Under My Skin

~ Chapter Fourteen ~

"Cultish Lunatics."

Kieran POV ~
I didn't know what or who I was running from, but that didn't mean I would stop. My mother told me to run so I did.

I had tears on my clothes and blood running down my face from the cuts caused by low branches. I heard faint laughs from further behind me.

Someone was there, chasing me. Then I heard more laughter, not by one person but from multiple people. Before I knew it I stopped.

I'm an idiotic person, a little crazy, manic some people would say. I was stubborn and eager to figure out who's trying to scare me. Key word in that was trying.

If these imbeciles really thought they could scare The Kieran Ezra Riddle they must be delusional. I'm a Riddle the only thing I fear is myself.

"Show yourself pussys!" I demanded. They began running around the trees surrounding me. Laughter evident in their crazed tones. They were taunting me. "What a shame, I was really hoping to find a girl to torment tonight." A voice spoke.

"But you'll do." The forest lit up from their wands. The group of people walked out of hiding, circling around me. "Who the fuck are you and what do you want?" I asked in a stiff and annoyed tone. "We like to call ourselves Loyal Followers." I suppose he was the leader of these so called "Loyal Followers".

"Loyal followers? To who?" I scoffed. "Who else other than the Dark Lord himself." He informed. "He's already dead, get over it and move on with your pathetic lives." I suggested.

"Who are you to insult us?" His voice heightened. "What's it to you?" I countered. "Grab him." Was the last thing I heard before I was jumped, a scarf placed over my eyes blinding me. My wrists had been tied together tightly behind my back.

I went down in defeat with a few bruises and slices to my skin that would scar. I didn't know where they were taking me but they continued on through the forest. After 10 minutes of walking we stopped.

"If you cultish lunatics could let me go that'd be great." I called out. A swift kick was delivered to my gut making me tumble over to the ground. I heard a sinister like voice slow and raspy. The scarf was removed from my eyes revealing the scene in front of me.

Deatheaters, all in masks and surrounding a man in a black cloak. My mouth became dry, dropping in pure shock. The Dark Lord, He who shall not be Named, My Grandfather, Voldemort stood in front of me.

"Who is he?" He questioned the men who captured me. "From the looks of his uniform a Slytherin student from Hogwarts, my lord." He replied, bowing his head. "Is he a Mudblood?" Was his next question. "We assume from his arrogance, yes." Little did they know.

"You mean to tell me you captured a random Slytherin student and you didn't ask whom he was?" Voldemort became angry. Maybe that was one thing we had in common.

"Father, let him go." No- No how fucking could he! My Uncle Tom stood beside his father. He looked down at me almost ashamed that I saw him.

"What is your name boy?" The dark lord interrogated. I didn't know whether to answer or to stay quiet. If I exposed who I was I didn't know what would happen. But if I didn't I'd die on spot. I looked up to meet his somewhat intimidating gaze. My father and him shared the same one.

"Kieran Ezra Riddle." I announced truthfully. Everyone was in pure shock. Whispers erupted in the circle. "Son of Mattheo Marvolo Riddle and Dabria Lillian Weasley." I made known. "I also happen to be your grandson, and a Pureblood Slytherin." I added trying to help my case.

"I hadn't been informed I had a grandchild..." Voldemort muttered with a smile. You also happen to have a granddaughter too."Well...untie my grandson!" He ordered. The men rushed to uncut my ropes. I stood up after rubbing my red irritated wrists.

In a quick flash I turned around taking the man who grabbed me by the throat and shoving him against a near by tree. My grip tightened, crushing his windpipe. After a minute I let go throwing him to the ground with a knee to the gut.

I turned my attention back to the group watching me. "A thirst for revenge I see..." I didn't reply to that. "How are you alive? All the Horcruxes are destroyed." I wondered out loud.

"How did your mother die Kieran?" He ignored my question. "She died giving birth." I gave him an odd and confused look. I used to be completely and utterly disgusted by the thought of my grandfather.

The man who used to beat my father and force him to contain his emotions while he used the cruciatrix curse on him. A monster is what I assumed he was. But now that I was here with him I couldn't help but feel an understanding.

"When your mother passed Kieran...her powers must have transferred to you somehow..." I closed my eyes knowing I was dreaming. But when they reopened I was still here.

"You have an anger in you that I thrive for in my members...a relative of mine, my blood traveling through your veins...and the dark magic I have been looking for since your mother passed." I knew where he was going with this.

"Join your family Kieran...you shall rule by your uncle and I's side. Respected by most and feared by all." I couldn't do this.

"No, Kieran listen to me. Don't do it." My mothers voice rung in my head. "If you don't accept my offer Kieran then we move onto your sister." What? I hadn't told him about her.

"How did you..." mind reading. He nodded his head. "Find her no-" No! "I'll do it!" I yelled. "I'll do it, okay? Just stay away from Athalia." I pleaded desperately.

"Good, now reveal your left arm to me." He suggested but I could hear the demand in his tone. I did as I was told my sleeve folding up already revealing the tattoos I had painting my arm.

He placed the tip of his wand to the inside of my forearm, whispering a spell under his breath. I stared at him in a questionable hatred before I felt the pain up my arm.

I hissed, bitting down on the inside of my cheek to muffle the groans trying to escape. After 2 minutes of pain he removed his wand. My plain forearm was replaced with a new tattoo that I didn't even want.

"Escort him back to the Hogwarts, Tom." My uncle nodded his head before giving me a sorrowful look. I held onto my arm as the dark lord embraced me. I was completely stiff to his light touch.

"It is a pleasure to have you by my side Kieran, you shall be my new legacy." He complimented before turning away. "How will you contact me?" I needed to know hollering after him. "Through letters or informants of course...but us Riddles always have our minds." A grin spread on his face before Uncle Tom gripped my shoulder pushing me through the forest.

When we were far enough away he stopped me. "Why the fuck would you do that?" He spat. My lips formed in a thin line. My teeth cutting at the skin of my cheek.

"To protect Athalia, I'll always protect Athalia because she's my sister. Siblings are supposed to protect siblings. But I guess you're an exception." I insulted.

"I get it you're surprised and upset but you have to understand I didn't have a choice!" He shot back. "I have nobody in this world, your father had Dabria and you two." He tried to explain.

"You had us!" I spat. "And you had your brother, whom you betrayed!" I was infuriated again. "How long?" He gave me a sympathetic look. "How long have you been lying to our faces? How many Christmas mornings, Thanksgiving dinners, and birthdays have you been betraying us!" I heightened my voice out of frustration.

"Since the war." He muttered. "You got her killed? Y-you knew..." my voice broke. "No Kieran I didn't know Quinton was attacking, I wouldn't have let him. I swear I loved your mother to death." Tears welled in his eyes.

"How ironic." I commented before turning away and proceeding to walk back to school grounds. He followed close behind me. "You can't tell anyone. Not your father, not Athalia, not your friends." I already knew that.

"And if I did?" I countered. "Then he'd kill them and start the war." With that my uncle disappeared back into the woods. It took me 40 minutes before I made it back to school grounds. The sun rising above behind the schools towers.

Fuck.