(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter forty-four

"I'm done taking orders from you", I hissed, leaning into the words. Lucius had made it pretty obvious that he knew exactly where Lane was, and that in order for him to tell me of her whereabouts - I would have to comply with him. I wasn't too excited about the whole ordeal, to put it lightly.

"Now, now. Is that a way to speak to your father—"

"—I told you, you're not my father. A real father wouldn't force me to choose between serving the Dark Lord or death itself ". At this point, I had lowered my wand, but was still prepared, should anything go array. It had started to rain as well. Surprisingly enough, the sky had opened up and it started pouring down, which forced people inside or underneath whatever trees stood nearest. Just like that, the sun had vanished beneath the horizon, darkness looming overhead.

"If you don't tell me where she is, I will have to force it out of you—", I demanded, clenching my hand into a fist.

"You really think I came all this way to hand her over to you, just like that?", he scoffed, and as his eyes met mine, all I wanted was to leave him and go searching for Lane on my own.

But I knew, it wasn't that simple.

As a matter of fact, the word simple was never in my vocabulary. Though I dreamed of it — a happy and normal life with Lane — was far from achievable at that point.

"No, but I know you still care about me. Even though you refuse to admit it — you're scared. You're losing control, and it terrifies you...". I paused to inhale deeply. As good as I was at putting up a good front, I wasn't all that confident. In fact, things would probably go to hell no matter what I did, I just wanted to try and make a difference. "I always held on to the hope that, one day, you'd change. You'd
wake up one day and realise, this life is not worth living. That your son and wife deserved so much more than late night house calls from Lord Voldemort, deadly tasks and fancy suits— because we wanted to be a proper family — mum and I — we cared. It just never felt like you really did...". I felt the tears start to prickle behind my eyes again. "And I pity you for it".

"Don't you dare speak to me that way! I'm your father, no matter what you believe. I made you. I made you and I can destroy you just as easily". His sinister grin was growing ever so wide, sending shivers down my spine and making the hairs stand on my arms and legs. "Now, as I was just about to tell you...", he traced the inside of his cheek with his tongue. "I will take you to her—".

Hope was starting to make its way back into my heart and head.

"—On one condition". He started walking away, slowly, expecting me to follow alongside. "That you convince the girl that you don't love her".

I couldn't contain my anger, nor my frustration. I knew that my father had her locked up somewhere, and I was this close at finding out where exactly, I just had to make the ultimate decision.

I had to convince her of the lies my father told me to speak.

I had to let go of the dream. The fairytale.

I had to break her heart, and in the process, break my own.

Fuck, I thought as my insides caught fire. At least that was what it felt like.

But I knew I had no choice in the matter.

It was either coming with my father and telling her I didn't love her and never did, or leave him and the Dark Lord to have their way with her.