ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ | ᴛᴏᴍɪᴏɴᴇ

Whispers from the Past, ch. 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

He had enjoyed his little free rein around the Wizarding world. He had almost forgotten what it was like to truly be capable of walking around without fear of prosecution. Certainly, he had to keep away from Ministry officials while in his Death Eater garb as Marek, but it had been fun. He had worn his faux personage well, and when it came time to reveal himself to her, the satisfaction in seeing her surprise shot a torrent of thrills through his body. He would have traded years of his life in exchange to experience that moment over and again.

Spending time with his chosen one as Marek had been more entertaining than he had expected. He had to admit, keeping an eye on her while undercover was almost preferable compared to whenever he was with her as himself. A pang of envy had crawled its way through his belly when he thought about how quickly she seemed to warm up to Marek-silly as it was, since they were one and the same. She had feared the Death Eater at first for his chasing her, but at the Underground tournament, she had embraced him, even convinced him to dance. Of course, if he had been there as himself, she would have had to do a lot more to convince him to dance in front of such people. He liked to think it was the fact that they shared the same soul that helped her warm up to him as Marek, but...he was unsure. As Marek, he had been more carefree with his actions. For example, he had tried to kiss her amid their dancing without fear of scrutiny from his Death Eaters. Perhaps it was that which made her more comfortable: his ability to act without fear of judgment.

Was that what people did when they were in love? Kiss? It seemed only right after what they had done all those weeks ago at Shell cottage. It seemed appropriate to touch her in such a way. But at the same time he was wary. These thoughts-these feelings-toward her distracted him day in and day out. A distraction was the last thing he needed, but the lust for her was unavoidable. They plagued his mind from the dawn of morning to the darkest point at night.

The affinity with his chosen one always remained, even in solitude. But while holding her in his arms on the way to Riddle mansion, as he looked down at her to see her staring in return, he felt powerful magic coursing through his veins stronger than ever before. Her presence, while at once demanding, made him feel as though he had found an oasis in the middle of a desert, a paradise amid hell. Did she know of the effect she had on him? Did she have any idea of the thoughts that would race through his mind at the sight of her?

The effect was maddening, and when he had her up in his chambers he wanted to throw it in her face how much her lies had almost ruined him. He wanted her to feel what he had felt when she relayed the truth of her betrayal to him. He was sure her thoughts of him would change. When they dreamed together last, she had been begging him to take her, and-damn it-the temptation nearly killed him to refuse, but after she knew his truth, would she still want him to touch her in the same way?

He was sure her affections for him would crack and fade, like his Muggle father's love for his mother after she told him the truth about her being a witch. Deep down he knew love never lasted.

But that look in her eyes when she told him how her feeling could never change, even after his confession, tantalized every particle of his being.

How was it possible to still care, still feel compassion and desire for someone who has wronged you?

The question stumped him and, as in his nature, he wanted to know the answer, to understand. He wanted to comprehend her feelings and why her love for him had not wavered. He was actually envious of her fortitude. It was a comfort to know someone would stand by him, no matter what. He wished more of his Death Eaters showed the same loyalty, but then again, she was the only one on the face of the planet who would ever possess the Serpentine charm, she was unique. She was one of a kind.