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

Chapter 23

"Miss Griffin, I hope you're finding the accommodation comfortable?" I smiled across the large oak table, my legs crossed so the slit in my dress casually parted as it cascaded down my side.

"It's perfect, thank you so much for your hospitality my Lord. I am honoured." I watched him grin, his perfect lips bending to create that smile that made me tremble.

"Of course, it is only appropriate considering your recent circumstances. I look after my favourite followers." I nearly choked on my mouthful as I tried not to allow my eyes to scan over the other followers around the table. I swallowed and kept smiling at him sweetly, knowing full well why he said that in front of all of them. He wanted them to hate me. He wanted to make sure he was the only person I had left in the world.

"Favourite-" Dolohov began, under his breath.

"She rid us of a traitor." The Dark Lord announced loudly, his black eyes scanning over the table before landing on me. "She chose the war over love, she chose loyalty to the cause despite it leaving her cold and lonely in her bed. She chose me above everything. Would you all do the same?" His tone was calm, but loud. Loud enough that everyone was on high alert, nodding and muttering "Of course, my Lord" in unison. I saw Bellatrix go bright red, her anger bled into her face as she stared at me, and I realised that she was the first iteration of me. A woman who gave up her life to not even be loved by him, just to be next to him sometimes. I didn't feel sorrow, but ore pity for her as she watched him verbally praise another woman who was younger and newer.

"I hope I get to see you all fulfil your promises, my loyal servants. Tonight I will show you the appreciation one gets when they prove their unwavering loyalty to me." He stood up and turned to face me, and I felt my stomach swoop low. "Bring in the prisoner!" He shouted and the double doors opened. Rather than having him hover over the table, this time two men just dragged my father's unconscious body towards me, his drooping legs noisily scratching the wooden floor. I blinked up towards the Dark Lord, his eyes already carefully assessing me. The dropped his body in front of me and I watched him splutter up blood by my feet, his eyelids looked so heavy that even if he tried he would not be able to open them.

"Here is my gift to you, Miss Griffin. You are to do with him as you please. I have taken all I can from him." His smile was eery and pointed, and I knew what I had to do. My father had been the one who taught me if you want to be the person at the top you have break a few back climbing over them. I wonder if he ever thought he'd be one of them.

"You haven't taken everything from him yet, my Lord." I smiled, making him grin as he took his seat again, watching me stand over my father's heaving body with a growing heat in his eyes. "You haven't taken me from him yet." I lifted my wand and extended it towards the floor. Without looking down at my father I cast the killing curse while Tom and I stared into each other's eyes. I've never understood my emotions, but I've always understood actions. I didn't want my father dead, but he had to be for me to get to where I needed to go. I placed my weapon back into my jacket and pretended I didn't feel anything asI leaned down and retrieved my father's old pocket watch.

"I always wanted this." I smiled, returning my eyes to Tom. He looked so happy, so proud.

"Everyone out." Without averting our eyes from each other the others began to leave in silence as the two men dragged my father's dead body out of the dining room.

"You really killed him then." I blinked, awakening from the strange dissociative state his stare had buried me in.

"You just witnessed it." I smiled.

"Regulus." He grinned. "You really killed him, didn't you?" I stared at him, despising that name on his tongue.

"Your surprise offends me, Tom." His eyes scanned my body as I walked over to him, the slit in my dress spreading as I lifted my leg to straddle him. His hands rans around my waist smoothly, like a snake, before one wound up my spine to land on the back of my neck. His fingers dug in suddenly, pulling my head backwards violently. His lips attacked my neck, his tongue sliding across my hot skin as I pressed my chest against his. His groans vibrated the side of my neck as I rolled my hips over him. I pushed my head forwards out of his grasp and threw my face down onto his, my mouth warming his as our tongues mixed together. His long arms wrapped around me pulling me into him with a crushing strength.