the dawn of darkness | t riddle [incomplete]

Chapter 14: The Recruit

Chapter 14

Estela slipped through the dark, deserted hallways of the Manor towards the steady hum of life at the centre of the house. Her footsteps echoed with the beat of the music and the sound of faint, distant laughter and she gripped the scroll containing a list of eight names upon it tighter in her palm.

As the sounds of voices and music grew louder, her heartbeat increased, and when she finally reached the large white doors that opened up to the ballroom, the suited figures of Rowle and Nott were standing outside.

She noticed Nott's shoulders straighten as she rounded the corner towards them, and Rowle's eyes seemed to want to look at anything but her as he clutched a long piece of parchment close to his chest.

"Name?" Nott asked Estela in a gruff tone, the spark in his dark eyes evidently mocking.

"You know who I am, Nott, now let me in. Unlike you I have far more important things to do than guard a door."

"I'll let you in when you've given me a name." He said, and by his side Rowle seemed to be flinching the more she was kept waiting.

"Estela Markorp." She said through gritted teeth, and as she spoke, the scroll in the palm of Nott's hand emitted a soft, blue mist and the doors gently creaked open.

"Very well, miss Estela Markorp," Nott crooned mockingly. "Have a wonderful evening."

The soft, glittering lights and steady hum of tasteful music hit her ears like a melodic meadow as the doors closed behind her. She stood in the centre of the ballroom, scanning her surroundings, targeting the faces she had come to recruit. She quickly slipped into the shadows of the room and opened the scroll that Tom had given her.

Eight names. Eight targets. Eight challenges.

Each and every name on her list were wizards from the Noble Houses, and very well-respected wizards – not to mention proud and powerful, and unlikely to be swayed into joining some unheard of underground organisation led by a man who would not reveal his identity.

She took one last look at those names, memorising them, before she floated her hand above the parchment and it burst into flame, the ashes falling gracefully to the floor.

She clutched her long cloak around her more tightly as she watched from the shadows. People draped in long dresses and crisp suits were dancing, drinking and conversing amongst themselves. She spotted Malfoy, the host of this grand traditional evening, standing by the long, silver table made to seat well over one hundred. He was chatting to a large group of port-bellied men, most of them with moustaches and pocket watches, and she watched as they all emitted loud booms of laughter every now and then. She then noticed Cressida standing by his side like a magnificent centrepiece statue in a long red gown, her blond hair shining brighter than the candles around the room as she smiled appealingly at the men.

She spotted a few other Death Eaters around the large room too. Lestrange was lurking about the ballroom, eyeing each and every wizard who looked in his direction as though he was about to pounce and devour them in front of the whole crowd. Avery was standing by a small door at the far end of the ballroom, speaking in hushed tones to someone on who appeared to be on the other side. And then she spotted Alden, his pine eyes bright in the candlelight as he made his way towards her.

"You ok?" Alden asked her as he tugged at the sleeve of his suit jacket, his eyes wandering around the ballroom.

"I'm fine." She replied. "Have you pinned your targets?"

He nodded, a few strands of his blond hair falling out of place. "You?"

"A few of them." She said. "Is the plan still the same? We begin after the meal?"