head, but Tom interjected, "She didn't do anything," his wand warningly pointed in Bellatrix's direction as she advanced.

Bellatrix paused, her attention fixed on Tom. She was grappling with her disbelief.

"My Lord, you should come now. We need you. We are waiting for you!" Bellatrix did her best to persuade Tom.

Cassiopeia watched Tom, who was struggling to maintain his composure. Each word Bellatrix spoke seemed to weigh on his mind, causing him to close his eyes momentarily as if engaged in an inner struggle.

Cassiopeia knew that if Tom returned to the life he once had, he would revert to the monster he used to be.

"He won't come," Cassiopeia blurted out, and Bellatrix turned her attention to her.

Bellatrix's mocking words cut through the air, her wand held casually in her fingers. She taunted Cassiopeia, belittling her with a cruel laugh.

"Pathetic girl," Bellatrix sneered. "Do you think the Dark Lord will listen to someone like you? He was trying to get you, stupid girl, and then he will kill you."

Cassiopeia's heart raced as she recalled the warning from Sirius. Her hand instinctively reached for Tom, and their eyes locked. She pleaded with him, tears brimming in her blue orbs.

"Please, don't. You aren't a monster, Tom," she implored, her voice trembling.

Cassiopeia couldn't bear to lose him again, not now, not ever.

Bellatrix, however, was relentless. She accused Cassiopeia of manipulating Voldemort with curse words and, with a menacing cry, cast a spell that Cassiopeia had never heard before: "Sectumsempra!!!"

Cassiopeia was thrown to the floor, gasping in pain. Something felt as if it was draining from her body, and she whimpered as the searing agony coursed through her.

Kreacher, alarmed and with his hands now glowing scarlet, rushed to her side. Meanwhile, Tom knelt beside her, casting healing spells that offered little relief. His eyes darted to Bellatrix, who wore a smug smirk.

"What did you do to her?" Tom demanded, his voice filled with fury as he advanced on Bellatrix, who began retreating with fear. Her smirk quickly dissolved into a look of horror.

Cassiopeia couldn't keep her eyes on the unfolding scene. Her vision was directed at the ceiling, and tears streamed from her eyes.

"I-it hu—hurt Kre—," she cried, panting as Kreacher used magic to try and heal her. It felt as if her body had been slashed all over.

"My Lord, I want to take you—" Bellatrix stammered, but Tom cut her off with a thunderous command.

"I asked you a question, Bellatrix. Heal her," Tom roared. "Now."

"I—I don't know, my Lord," Bellatrix mumbled, her wand slipping from her trembling hand as she knelt before Tom. "I don't know how to heal, my Lord."

"Then how did you do it? Do not lie, Lestrange," Tom said, hiding the tremor in his voice behind a stern façade. "Crucio!"

Bellatrix's screams filled the room, and she begged Tom to stop. This wasn't the same as the Cruciatus curse Cassiopeia had used on her months ago. It was different—Bellatrix screamed in agony, pleading for her life.

"Ma—my Lo—lord, Se—ver—rus," Bellatrix stuttered desperately under her breath as Tom finally lowered his wand.

"Kreacher, get Severus Snape, right now," Tom ordered, and the elf disappeared into thin air. Tom cast another spell, "Obliviate," but Cassiopeia was too overwhelmed by pain to process it fully.

Cassiopeia wasn't afraid of death, but she was terrified of losing Tom. She hadn't had enough time with him. This time, she needed to live, to spend her life with him.

"Cassie, look at me, please," Tom's figure blurred through her exhausted eyes as he knelt before her. "Please stay awake. I'm going to leave when Severus comes, and I'll come back after he's gone."

"Do—don't—"

"Shhh, I'm not leaving," Tom reassured her one last time as Cassiopeia's exhausted eyes closed. "Cass, please don't leave me again."

Author's Note: 

I'm really addicted to editing this story as much I was writing this, years back, but I have to take a break from editing marathon because I have to sleep. I hope you've enjoyed the number of chapters I've updated within the last two days; Tomorrow will update another bunch of chapters. Thanks for staying with the story! 

See you soon in the next chapters. Stay safe! 💕 

~ monoceros_x