Carnage.
The coffee machine steam pulled me back to present.
I was sleep dazing, the sunrise already outside and it was entirely too early for anyone to be awake.
It should be a crime.
My new body however disagreed.
What woke me up and rose me from bed , where the most mouth watering ,naked man slept, you might ask?
Hunger.
Raw fucking hunger.
Feroni the gods bless him , left packaged leftovers in the fridge, everything neatly organised.
I was so god damn hungry i yanked the whole thing open, broke 2 shelves and was on steak number 3 before i was actually aware of what the fuck i did.
Which made me angry.
Which is why the utensils drawer was marred in claw marks. I didn't mean that .
So i had to clean after the whole ordeal.
Clean very quietly might i add , because those two were still sleeping .
Couldn't exactly clean the clawmarks, so i left an apologising note to the owner, saying i'll pay for the damages.
Left one of those in my bathroom as well, and the wall in the office , and... most of the gym..
Maybe i wasn't handling this as well as i thought and it concerned me.
But i refuse to give to self fucking pitty and i decided i'd just have to figure it the fuck out.
Some fuckin way.
This is who i am , who i've always been i had just been made to forget. I repeated to myself when in doubt.
So here i was trying to distract myself .
So i was making coffee, for them.
Figured they'd need one more than me.
And maybe i didn't knew exactly what to do.
This kind of relationship morning thing was not exactly my forte.
Mornings in general.
I wasn't even questioning the details of our triangle. It was no longer strange , it was just... right. I couldn't even explain it to myself , but it felt like balance, calm.
Or like absolute psychotic ,obsessive , insanity of a mutual desire .
Either options very much agreeable with me.
Call me fucked in the head, it would not even begin to explain, the depths of the demented abyss i call my mind. I sarcasmed to myself and grabbed a tray from the counter , placing the mugs on top of it.
Black coffee, loads of sugar - believe it or not - Tom riddle.
Latte for his royal highness , no sugar - Matheo riddle.
I am not even going to contemplate on that one , their choices say enough.
I also grabbed water glasses a jug and two pack of cigarettes.
Then i deacended up the stairs , trying to figure out what to say.
Get up . We are leaving?
No.
Good morning can we go now?
No! I slapped myself mentally and took a deep breath .
I kicked the door to the living room open and walked for the main staircase , i was nervous.
- What are you doing? Feroni's voice stuttered me and the tray in my hands tilted. I felt something falling and i reached on instinct, grabbing the water bottle and steadying the rest.
If i spilled any coffee i was going to loose my shit.
Finally i looked right , to see Feroni staring at me , bags of things on the ground and just beside him Theodore Nott with his hands in his pockets and a wide grin on his face.
- Ciao Bella it's been a while . Nice catch. Nott spoke again and i looked down to the bottle in my hand then the coffee.
Thank gods no spilling.
- Thanks . I ehm i made coffee. I rushed out my best explanation and raised the tray up as proof.
Feroni murmured something in Italian and walked towards the kitchen . Theo laughed loudly before returning his attention to me.
- Aren't those two fuckers lucky you bring them coffee in the morning? He questioned and smirked at me .
- It's a one off. What are you doing here Nott? I blurred out and steadied myself .
- Well it's my house and the view is great. He replied and winked at me , ever the flirt.
His house?
Oh boy the emberassment that washed over me.
So i have to explain to him why certain things are in pieces.
Shit.
- Well uhm. Thanks for letting me stay here . I'll go wake em up now. I rushed out and wanted to slap myself .
- Please do. I have a feeling they would be in much better mood if they saw you first. I know i am.
I'll be in the gallery. Tell them it's kinda urgent. Nott replied with amusement and stalked off .
I rushed up the stairs faster than i thought.
Right. Go to Tom first, because it was his bed i woke up in . Memories of last night swiped down on me as i walked down the hallway, each hotter than the last and walking towards him didn't help.
At all.
By the time i reached the door i was thinking of a different kind of morning boost.
It was like an insatiable craving, that was supposed to go away after last night, only it didn't. It got worse. I pushed the door of his bedroom to find him still sound asleep , head lost in the pillows where i used to be.
The bedsheet sprawled down his waist, his muscled stomach naked .
This man was a renaissance painting in real life.
The epiphany of beauty and elegance.
Not counting the numerous now red scratches covering the perfect skin . It made me smirk knowing i left marks on him too.
I approached carefully and placed the coffee on the bedside table , before i reached and ran my fingers down the markings on his chest gently. He made a strange huffing sound , before his eyes slowly opened , the sleep drowsiness still roaming them.
- Good morning . I mumbled and saw the moment he realised it's me , his eyes widening. I do believe he was surprised.
His hand wrapped around my thigh rather possessively and he moved closer to the edge of the bed , his eyes staring up at me.
Beautiful... i thought.
- It is now little one. He replied and ran his fingers up my thigh.
His morning voice echoed in my head like a song... the tone of it tugging on my lust .
Fuck me gods. Damn Riddle brothers. Fucking hell.
- I brought you coffee. I blurred put trying my best not to jump on his bed immediately and demand last night's activities all over again.
He smiled at me , his eyes roaming to the bedside table before returning to me. Then he turned around grabbed my hand suddenly, before pulling me on top of himself.
- You will be my coffee. He spoke and raised himself up , pressing his back to the headboard and pulling me closer , his fingers digging into my ass. He kissed me , slowly , his tongue stealing my breath away and i coiled my hands around his neck pulling him closer.
Almost got lost into another moment of lust , before i remembered Nott is downstairs and he would probably wanna know and if this turned to another last night scenario , we were not gonna leave for hours.
- Mmmm much as i would love that , we've got company downstairs . I whispered out and interrupted the kiss.
- What company? Tom asked , but still peppered kisses down my neck uncaring.
- Nott. He said to tell you it's kind of urgent. You might wanna go. I replied and he stilled his movements , before a deep sigh left him.
His face changed from the peaceful calm to an unpleased scowl and he moved me to the side of the bed , before getting up . Tom dressed quickly , his back turned on me and without saying a word.
Once he was done he grabbed the coffee and extended his hand to me , much to my surprise.
- Go wake up my brother and get dressed. We are leaving. Tom said and pulled me up to my feet. I was beyond shocked.
- I thought you said no to leaving?
- Would you have left anyway? Disobey my order? He questioned staring dead into my eyes.
It made me smirk back at him.
Well well.
He does listen after all.
- Yes. I replied without an ounce of hesitation. He shook his head and murmured something that sounded very much like a plea for patience in perseltongue.
- Then i changed my mind. Go. Tom said and had the audacity to smack my ass as soon as i turned around.
The slap was so loud it felt like it bounced off the walls and it made me my mouth gape open at loss for words.
- I'mma finish that later . He provided as an explanation and winked at me , all while tying up the tie around his neck.
It was the sexiest, most authoritative thing i ever saw and heat rushed not only to my core , but my face too. I ain't never bolted out of a room faster in my life.
Fuck me gods .
In no time i was sneaking into Matheo's room coffee in one hand and shame in the other.
Thankfully he was out cold and unlike his brother on the ground, tangled in sheets . For once he was naked that was surprising considering he always wore shirts to sleep. I left the coffee on the table and went to pull the curtains slightly , letting some light in the room, not much , just enough to wake him.
I was thinking of how to wake this one and be nice , but by the time i turned around all words died on my to tongue .
His entire back was covered in scars .
Scars i had never seen before , because he always kept a shirt on i realised , rerunning every memory i had of him in my head.
Large perpendicular lacerations, deep ones too , in random places all over. It made my stomach bottom out and i quickly approached him kneeling by his side to take a better look.
At first i thought they are from the arena, but i would have saw him bleeding and these... these were older than 2 weeks. Most of the tissue was white not red , some of them on top of even older ones.
The darkness coiled around my heart and anger quickly began rising .
Who did this?
Why did he not tell me about it?
How had i never seen this?
Who did this to him?
WHO?
Matheo stirred and it pulled me away from the thoughts in my head .
I didn't even realise my hand was on his back , until he quickly snapped around and raised himself up .
His face was blank , but there was no sleep in those eyes when they looked up to me , there was just anger.
- Hey . Hey . It's okay it's just me. Good morn..
- Get out. He bit back interrupting me and it put me at a loss for words.
My eyes strayed off to his chest , to find 2 more of the scars there too, these ones crossed on top of one another like the letter X.
- Matheo I.... But worlds wouldn't come out. It was like my mind just went blank, nothing but anger in the halls of my brain.
- Get. Out. He spoke again his tone turning deadly and stood up quickly, throwing a shirt over himself.
I was frozen in place staring at him.
Half part of me wanted to go and just hug him, throw him back to the ground and cuddle, pretend i saw nothing.
The other part however understood his anger well , instinctively reaching for the scar on my neck.
He grabbed my hand so suddenly i was to slow to react, before he dragged me back to the threshold and pushed me out. The door slamming in my face.
My anger pushed above the confusion enough to make me start walking, in order not to boot the whole door down.
I shouldn't have done that.
But why the reaction? He had seen my scars? Hell he even patched me up in the arena. How is this any different? Why couldn't i see his?
Why hide? It won't change how i see him?
So many questions and non of it giving me insight.
It just made my anger worse and i stormed into my room resulting into routine.
I took a fast shower, changed my clothes . Suited and booted in 15 . Then took a deep fuckin breath and walked downstairs.
I was getting better at isolating sounds i want to hear and blocking out the rest.
Tom's voice for example.
- And what did they say Nott? Tom questioned with that utterly calm tone that meant he was pissed.
- He declined the meeting my lord. They said they want to meet you in person or there would be no deal. Nott's voice reached me while i descended down the stairs.
- I can go. Matheo offered .
Go where i thought walking down the hallway.
- No . You stay with Carnage. Get to London . I'll meet you there. Nott go to with them and both of you make sure she never leaves your sight .
Tom commanded and i pushed the door open , grabbing their attention.
Tom was sitting on the desk Matheo and Nott standing up , backs straight.
I have to give it to him, he knew how to dictate the room.
- Oh i am flattered really, but Don't give em a task they can't fulfil . It's not fair. I added and walked over to the desk.
- Any of you wanna tell me What happened ? I questioned and looked around the room..
- Nothing important. I'll handle it it. We leave as we planned to. Tom replied and it made me take a seat straight on top of the desk in absolute disregard to his hierarchy.
One of the first Elijah thought me about the power of expression - Never put more than two simple sentences after one another. Leaves way too much space for someone to use them against you and end an argument.
Someone like me for example.
- Of that i have no doubt , i have a bunch of things to do and no time to waste no more . I replied casually looked behind my shoulder , those blue eyes of his darkening as predicted.
Too easily baited.
Gotcha.
- What things? Tom nearly growed out , his hand turning into a fist and the ink around my neck strained suddenly.
- Nothing important, i'll handle it. I replied and smiled at him victoriously .
Matheo snorted a laugh that interrupted the sudden silence in the room , but the look Tom gave me was bloody murder as they liked to say .
- Careful little one. Tom spoke in perseltongue and it made me roll my eyes at him and stand up.
- I'm terrified truly. I replied in perseltongue and stole a smoke off his pack lighting it up.
- Nott leave us. Tom bit put and Theo didn't need to be told twice, throwing me a sympathetic look before closing the door loudly behind him. Lucky him i thought.
- Must you disobey everything i say? Tom questioned.
- Someone has to. I parried back and i could have sworn he smiled just a little bit.
- I aim to acquire a building in lower London. A very old and special building ,which is currently owned by a low life gang that rules that neighbourhood.
They call themselves " The Galeon liners" .
They left the building rot for years not knowing it's value, but now that i requested to buy it , they think they can force my hand , probably for more money no doubt. Tom explained finally giving in and i listened carefully.
- Don't forget to mention they are known thief's , the worst of the worst . So there are no assurances that even if we pay em , we gonna get the real deed. For all you know Tom they might just screw us over. Why can't we just buy a different property? There is plenty to go around and in better areas than that shithole. Matheo added , finally speaking up.
- Because i said so. Tom bit back while i ran the new found information in my head.
- Interesting and what's so special about this building?
- It's old for one , very old , right in the middle of London. It's out of the aurror jurisdiction, been that way for nearly a century. That place has a rather... macabre history .
No self respecting auror would go there and even if they did it's a rough neighbourhood , they wouldn't last two blocks. If this organisation is to thrive we need a place to run it from. Hiding within the shadows is no longer an option i am wiling to entertain. Tom explained and leaned back in his chair with a contemplative look in his eyes.
- Going alone is a mistake.
- I didn't ask for your input little one. You asked what we were talking about and i obliged. That's all. Tom replied with a condescending tone.
- Well lucky you , i provide anyhow. Now how about you just hear me out instead of reacting on ego? I sarcasmed and stared him down as i would stare at an opponent. He was not amused at all .
- Go on. Tom finally conceded, his eyes narrowing at me. I inhaled a sharp drag ,enjoying the sweet smoke.
- Well they said they want to meet in person or there would be no deal , but they didn't specify it has to be just you. I say we all go . Me and Matheo can be your reassurance.
- I don't need reassurance little one. Tom purred back and that familiar magic of the ring flared on his hand.
- I am not questioning your magical capabilities to smite everyone down, i just figure you can play it smarter than that.
Now i don't know much about these people, but i do know thieve , amarun or wizard ones have one thing in common.
- And what's that? Tom questioned interrupting me .
- There is no honour amongst thieves Tom.
Matheo's right.
Thieves might be dishonest , but they are not stupid and with your reputation, i highly doubt they will just conveniently carry the deed with them and risk you simply taking it.
You walk in there alone they are going to try to screw you over. You will kill anyone that stands in your way. Alongside your chances to purchase the deed. Nobody wins..I explained quickly and leaned closer to him, putting off the cigarette in an ashtray , before leaning away.
- Continue little one. He almost whispered and yet it felt to me so loud.
- If we all go together however, they would have to reconsider their actions on the spot.
People are a lot more wiling to negotiate, to avoid death , than they are when they think they have the upper hand. I finished and held his intense stare for what felt like eternity.
- Clever girl. Too clever and if this plan doesn't work and they still try to screw us over? Tom questioned and it made the darker side of me laugh.
- Then we all play a new game. I replied and dropped eye contact and started walking towards the door. I was ready to leave this place. I am done hiding.
- What game? Matheo finally spoke up and it made me look at him through my shoulder. That anger i saw before was now replaced by calculation. It suited him i thought.
- Who's the better killer lover. I replied winking at him knowingly, before walking out.
