antebellum [t. riddle]

xl.

24 december 1945

the marking that burned on them fascinated her.

an idea sprung to her head. what if she could get a clue as to what the mark meant or how it worked? she wouldn't be able to get everything, but any information would be a start.

so, that's what she decided.

she selected a random man standing in front of her, who had the marking on his neck, and cast under her breath, as discreetly as she could, "imperio."

the imperius curse was an addictive sensation for both the caster and the victim. the victim felt like a shell; a marionette puppet to be manipulated with, but the caster felt a surge of adrenaline. it made the wizard or witch feel like they had the innate ability to control the thoughts, feelings, and actions of the people surrounding them. bad things happen to wizards who try to play god, no matter how powerful it made them feel.

the clock on the wall chimed midnight. three hours left.

excuse yourself, and walk out of the room. the man turned to the woman on his left, excusing himself, and then turned around, passing sicaria, and back toward the direction of the doors that led toward the entry hall. she hesitated before following his path.

they kept a casual pace, trying not to stick out.

go out the entry hall into the gardens.

there were a couple of people in the hall, drinking and talking to each other. two older men who sicaria didn't recognize were talking to each other, glaring arrogantly at a group of younger adults, laughing loudly, seemingly drunk.

she caught a bit of their conversation.

"he told them not to get so drunk. some of the special operations aurors and undercover agents are going on a mission tonight."

"little christmas present for the ministry's archives, eh?"

they both laughed. she passed them quickly, guiding the imperiused man out of the house. unsurprisingly, there were people outside too, smoking what decidedly wasn't cigars, and talking in hushed tones. she avoided making eye contact.

they walked along the opposite wall of the ballroom, still able to hear the music through the glass and stone. they went through the grass, her keeping closer to the shrubbery to try to stay out of sight.

turn left and go into that shed.

she followed him at a safe distance before depositing him in the dark greenhouse that she'd had tea with mrs. malfoy in, just earlier this morning. she stunned him, and then removed the imperius curse from him before casting a series of silencing charms and notice-me-nots on the glass house. it was dark, and the plants lining the walls didn't allow for much light in or out. some of the plants shook, hissed, and snapped at the disturbance, but she ignored them.

"now," she said to herself, flicking her wand to turn his body over. "lets see what all this is about."

she pulled his wand off his body and then casted a dark magic analytic over his body. the lights and trace measurements burned brightly as all the magic encasing his body burst forth.

sicaria's jaw dropped.

the web of magic that stemmed from grindelwalds mark on his neck was exceptionally intricate.

there were layers upon layers of curses, enchantments, and bonds entrapping the soul of the wearer of the mark with a complex magical code, all locked in a metaphorical magical safe.