Descent-- Sequel to Masquerade

17. Imperio

Addie's POV
****
A traitor was like a spinning coin on a table—with value to both sides before it stops, falling on one side, either face up or face down. A traitor never revealed their true nature—something that I've learned all too well. Perhaps that was my true place in the world: to deceive endlessly and to fool people into thinking that I was one with them. I knew Tom grew less human with every passing second, but I had to endure it. I knew he already created one more Horcrux after our conversation—each one leaving him horribly weakened, but I knew better than him that he wouldn't stop.

  The Order of the Phoenix. I knew better than to think that they trusted me completely—all they knew about me was that I was Grindelwald's daughter and for all intents and purposes, was the closest of them to Tom Riddle. Whispers followed me everywhere from both sides, and I forced myself to revel in them.

  After a long meeting with the Death-Eaters, I touched the Dark Mark on my arm, glistening like black blood and obsidian. Tom had called upon me to stay. His back was facing me as I looked at him, his hands folded behind him and his gaze trained on the crackling green flames of the hearth. He looked pale, almost sickly but the manic look in his eyes placed a dark flame on his face.

  "Albus Dumbledore thinks of you highly."

  I looked up sharply, eyes narrowed. "And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked, rebuffing the notion of 'lord.'

  "It means—" he said as he turned on his heel, his blue eyes reflecting red for a moment, "—that Dumbledore doesn't think of anyone highly unless he has perfect confidence in them."

  "You think I am a traitor," I said bluntly, not allowing a hint of remorse fill my eyes.

  He cocked his head to the side. "So defensive—" he murmured, "I never stated it outright."

  "Yet if you didn't suspect me, you wouldn't be asking me this."

  Tom let out a dry laugh. "So clever, aren't you? But for once, you're wrong. I can vouch for your loyalty for me, you are a Hufflepuff and furthermore, I know you better than you know yourself. This is simply a warning. The other Death-Eaters don't know you as I do, and they would no doubt try to seek harm against you."

  I forced myself to smirk. "Is this concern, my Lord? I never thought you lowered yourself to such arbitrary standards."

  "You are an asset, Grindelwald," he addressed me by my surname, "and my most powerful follower. I don't like seeing my pawns getting damaged."

  I tilted my head to the side. "Is that all?" I asked.

  "Yes, you may leave now—"he dismissed me as I rose and walked out of the doors to see Lestrange leaning against the wall.

  "Never took you for the eavesdropping type," I remarked, "but then again, you always surprised me."

  Lestrange looked at me coldly. There was something uneasy in his eyes. "I don't trust you."

  "What a surprise," I said, "was me threatening you with an Unbreakable Vow not obvious enough?"

  He narrowed his eyes. "In my time in the Ministry—" he began, "I met many criminals, many people, and even some white hats posing as black hats. You don't know the lengths I have gone to protect my pure blooded status nor how I rose to the rank of head of the Lestrange family despite being the youngest son."

  "Do you have a point?"

  "Yeah—" His gaze was hard, "all I'm saying is that I know a liar when I see one."

  I looked at him coolly. "Do you think you are better at spotting lies than Lord Voldemort?" I asked, before cocking my head to the side, "or perhaps you are suggesting that your powers exceed his?"

  He gave me a wry smile, "Turning the argument back towards me? Lord Voldemort perhaps can use his Legilimency, but we both know that you are just as skilled at Occlumency—after all, isn't that what you inherited from your father?"

  "That I did," I remarked, "but remember Lestrange that unlike you, I have proven my loyalty to Lord Voldemort. You, on the other hand, just joined the organization. You should know you have no power here to raise suspicion against me."

  "You told me that it's death for loyalty and only after that, loyalty for death—" he remarked, his eyes glittering, "seems to me that you do have the former—but to whom are you loyal is the real question...."

  "The real question," I said, my face as emotionless as marble, "is whether you break the Unbreakable Vow or not. So far, I don't see loyalty promised to Lord Voldemort if you are interrogating his own trusted follower."

  A slight twisted smirk played on his lips. "Perhaps the reason I'm not dead yet is because my hunch is correct—and I'm acting as the faithful follower and rooting out the traitorous scum in this organization."

  "Then perhaps you should start with yourself," I answered, as his smirk dropped, "I don't have the time or liberty to deal with your cute investigations. So do us all a favor and keep your thoughts to yourself, Lestrange."

  I walked past him, feeling his cold gaze on my back, but I ignored it. Yet...even despite myself, I felt a chilling premonition.

  "There is only power and those too weak to seize it," I whispered unconsciously, my hand touching the Horcrux around my neck.

  Something was about to happen.

  *****

  I'm guessing you want to kill me for the cliffhanger......