Circe Riddle (Book 3)

Chapter 51

TW: mentions of smoking, mentions of drinking, blood/ cuts

(Mattheo's pov)

The second I sent Theodore away I regretted it. He thought I didn't like him anymore or something, but I did, I really did, I just needed a moment alone to break down. I remembered all the times my father and the Death Eaters hurt me, tortured me, they all came flooding back. The first person I killed-. I tried to shut them out but it was no use, and now Circe was gone. How had everything fallen apart so quickly?

No one else had come to visit so I knew something was wrong and as soon as I got released I immediately looked for Theodore. I found him passed out on the floor of our dorm. His hair and clothing were messy and he still held a bottle in his hand. I sighed and pulled him up and to his bed. I sat next to him on the bed and after an hour I fell asleep too. When I woke up I felt Theo's arms around me, pulling me into him. I moved my head slightly and hummed softly "Theo?" I asked groggily

"Hmm?" He hummed into my ear, telling me he was awake, just didn't feel like talking

"I'm sorry for making you feel bad, that wasn't my intention, I just- a lot was going on in my mind and I needed some time alone"

He nodded his head and put his chin on my shoulder "I should be sorry" He whispered "I- This is just so confusing"

"It doesn't have to be"

He took his chin off my shoulder and looked away "What did you see when you passed out?"

(Theodore's pov)

Mattheo told me about all the memories coming back, about the first girl he killed, about his memory of Circe. Then he told me about when he saw me, and what I did to him in his visions "I'm sorry" I told him

"You have nothing to be sorry about– it wasn't you and you couldn't control it" he sniffed. I grabbed his shoulder and turned him so he was facing me. He had tears running down his face and I pulled him into a hug. "What happened to us?" He asked quietly "What happened to all the good days?"

"I don't know, they're gone" I paused "I can't imagine what your feeling right now– I mean I sorta can but it's probably nothing compared to what your feeling"

"Thanks" He replied slowly, as if not sure if that was the right response "How did everything fall apart so quickly?"

"I think it was all already falling apart, it was just a matter of time before it did"

"Makes sense"

–

Two weeks later there was a Death Eater meeting. I had given the letter for their father to Thomas so he could give it to him and when I arrived I could see he was angrier than usual. We took our normal seats– Circe's remained empty, and then he started talking. "It has been brought to my attention that Circe has left" Everyone's eyes darted up from the table to glance at her empty spot "She claims she left to do research, but I know otherwise"

"Are you calling her a traitor?" One of the older people asked

"No, not yet" He paused for dramatic effect "I sent Thomas and a couple others out to search for her and they have yet to find her" He glared at Thomas and I saw him sink back into his chair, and glance down at the table. He looked pretty bad with red around his shaky eyes, his hair not as clean and put together as usual, his hands shaky. I could tell he had been drinking before this. I frowned slightly and looked at Mattheo across from me, I could tell he noticed it too. "If I find that anyone here knows where she is and is keeping a secret" He glared at all of us "Tell me now, or if I find out later– there will be consequences" He glanced between Mattheo, Thomas, and me "Are you sure you don't know where she is?" We all remained silent. "Very well" He talked about plans for a little longer before dismissing us.