Rabbits and Rattlesnakes [Regulus Black/OC/Tom Riddle ]

Chapter 21

He forced his lips back onto mine, his hands pinching my skin aggressively. I pressed this knife into his throat, but it didn't seem to remotely stop him. I tried to push his tongue out of my mouth, but he was too strong. I bit down, making him wince. I leaned back over the table, removing my lips from his.

"Tom." His grin faded slightly, a glimmer of anger shooting across his eyes.

"Don't-"

"I can't do this." I tried not to sound pleading, but his fingers still dug into my cheek, his other hand grabbing my lower back pulling my hips against him.

"Don't pretend for a second that that little boy of yours can offer you anything I can't Eloise." His grip tightened even deeper, and I felt the bruises forming as a trickle blood began to run down his neck. "Don't make a fool of yourself, not after you've done so well earning my attention." I wanted so desperately to drop the knife, to give my whole being to those devilish eyes.

"Perhaps you're right." I whispered, before slicing the blade across is throat. I felt his body fall back, his large hands lifting to clutch the opening wound. Watching him splutter on his knees gave me more arousal than I could ever verbally admit, but he saw it in my eyes. I leaned down, reaching my hand down to pick up his discarded wand.

"Perhaps it's time for you to prove you're worthy of my attention, Tom." He lifted one bloodied hand to reach for the wand, but it only took a slight manoeuvre for him to miss. The crimson flowing onto his suit contrasted so beautifully with his pale skin. It was like a Caravaggio painting, so bright and violent. So different from the painting I had in my mind of Regulus in France. Just as captivating, just as perfect.

"You wanted to see me, so here I am." His eyes kept still on me hovering over him despite the quivering rage of adrenaline surging through his emptying body. "Now it's your turn." I cupped his face gently as he gargled and spluttered, lifting the wand to his convulsing flesh "Vulnera Sanentur" I whispered as I watched the broken skin slowly merge itself back together. His breathing deepened as he gagged on the air, and I was suddenly aware of the lack of panic he had released as he'd bled onto the wooden floor. He looked up to me, and my heart hitched at the sight of the all-mighty in my palms.

"How-"

"Sometimes, rather than killing those who oppose you it is more useful to learn from them." I smiled, my thumb caressing his smooth skin.

"Your father?"

"His temper meant he had to heal a few wounds in his time." I nodded. "He may be weak, and he may be a terrible father but he's taught me many things without meaning to. People are what you make of them, my Lord. You can't expect anything from them, only rely of what you can take." He lifted himself from the floor, his hands reaching around my waist to pull me down to him, our lips finding each other once again. He tasted sweet and bitter at the same time, the metallic after-taste of blood swirling around my tongue. The way he held me was different than before, it was more pleading, more desperate. I locked my fingers around his jaw as his hands fell down over my lower back. I lifted my face from his, and went to stand up but suddenly felt his clasp on my wrist.

"What do you do after? Once you've taken all a person can offer?" His voice was smoky and dark, but he looked so much younger lying there on the floor, reaching out for me. I smiled, lifting my trapped wrist to my mouth to lay a soft, warm kiss on his tensed fingers.

"Then you can do as you wish." I stated, throwing his wand back to him and watching the grin grow on his face, knowing I had just signed my father's 

-

As I left I went to find Regulus. He was sitting outside in the dark with his head placed firmly in his hands. I placed my hand gently on the back of his neck, but he didn't seem to move.

"Let's go home Regulus." I whispered, laying a small peck on the top of his head.

"Do you know what he's doing?" Regulus whispered. I felt the Dark Lord's eyes on me, and I looked up behind me to see his silhouette in the office window.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, making Regulus shake his head.

"Don't pretend you don't know, Eloise." I turned back to him, walking around and setting myself on my knees in front of him. I lifted his delicate face with my fingertips, bringing his sad eyes to mine.

"If you really don't know then you're just as much a fool as me."

"Regulus, let's go home and talk, you're not making any sense-"

"He's taking you from me." Regulus stated coldly, his eyes turning to a blank state. "He's using you and you're letting him." My poor Regulus. I could feel his broken heart in his weary pulse. "You don't know what he is, Eloise. You don't know what he's becoming-" I looked up to see him no longer standing at the window. A surge of panic electrocuted me, making me grab Regulus' wrists.

"Regulus we shouldn't talk about this here. Let's go home, ok? Please Reg-" I tried to pull him from his spot, but he lifted his hands violently, throwing my grip from him.

"He's a monster!" He screamed as he stood up, taking a step forward to tower over me. "He's a fucking ghost, Eloise! He's-"

"I know what he is!" I hissed, pleading him to be quiet as I grabbed on to his arms trying to drag him away from the manor. "That's why you have to be quiet, Regulus, ok?" I begged, but I could see him breaking in front of me. I was watching his mind eat itself. I threw my arms around him, pressing my body into his desperately trying to smother the fire that was about to erupt. My eyes darted around the darkness, knowing that he was out there somewhere. Regulus sobbed into my shoulder, his arms squeezing me like a scared child.

"He can't die." He whispered into my ear. "He's making himself invincible and we're helping." I hushed him, my hands gripping onto him.

"Everyone can die." I whispered, my mind trying to understand why Regulus was so sure Tom had made himself immortal when I had watched him bleeding out just moments before. Regulus lifted his head from my shoulder, his tired sunken face looking down at me. He lifted his hands to my cheeks, bringing my face to his suddenly in a moment of tragic passion. I felt another's eyes on me, looming somewhere in the dark, but I could never resist the emotion Regulus put behind his kisses. The heat that his mouth sent into me, down my throat into my stomach and my lungs. As our tongues parted he gave a weak smile.

"You're right, Eloise. You're always right." I didn't understand what he meant, or why my Regulus, my solid ground, was suddenly sporadic and manic. I lifted myself to him for another moment, enjoying the feeling of his arms around my waist and the warmth of his mouth compared to the bitterness of the Dark Lord's.

"I'm sorry" Regulus whispered as we made our way down the path, and as I took his hand in mine I hoped those dark eyes would let us walk away.