The Dark Lord's Seer

One or Two?

** TW: The following chapter contains descriptions of sexual coercion and physical violence. DO NOT READ if you are not prepared to encounter such content. **

"You're in an unusually good mood tonight," Tom whispered to me sharply under his breath.

We sat together in the large hall, though tonight's audience was significantly smaller than the one that'd been assembled last time.

He'd called on my presence again, ostensibly for the purpose of trying to draw out anyone bold or stupid enough to try and abduct me. He was tempting them, observing them: the Ministry spies he knew were lurking in his halls.

All around us Tom's loyal inner circle was seated or else milling about, though he and I seemed far removed, ensconced in our own hateful little bubble. And for the most part, no one dared approach the two of us, especially not when they saw us engaged in private conversation. On the rare occasion that someone did brave their way towards us, a single look from Tom was enough to send them melting back into the blur of the crowd.

I'd been smiling softly, staring into space and thinking about what'd happened earlier today in the library between Ra and I.

Looking straight ahead, I fixed my face back into a neutral line and muttered dismissively under my breath, "Am not. You're just paranoid."

I felt his hand, under the table and on me as always, fly down and grab my knee roughly, "Look at me when we're speaking," he growled.

I sighed and turned to him, our gaze meeting. He narrowed his eyes at me, "Don't you dare lie to me. You were smiling. You never smile. So why?"

I stared back at him, my voice a taunting whisper, "I'm thinking of my friends at the Ministry."

Hah, I thought to myself with a sense of extreme satisfaction. If only you knew exactly what I meant by that, Thomas.

"The hell you are. Get them out of your mind."

"Why? So you can get in? Oh wait, that's right - you can't. Pity."

The look he gave me was positively murderous.

Oh yes, I was feeling unbelievably bold. Perhaps this wasn't especially wise of me. And yet, I couldn't help myself. I wanted him to know he hadn't snuffed out my spark, not one bit. That he wouldn't break me - that I'd keep fighting him. And I was betting - perhaps quite foolishly - that given our recent conversation about self-control, he wouldn't dare hurt me, at least not more than I could handle.

I smirked at him and turned to face back forward again, but the strength with which he tightened his grip on my knee stopped me. My eyes flew back to him, and his eyes flashed dangerously, before he suddenly rose from his seat.

"What-"

"You want to play games with me, is that what this is?" He hissed the words in my ear as he leaned in and pulled me from my chair, "Let's go."

I'd done it now - and I Iet out a sharp yelp as he grabbed me tightly by the waist and steered me out of the room.

"Don't you dare make a scene," he whispered in my ear.

Yes, judging from the expressions of those closest to us, several people had heard us, though all of them possessed far too much self-preservation to look at either Tom or I as he continued to drag me away from the table. As we crossed the room, my eyes found Rashaad. He was standing against the far wall, staring back at me with an expression of grave concern.

I'll be ok. DO NOT let him see you looking.

I don't know if he heard, but I put the thought out there anyway, loud as I could.