Only the Brave

Chapter 57: The Monsters In My Head

When one is in battle, the world falls away until all that's left is your opponent and your weapon.

It's intimate in a twisted, messed up way, and Regulus thinks that's beautiful. Here is a man who's a match for him. The most powerful wizard to rise in centuries, facing off with a boy who's made of shadow and sheer spite. Regulus knows as he bares his teeth at Riddle that he's going to need every ounce of power at his disposal to best him.

Tom Riddle isn't to be underestimated. It's clear that he has been cultivating his magic carefully and thoroughly for a long time. Furthermore, obviously Riddle was born with a natural inclination for the dark arts as well as more raw power than should have been possible.

Beating Riddle won't be easy.

With his wand in one hand and a fistful of shadows on the other, Regulus engages in the dance of battle with the ultimate enemy. It's a fight to the death. Neither will yield to the other. There is only one way this ends.

Regulus darts to the side, dodging a spell that comes his way. He hits back while still in motion. To anyone watching, they'll be blurs of flashing lights and dark clothes. Both Regulus and Riddle move inhumanly fast and have impeccable wand work.

Grunting, Regulus takes a hit, sacrificing some of his pain to gain enough room to counter attack. Through gritted teeth, he watches Riddle stumble back as Regulus' hex singes his cheek. A hit for a hit. It's got to be this way because Riddle's curses are complex and well developed and simple shields and counter-curses aren't enough. Regulus is not going to win this fight by honouring any duelling rules or by being careful.

They're on the steps of Lestrange Castle, and Regulus has only a very faint awareness of the battle going on around them. Sirius has moved on from Bellatrix. James is with him, fighting side by side. Dorcas is down in the fray, sticking close to Barty which is just as well. Pandora has found Evans and they're sticking close to Remus who is leading the army of wolves rather ruthlessly and effectively. As far as he can see, the people who matter to him are whole and still fighting and that's got to be enough because Regulus has no space to worry about them. Not now. Not if he's going to end this war tonight.

Somewhere on the battlefield, more people arrive. Aurors. With them is Dumbledore, who looks furious as he takes stock of the battle, seeking out Moody. Narcissa has been gone for long enough, Regulus suspects she'll be back shortly. And he doesn't have time to check, but he has to count on Lucius keeping his word. He'll see when the battle is over if Malfoy delivered or not. There's no use worrying about it now.

Regulus sidesteps to avoid a curse, then throws a handful of shadows at Riddle paired with a powerful explosive curse that Riddle blocks. Sweat gathers on Regulus' temples, running down his back. There's no time to stop. No time to think. He's duelling, letting himself fall into the rhythm of it, the wand an extension of his arm, the darkness another weapon in his arsenal.

Light flashes from Riddle's wand, a torrent of cursed fire that Regulus deflects with a shield of ice and darkness. Breaking the shield into shards, he shoots them at Riddle, but they get transfigured into water drops. Harmless.

More magic. More curses. Flashes of light, and blocked attacks. Riddle lands a half-hit on Regulus' shoulder, but Regulus then lands a small explosion near Riddle's head and his ear begins to bleed.

Small wounds. Not enough. They're both too powerful. Too good. Too ruthless. Regulus isn't tired yet, but he will be. He can't let this drag on for too long.

We need to end this.

In his head, the voices wake. Slithering and agitated, the shadows come forward. Curl around his brain, pounding against his eyes. The back of his teeth. They're louder now than they've ever been. They demand. They want.