Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 53 - Bloodless Hands

The agony from the curse was too much and I couldn't stifle my shocked scream, dropping my wand in the process. Sebastian lunged for me before he too, was writhing in pain, clenching his teeth at the severity of it. The edges of my vision blurred as my head throbbed and pulsed. I had fallen to my hands and knees, jagged stones digging into my palms. Thoughts came and went as I attempted to grab onto one, trying to figure out what had happened.

Forcing my chin up, I glimpsed a pair of shiny leather shoes nearby before another surge of pain flowed through. I lost strength in my arms and legs, collapsing to the cavern floor. My cheek pressed against the cold ground, an obvious difference from the burning that was laced in my veins.

"Eversley, you've really disappointed me." A low growl came from above, a voice I barely recognized.

I fought back another scream, swallowing the tight knot in my throat. I had endured the Cruciatus Curse before and survived, I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of watching me suffer as much as I actually was.

"You've really made it far too easy for me. I was hoping for more of a fight." The crunch of his immaculate shoes got closer. He lifted his foot, stomping it down onto my right hand. My finger bones snapped under the weight, cracking beneath his shoe. The cry that escaped from my core scraped my insides, emptying my lungs. Suddenly my body stilled, the pain became centralized to the mangled bones in my fingers. I regained control of myself as the curse seemingly lifted, allowing me to catch my breath.

Hot tears prickled at the corners of my eyes and I squeezed them shut so they wouldn't escape.
Using my unbroken hand, I forced myself to sit up, carefully hiding a wince of pain. Finally, I locked eyes with the source of my suffering.

He radiated darkness, almost as if shadows were flowing from his skin. The slick charcoal hair accompanied by the glacier blue eyes gave a stark contrast, his stare unyielding. His tongue ran over his bottom lip and he clicked it with his teeth. The arrogance, the absence of light and anything virtuous, the vileness was part of his soul. He held a dark cherrywood wand with an onyx handle between his long fingers, pointed sharply at me.

Master Gaunt himself.

It had been years since I'd seen him, the last time being the morning before we boarded the Hogwarts Express for our seventh year. He always made a point to show his face around when it mattered, when he could exude dominance.

"And to think you were regarded so highly at the Ministry for being a great Auror," he stalked over to his daughter, unbinding her hands. She shook off the ropes.

Sebastian sat weakly next to me, his clothes covered in dust. Instinctively, I reached for him. A powerful gust pushed me back across the cavern, putting distance between us. Octavia scurried over to him and hovered behind, her wand pressed against his temple, silently promising to hurt him if he moved.

"Willow told me you two had reconciled, how nice," Master Gaunt's tone was slick with disdain, a smirk tugging at his lips. He approached me again, wand threatening to end me with the same curse I ended so many poacher's lives with, ended Ranrok, Rookwood, and Harlow. The same curse Sebastian used on his uncle to protect him and his sister before she begged him to use it on her years later. "What, no witty retort? You're still not going to put up a fight? I expected more from you."

"What more do I have to say? You're just going to kill me anyway." I spat aggressively, narrowing my eyes at him. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction, even if I was terrified.

"Humor me, girl. I'll give you some answers before you die." Master Gaunt smiled, so deviously evil it almost looked genuine.

"What are you going to do with the power anyway?" The question rolled off my tongue before I could think of a better one. Maybe I could use his patronization to buy some time. How long I could keep him talking before he killed me, so I could think of a plan?