{𝕰𝖛𝖎𝖑 𝕋.ℝ}

Chapter 41

Blood on my hands

Azazel sat staring at the crackling fire. Her head was placed on her knees as she hugged them to her chest.

A hand caressed her cheek and she flinched. Someone was with her? But she was alone the last time she checked. She saw whose hand it was and sighed. "Chirstopher" she breathed out and relaxed. "Did I startle you? You were crying that's why.." he trailed off and Azazel frowned. Her hands touched her cheeks and felt they were wet.

She was crying. How did she not notice?

"Oh.. I didn't realise." She muttered and cleared her throat before smiling at Christopher who was looking at her in worry. "I am fine. Just thinking." She assured him and he nodded. "It's just, you've been lost all the time ever since Riddle had that break down and left."

Yes. He had left the next day without a word, a note, nothing. They all assumed he left to the orphanage. It has been two days since and no word from him.

"I am just worried about him. He's in pain and I don't how I did not notice it. I should've known what he was going through and helped him. It was my fault to ignore him." Her voice was laced with guilt and regret. Christopher sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It is not your fault Azazel. He decided to spoil everything between you two. He has to face the consequences of it. He caused his own pain." Azazel knew that but she would never not feel guilty. Because she believed, if someone you love suffered, it was your fault to not notice and help them.

"I know but I can't help but feel like it was my fault too. We both are at fault."

She looked down at her lap and then at her stomach. She was pregnant. With his child. Suddenly it all felt unreal and she felt the fear seep in again. He was away from her. Far away. And the feeling of missing him intensified bringing tears to her eyes. She blinked them away immediately and sighed placing a hand on her stomach.

"You think he is safe?" She whispered and looked back up at Chirstopher. He gave her a warm smile and nodded. "I am sure he is safe Azazel. He's most probably in the orphanage." He assured and she nodded reluctantly.

"Okay."

The doors to the room opened rather forcefully and Adélard stood panting behind it.

"What is it?" Christopher was quick to react and he stood up, walking to his friend. Adélard glanced at Azazel and whispered something to Christopher. This did not sit well with Azazel.

What the hell is going on?

"What is going on?" She questioned as she stood up and walked closer to the two boys. Christopher went to speak but Adélard stopped him from saying anything. "Nothing Azazel. Just some--" Azazel cut him off. "Adélard, don't give me that bullshit and tell me what the fuck is wrong! I can see it written all over your face!"

It was true. Adélard was sweating profusely, his eyes were wide and they did not stay in one place, his hands were jittery and he kept gulping as his hands sturggled to get hold of his whisky flask. He grabbed it and took a gulp before speaking again.

"I am sorry. I am just really worked up right now." He apologized and she was losing her patience. With Tom being gone, anything that made the others tensed and agitated made her lose her mind.

"We have to find Riddle. Like immediately. Right now." He said and Azazel frowned. "What? Why?" He drank once again and ran a hand through his hair.

"Grindelwald's men are after him. He sent a letter, we don't know how long it has been since he wrote or even sent that letter." Adélard said, his words mixed up and jumbled. Azazel felt her heart drop to her stomach and she held in her breath.

"Christopher, do whatever you want. But find him. I want him here before I myself find him!" She dashed out of the room and when she came across the other knights she stopped.

"Reginald and Abraxas you both are with me. Valerie and Rosier, go on your way and fucking find him!" She walked to her room while still talking and sending out orders as the others split to gather thier own things.

Once she was satisfied with all the weapons she had on herself, she walked back to the front door to find everyone already there. She stood before them.

Azazel took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, gulping.

God please keep him safe.

"Let's go."

They split up.

Azazel could feel Abraxas and Reginald trailing behind her.

"Where are we starting?"

"The orphanage."

They apparated to the Wool's Orphanage.

Azazel did not care about anything right now. All she cared about was Tom and she will find him.

I am coming for you my love.

She barged into the orphanage and slammed her hands on the desk in the front room getting the care taker's attention.

"What?" The woman seethed in annoyance and Azazel glared. "Where is Tom Riddle?" She asked and could see something shift in the woman's eyes. She seemed afraid and tensed all of a sudden and Azazel knew something was up.

"Who are you? We don't share information about the kids." Azazel scoffed and grabbed the woman by her collar and pulled her off the chair she was sitting on.

"If you even dare to give me that bullshit, you see the one on my right?" She paused and eyed at Reginald who smirked and cracked his knuckles. "He won't hesitate to pull out your tongue with his bare hands and shove it down your throat." She said lowly, her voice carrying a promise and threat was received perfectly.

"Some people came looking for him but he was gone when they reached his room." The woman said, a stuttering and blabbering mess as Azazel pushed her back down into the chair.

"What now?" Reginald asked, his voice low and emotionless. "His room." Azazel muttered and walked up to his room, the path registered in her mind. She saw the open door and the mess inside of it. They had tattered his room and broken everything inside. Azazel's blood boiled.

Abraxas stepped inside and walked to the window. "I think we found him." He said slowly and pointed to the picture stuck to the window. It was the cave and they could clearly see the red mark on it.

They wasted no time. Azazel immediately apparated them to the cave, landing right infront of the water body.

Azazel looked around frantically and the two boys searched the premises. He must be here. He left a hint. He was here, waiting for her.

"Tom! It's me! Come out! We are here!" She yelled out in desperation and her voice shook as fear and anger seeped in. Her eyes became glossy and her whole being shook as she looked around, waiting for raven mop of curls to show up from around a corner or from behind a rock. But that did not happen. There was no sign of Tom and it killed her.

"Azazel" she heard Reginald and turned to see the two boys giving her sympathetic and fearful looks. Reginald extended his hand and Azazel looked down at his palm which held Slytherin's locket covered in blood.

A stray tear left her eyes and stained her cheek as her shakey fingers grabbed the locket and her lips trembled as the blood covered her palm. Tom's blood was on her hands. The love of her life's blood was on her hands and she hated herself for letting this happen.

She clutched the locket close to her heart and closed her eyes, refusing to make a sound.

"They got him Azazel."

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