In My Blood - Tom Riddle

Chapter 9

When Tom retreated to Vinda's dorm, he found her leaning over her desk with a hand to her heart. Her face was warped in reflection of her suffering. "It hurts, Tom," she painfully states through gritted teeth.

Tom's heart swelled in concern as he rushed to her side, hesitant to do anything more than lean to her side, "Where does it hurt, Rose?" His hand instinctively reached out to touch Rose's face, the pain evident like paint on a canvas.

"My- My soul. I can't explain it. It just hurts in me," she bit her lip to silence her agony until beads of blood formed. She gripped her chest leaning over herself. Until it subsequently stopped, fading out until there was no more pain. Vinda's face went from pain, to quickly the same cold mask she held. "What was that?" She snapped, her voice holding a tinge of annoyance knowing that was nothing natural.

Tom was taken back by the quick switch in her, her expression turning from a battling anguish to a cold annoyance in a blink of the eyes. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed back a growing angst, "Rose, I've got to ask you a question," Tom dropped his tough veil, proving the desperation, "do you trust me? Feel safe with me?" He held her hands, now bent down, hovering the floor to look up to her where she sat.

Rose hesitated by the sudden question, looking away, and when she looked back her face had changed. She had stopped concealing how she truly felt. "Yes, Tom. I trust you," she took in a deep breath forcing an eye roll, "what does that have to do with anything? Did you do... Tom, did you do something bad?" She hesitantly asked, gripping his hands back searching his eyes for an answer.

Tom's eyes swept away staring to a distant wall. He had anticipated this question, both expecting and dreading it. Guilt started to eat at him, nearly swallowing him whole. His heart felt heavy with dread, because Vinda was starting to invest her trust into him. "Rose..." Tom's voice started low, "something is happening to you, and with the curse... Something that I just couldn't let you experience, and so, I- I made... Well- Out of love for you..." His voice trailed off as he desperately looked into her eyes, not just observing her reactions, but genuinely searching. "I made a Horcrux, but only because I couldn't bare loosing you." While he stuttered, breathing quickly stuck under his uneasy feeling, Rose was just listening. 

To Tom's surprise, Rose didn't get up and run. She waited until he was done, pursing her lips slightly. "Did you kill this person for the Horcrux...?" Vinda hesitantly asked. Tom replied with a single timid nod. She made a clucking noise with her tongue, "well that is not exactly ideal... But I suppose, in some weird... Twisted way... I can get over it," her words slipped out slowly, yet before her brain could fully rack over what she was saying.

A wave of emotions crashed over Tom upon seeing her reaction of which was mostly indescribable. However, despite her coolness, he still felt guilt for what he had done by making the Horcrux.

"Rose, I am truly sorry. I didn't know it would cause pain like that..." He started to ramble, his eyebrows furrowing in sorrow, "I couldn't bring myself to just sit here and watch as you slowly perish. You are the love of my life, to see you die would be..." Tom shook his head looking away slightly as some tears fought their way to his eyes making them more glassy, "it would... hurt," he admitted quietly. "But I don't believe I could forgive myself for the pain you-." 

His talking stopped as Rose rolled her eyes and leaned forward, and met her lips with his. Tom's guilt, seemingly evaporated and the love and passion from the moment replaced that. His body reacted to everything she did, as if the fibers creating him were under her control. Hearts racing, Tom's hand ventured down, finding their way around her waist pulling Rose closer. 

A feeling of calmness settled over the too, as she slightly pulled back, keeping her arms around him in a warm embrace. The warm breath escaping his soft parted lips danced over my skin leaving warm tingling shivers. "I don't want you to ever worry about losing me, love." She whispered, barely audible. Her blue eyes weren't cold, nor were his green eyes calculating. They stared, both fallen deeper than thought imagined, and gripped under the grasp of love. Muddling both of their logical senses.

Tom's heart pounded as his emotions ran wild, unlike anything he had ever felt. His fingers softly traced her figure, holding her close. Imagining what life would be like... A life without a blood curse.