Heirs of darkness

The serpent's proposal(5)

"Aurora Black," he drawled, his crimson eyes narrowing with interest. "What a surprise."

Aurora's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to maintain her composure. She stepped fully into the room, meeting Voldemort's gaze with a boldness that surprised even herself. Her mind raced, but her face remained calm, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

"Surprise? I would have thought you were expecting me," she replied, her voice steady.

A soft, malicious chuckle escaped Voldemort's lips. "I have heard of you, indeed," he said, gesturing for her to come closer. "Step forward, child. Let me have a look at you."

Aurora hesitated for a split second, then strode confidently across the room. The Death Eaters seated around the table eyed her warily, some with suspicion, others with thinly veiled contempt. But Aurora paid them no mind. She only had eyes for the Dark Lord.

Voldemort leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing her with a mixture of curiosity and something else something darker. "The Black family... so much promise, so much potential. And yet, they have always been... divided." He paused, letting the words sink in. "But you, Aurora... you are different."

Aurora raised an eyebrow, masking the unease growing within her. "Different how?"

"I hear you possess a certain... talent," Voldemort mused, his voice soft but menacing. "A creature of great power and ferocity. Is it true, Aurora Black, that you have a dragon?"

The corners of Aurora's lips curled upward in a confident smile. "Yes. His name is Caraxes."

A murmur rippled through the room, Death Eaters exchanging looks of surprise and disbelief. Voldemort's expression remained unreadable, though there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.

"You lie," he said softly, though there was no accusation in his tone only amusement. "A dragon is not easily tamed, let alone by one so young."

Aurora's smile widened, her confidence growing. "Would you like me to prove it?"

Voldemort's eyes glittered with a dangerous curiosity, but he did not respond immediately. Instead, he observed her, perhaps weighing the truth of her words against the improbability of her claim. Then, after a long pause, he waved a hand dismissively. "Another time, perhaps. But for now... I have another proposition for you."

Narcissa Malfoy, who had been watching the exchange with growing concern, finally spoke up. "My Lord," she began, her voice tight with anxiety, "Aurora is still young. She is... untested."

Aurora shot Narcissa a sharp look, her eyes flashing with indignation. "I'm not some child to be coddled, Narcissa. And I certainly don't need anyone to speak for me." She turned back to Voldemort, her voice firm and unwavering. "I don't follow anyone. If anything, they follow me."

The silence that followed her statement was thick with tension. The Death Eaters exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the audacity of her words. But Aurora didn't flinch, didn't back down. She held Voldemort's gaze, waiting for his reaction.

To her surprise, the Dark Lord chuckled. It was a cold, mirthless sound, but there was no mistaking the amusement in his eyes. "Bold, indeed," he said softly. "But are you wise enough to recognize the opportunity before you?"

Aurora felt a flicker of uncertainty but quickly smothered it. "I recognize an opportunity when I see one," she replied, her voice steady. "But I also recognize the danger of walking into a trap."

Voldemort's smile widened. "Clever girl. But you misunderstand me, Aurora. I am offering you a chance to join me, to become part of something greater than yourself. Your power, your potential... it would not go to waste under my guidance."

Aurora's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. "And what would that entail?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.

Voldemort leaned forward slightly, his eyes boring into hers. "Loyalty. Obedience. Power beyond your wildest dreams. You would be an asset to me, Aurora. And in return, you would have the world at your feet."

Narcissa shifted uncomfortably beside her, clearly distressed by the turn of the conversation. "My Lord, she is still—"

"—old enough to make her own decisions," Aurora interrupted, her voice firm. She turned to Voldemort, her eyes blazing with determination. "But I'm not interested in following anyone's orders, not even yours. If I'm going to carve my own path, it will be on my own terms."

Voldemort regarded her for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, slowly, he began to nod, as if he had expected nothing less. "Perhaps you are right," he conceded, though there was a note of finality in his voice. "But remember this, Aurora Black: the time will come when you will have to choose a side. And when that time comes, you will join me. Of that, I have no doubt."

Aurora felt a chill run down her spine at the certainty in his words. But she refused to let it show. "We'll see about that," she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at the edges of her resolve.

Voldemort's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he finally spoke again. "You may leave now," he said, his tone dismissive. "But remember what I have said, Aurora. The world is changing, and those who do not choose wisely will find themselves swallowed by the darkness."

Aurora inclined her head in a respectful nod, though her heart was pounding in her chest. She turned on her heel and walked out of the dining room with as much poise as she could muster, the eyes of the Death Eaters boring into her back as she left.

As she stepped into the corridor, the heavy doors closing behind her, Aurora allowed herself to release the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her heart was still racing, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. But one thing was clear: she had just walked out of that room alive, and that was no small feat.

Aurora Black was no ordinary witch. And one day, the world would know it.

But for now, she had other plans.