~Twisted Loyalties~ Matheo Riddle x OC x Theodore Nott

chapter 7

Chapter 7
Eris pov

I woke up to something warm. Someone was holding me, and for a second, I thought it had to be Theo—that's who I fell asleep with, right? But when I opened my eyes and saw a sleeping Matheo, my brain went into full panic mode.

Why the hell am I in Matheo’s bed? And why is he shirtless?

Everything came rushing back to me in a blur, the night before, the way he dragged me to his bed without a word. I lay there, stiff as a board, staring up at the ceiling, trying to process what the hell my life had become.

Seriously, what the actual fuck is my life right now?

I got up quietly, careful not to wake Matheo, slipping out of his bed. My mind was still spinning as I made my way through the house, trying to find the kitchen. I remembered where we had dinner last night and figured the kitchen had to be nearby.

After wandering around for a bit, I finally stumbled across it. Inside, a group of house elves were bustling about, preparing breakfast. One of them looked up at me, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Hello, I’m Steply," the little elf said, his voice high-pitched as he bowed slightly. It was like he was waiting for my command.

I knelt down to be eye level with him, and he seemed shocked by the gesture. "What can you all cook?" I asked with a small smile.

“We can make Ms. Potter anything she likes!” Steply beamed.

"May I have some chocolate pancakes and milk, please?" I asked.

He scurried away, and I took a seat at one of the counters. It wasn’t long before a plate of warm, fluffy pancakes was set in front of me. I was quietly eating, enjoying the peace, when I heard a familiar voice.

"You're up early," Enzo yawned as he strolled in, taking a seat beside me. Without even asking, he grabbed a fork and dug into my pancakes.

“Sir, those are mine,” I said, glaring at him, though it was more playful than anything.

"But they look sooo good," he whined dramatically, giving me those puppy dog eyes.

I sighed and pushed the plate toward him with a smile. "Fine, have at it."

His face lit up like a kid on Christmas, and he happily started devouring the pancakes. I couldn’t help but laugh at how easily pleased he was.

Enzo took another bite of the pancakes, glancing at me as he chewed. After a moment, he put the fork down, his expression softening as he spoke.

"So... the pit," he started, his voice low. "Are you okay? I know it must have been a lot, but..." He hesitated, like he was trying to find the right words. "Things will get better, Eris. You’ll get stronger, and you’ll learn to handle it."

I stayed quiet, my mind flashing back to the pit. The chaos. The violence. I could still feel the man’s hands on me, the crack of bones under my fists. I looked down at the table, unsure of what to say.

Enzo sighed, nudging the plate of pancakes a little closer to me. "Look," he continued, "you have to become something useful here. I know that sounds harsh, but it's how things work. And..." he trailed off for a moment before meeting my eyes, "Matheo, he’s not as bad as he seems. I know he comes off like a complete jerk, but... he feels like he has to be what his father needs him to be."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "And what exactly does his father need him to be? A monster?"

Enzo looked thoughtful for a moment, as if he were choosing his words carefully. "Not a monster. But someone who can do what needs to be done. Matheo doesn’t have the freedom to be anything else. He’s been raised that way, trained for it. That kind of pressure messes with you."

I wasn’t sure how to respond. Matheo confused me, frustrated me, and yet there was something about him that was hard to ignore. Maybe it was the way Enzo spoke about him, or the way I’d caught glimpses of something deeper in Matheo’s eyes. But I didn’t know if I could believe that there was more to him than the cold, ruthless leader I’d seen so far.

Still, I nodded, deciding not to push it. Enzo seemed sincere, and maybe he knew Matheo in ways I couldn’t understand yet.

As I sat there, trying to process everything, Enzo’s casual chatter was interrupted by the arrival of Matheo and Theo. They walked into the kitchen, their conversation light and easy, completely at odds with the chaos that had unfolded.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Matheo said, teasingly nudging Enzo as he leaned against the counter. I felt my stomach twist in confusion, dumbfounded by how they seemed to act like nothing was wrong. It was as if the beating, the pit, and the tension that had hung thick in the air the day before had been erased, wiped clean like a chalkboard.

I couldn’t help but stare at Matheo as he leaned there, his shirt still off, revealing the muscles that made him look effortlessly imposing. I remembered how he had taken control so easily in the pit, how he had forced me to confront my fears, and the unsettling way it felt to wake up beside him. Anger and confusion swirled inside me all over again.

Just then, Theo moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, pulling me into a warm hug. “You okay?” he whispered softly into my ear, concern lacing his tone.

I nodded, grateful for his comfort but still struggling to fully process everything. As I glanced over at Matheo, I caught him smirking at me, an expression that sent a mix of irritation and heat flooding through me.

“What’s with the smirk?” I shot back, trying to sound defiant but feeling vulnerable under his gaze.

“Just enjoying the view,” he replied smoothly, his eyes dancing with amusement.

My heart raced at his words, the tension in the room palpable as I stood between the two of them, feeling like I was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Enzo broke the moment by snatching a plate of pancakes from the counter, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around us.

“Can we get some breakfast over here?” Matheo called to the house-elves, his tone still casual, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was at play.

I wanted to argue, to tell him that it wasn’t right, but the weight of the moment kept me silent. Instead, I turned back to the table, trying to gather my thoughts, feeling like I was standing at the edge of a precipice, ready to leap into the unknown.

Soon enough, we finished eating, and Matheo stood up, his presence commanding. “Come on, we’re heading out,” he said, locking eyes with me, a smirk playing on his lips. Enzo and Theo joined us, and I felt the tension in the air as we made our way to the pit. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I followed them anyway.

As we approached the pit, Matheo jumped in effortlessly, a confident grin on his face. I hesitated, opting for the ladder to climb down, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement swirling in my stomach. Once my feet hit the ground, I braced myself for what was to come.

So sorry this is a short chapter <3