Black Rose [Regulus Black]

54 - different realities & confusing discoveries

Alessandra felt emotionally exhausted as she made her way to the dungeons yet again, for the eighth time that week. Her father was relentless in his pursuit of getting her to learn the Unforgivable curses, constantly badgering her to torture that dark-haired prisoner. He'd resort to a variety of tactics, from egging her on to flat out threatening her, but she just couldn't perform the Unforgivable curses no matter how hard she tried. Only red sparks would erupt from her wand.

She felt useless.

This uselessness she felt was further amplified by the people watching. More than Bellatrix's jeering and Walburga's judgmental glare, it was the eyes of the prisoner that disturbed her more. It wasn't rage or even fear; it was expectation. He expected something from her but she didn't know what. She also noticed that her father and the Death Eaters would be more tense around this prisoner, as though he was some kind of threat to them, but he didn't seem like a threat.

His expectant gaze was on her when she entered the dungeons and he really looked like he wanted to say something but was being prevented from doing so.

"Will you be able to do this today?" her father asked softly, almost gently.

"I hope so," she replied half-heartedly. She'd asked him once what was wrong with using the other techniques of torture she'd learned and he shook his head at her, explaining that her not being perform the Unforgivables was a sign that she still had some weakness. Doing the spell meant that she had no more weakness, and that would mean she was ready to take the next step.

"I hope so too," her father patted her on the shoulder, pushing her towards the prisoner. "You completing this task would give me immense joy, daughter. It would signify a new era in our movement, with you as my commander."

She swallowed and nodded. She wanted this too, she did. She widened her stance and aimed her wand at the prisoner, remembering what the books told her. She thought of all the things that made her angry: her upbringing with those inferior to her that would have killed her if they knew how powerful she was, being brainwashed and used by the Order of the Phoenix for their own cause, the constant condescension from Bellatrix and Walburga who were praying on her downfall. She allowed the rage to consolidate and build up within her until she could only see red.

"Crucio!"

She knew instantly that the spell had worked because the prisoner began thrashing around, his screams of agony filling the cell as his features almost seemed to blur. It was gruesome, the way his limbs appeared to be stretched at different angles. There was a sickening thud as his head hit the wall.

She immediately released him from the spell, feeling a knot in her stomach all of a sudden. She felt dizzy, her vision tilting and sharpening over and over until everything finally seemed to clear up and it felt like she was viewing the room from a different lens now. She took in the scene, feeling like a stranger in her own body.

What on Earth was she doing?

She stared up at Voldemort with wide eyes as he placed a hand on her shoulder. It took everything within her not to crawl away from him. "I expected you to hold the curse for longer, but it was satisfactory regardless."

What on Earth was going on? She was on the Death Eaters' side- no, the Order's side. Voldemort was her father but he really wasn't but he was, and now he was teaching her how to torture Mudbl- Muggles. Her blood chilled when she saw Regulus on the floor, panting and wheezing.

Panic surged through her, overwhelming her senses. Her eyes had widened as she looked around like a deer in headlights, desperately wanting to run away but how? Narcissa grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the dungeon and she absently followed, trying not to look like she was struggling to breathe. Death Eaters nodded at her respectfully and she briefly made eye contact with them before turning away, feeling increasingly sick as the seconds ticked by.