Descent-- Sequel to Masquerade

1. Expelliarmus

      "It doesn't matter, I will never acknowledge you as my son."

    The last words of Tom Riddle Senior before he was killed.

    A flash of green light, and the Killing Curse leeched the life in the pale face, and caused those blue eyes to fade into dullness. The blue eyes held those of Tom Riddle, as he did not flinch for even a moment. This man was the cause of his suffering, the reason why he couldn't move on from that pathetic Muggle boy who lived in the orphanage, into the great wizard he was destined to become. Tom Marvolo Riddle was captivated by challenges, but as for those that blocked his way, he would not even think for a second to show mercy that could not be given.

    As Tom Riddle Senior lay on the ground, motionless and slack with the mark of death, the boy that killed his father retched, he dropped the wand and fell on his knees.

     The story that was never told.

   It was never sentiment, it was fear. Fear as he saw death imprinted on the face, the vulnerability of being unable to defend oneself. He would never admit it. He was unable to defend himself against those bullies, those bruises, those traumatic memories-- all because his mother died. His mother was crumpled by death, and death had caused all those injuries. All the pain. He believed, just inside, that he was afraid of death. But he was just a boy afraid of pain.

     Myrtle Warren. The girl killed by the Basilisk-- the filthy Mudblood. He saw her body being carried out, and for just less than a second, he expected to feel regret. His first murder-- they all said that the first time was the hardest one. He felt nothing, simply as if he was never the killer in the first place. Tom Riddle knew that he was free from the burden that was guilt, and that because of this murder, he was stronger. Myrtle Warren was the first of Mudbloods to fall.

    The Albanian straggler. The man was lying on the ground, his eyes filled with knowing, as he lay useless. He knew what was coming. Tom Riddle wanted him to beg, wanted to hear his pleas. A strange desire coursed through him, to assert that he was the stronger, that he had power. Power was the only spear against pain. Then, Tom Riddle made his first mistake. He said the truth to the man about to die.

   "I am afraid of death." He felt a strange relief as he said those words, a strange connection to the man-- in that moment, they were both afraid of the same thing. Even that feeble connection almost brought Tom Riddle back to life; the eleven year old boy inside of Voldemort was hungry for connection; for a bond. He wanted something human, and Voldemort couldn't allow that to happen. He had to be more than human.

   "Avada Kedavra!"

   A strange stillness.

   There was a strange ringing in Tom Riddle's ears.

    He was a poor employee of Borgin and Burkes. To use his charm to melt people and coerce them to give up their possessions. Every moment those repugnant people smiled at his praises, he wanted to kill them. Hepzibah Smith-- an old witch who had showed where her inclinations lay-- she looked at him as if he was the light of her eyes. He had stolen many things, but he stole three things from her-- three important items that day.

    The first two were two of his greatest treasures.

    Hufflepuff's Cup. Slytherin's Locket.

     The cup belonging to the House of the daughter of Grindelwald. And the locket that rightfully belonged to him-- the locket that his own mother had wore on her neck before selling it in her foolishness.

      The third thing he stole-- the life of Hepzibah Smith.

     Tom Riddle allowed the ends of his lips to curve slightly. The life of that foolish witch was the final layer for the triumph. He felt satisfaction to the highest degree when he killed her.

    His plan was now launched into motion.

    It was only a matter of time.

    Time.

    He could wait-- he had already conquered death.

******

    Please let me know your thoughts below, I am so excited to write the sequel :D