Stop running from me (A Tom Riddle Story)

Mine

Esmeralda sat cross legged on the floor facing the fire. He couldn't see her face, and it was distracting him.

"How do we proceed Tom?" Abraxas asked quietly from between Edward and Cygnus.

Other eight boys stood around the green sofa that Abraxas, Edward and Cygnus were sat on whilst Tom sat on the opposite sofa, lounging. Looking at them all like he was their king. Tom rather liked the arrangement, only his most loyal followers got to sit in these discussions. Esmeralda was the only girl among them and yet Tom could feel her presence more than anything.

He knew she was listening intently to every word said and she would no doubt question him on things later. Why he had agreed to let her sit in on his meetings...

"We must be careful, Dumbledore is becoming ever more watchful." Tom hissed quietly, his eyes fixed on Esmeralda's white hair: In the light of the soft fire, it shone like stands of moonlight and pure pearls. So white it could make snow look grey.

"He watches you, not us." Edward said, his eyes flicking between Tom and Esmeralda as though he could sense Tom's distraction.

Tom turned and glared at Edward, who swallowed and sat back.

"He keeps an eye on all of us. If you are...friends with me, he watches you." Tom sneered, looking around as though daring someone to question him.

When no one did, he smirked.

"Keep a low profile when looking for new recruits. When you think you've found someone suitable, come and tell me... Keep to the Slytherins as much as you can." He growled.

"And if they're not pure-bloods?" One of the eight asked.

Tom turned to the source of the voice with a snarl.

"Then why are you considering them?" He asked in a deadly quiet voice, "My rules are not to be broken, pure-bloods only."

The boy bowed his head and Tom turned away from him with his head high. Fools, all of them, how dare they question him? What right did they have to question the heir of Slytherin? If he had more followers, he'd kill the stupid boy and let another take his place.

But these were early days... soon he'd have an empire he could command and control, forever and ever. With Esmeralda by his side.

"I wish to address the main reason I called you all here for... Which one of you careless fools decided to use a dark curse in the corridor today?" Tom asked, his eyes scanning the people that stood before him.

When no one answered Tom sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees. Letting his mask drop, he smiled as they visibly flinched at his now red eyes. Still no one answered.

"Know this... unless the person answer me now" He said slowly, "I will let Lady Esmeralda kill you... She had more patience than me, you might last till tomorrow with her."

A boy on the far right of the eight, took a step forward.

"Forgive me my Lord." He whispered.

Tom snorted.

"Forgive you? Forgive you!" He snarled baring his teeth, "You disobey me then have the nerve to ask for my forgiveness Mublicer?"

The boy seemed to know better than to lower his head, Tom hated cowards who looked at their feet. He hated when he made rules simple and plain and yet people could not follow them because of their stupid tiny minds.

"Tell me what you did." He ordered.

"I cursed a Gryffindor." The boy said quietly.

"Which one?" Tom asked feeling bored at the boys stupidity, glad that the low light ment he couldn't see his face.