Soulbound : Tom Riddle

24: Discovering the Light

Since Victoria had revealed the truth to Tom, her days and nights had been fraught with unrest. Her mother's words echoed incessantly in her thoughts, haunting both her daydreams and her nightmares. The revelation of her mother's choice—to forsake her kingdom for a man—weighed heavily on Victoria's heart.

She couldn't comprehend why her mother had prioritised love over duty and her people. In her anguish, Victoria grappled with conflicting emotions of betrayal and empathy, unable to reconcile the shattered image of her once-revered mother.

Osgar Salvadore, too, bore the weight of the revelation heavily. As someone who had devoted his life to the kingdom and its rulers, the news left him adrift. He withdrew from everyone, including Victoria, consumed by his own grief and disillusionment.

Tom, ever steadfast in his support for Victoria, approached her with a vial of sleeping tonic. He found her lying on their bed, facing away, lost in her thoughts. Sitting gently at the foot of the bed, he offered her the tonic, hoping to provide her with some respite from the turmoil within.

"What is it?" Victoria asked, her voice subdued.

"A sleeping tonic," Tom replied softly, opening the vial.

Victoria hesitated only briefly before consuming the potion, setting the vial aside on the nightstand. Tom stroked her hair tenderly, his touch comforting as she closed her eyes. He smiled faintly, grateful to see her finally find some peace in sleep.

In the past, Tom might have dismissed Victoria's distress or been insensitive to her emotions. But over the years, she had changed him profoundly. He had come to recognize the depth of her feelings, and now, he felt a profound responsibility to protect her fragile peace.

She had given her a piece of her soul, for all the ones he had split.

Lying beside her in the empty space, Tom pulled Victoria close, enveloping her in his arms. She nestled against his chest, finding solace in his warmth and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His presence was a balm to her troubled soul, offering a sanctuary from the storm of emotions that had ravaged her since learning the truth.

"You look worried, even as you rest in my arms," Tom said, studying her.

"I try not to worry..."

"Your people will be fine, Victoria," Tom reassured. "They have us..."

She only nodded in agreement as he had reassured her this many times. They had not been caught yet, which meant they were doing well. And with the new ages... the hunts for druids were becoming less frequent.

"Do you think the prophecy is over?" Victoria asked Tom quietly. "Now that the truth is out..."

Tom thought to himself. They had been more focused on uncovering the truth rather than decoding the prophecy...

"I think this is only the beginning," Tom said after a thought. "Sometimes when you close a door..."

"A window opens, yes, I know, Tom," Victoria said.

Tom grinned. "I was actually going to say, sometimes when you close a door, it doesn't mean you have to lock it."

Victoria opened her eyes, her heart fluttering as she gazed up at Tom with a mixture of adoration and curiosity. "What're you talking about?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, tinged with a hint of amusement.

Tom's expression softened, his eyes alight with sincerity as he gently traced his fingers along her cheek.

"This prophecy," he began, his voice steady yet filled with a quiet intensity, "it speaks of a light. And perhaps, Victoria, that 'light' isn't just some distant truth waiting to be uncovered. Perhaps it's us. Together, we can be the light that guides not just your people, but ours."