Silence is Deafening

Chapter 35

"I cannot believe we just..." I trailed off, grimacing.

"Just—what? You humped my leg like a dog until I gave you the best orgasm you've had in months?" Draco asked, grinning.

I glared at him and whacked his shoulder.

"Don't get cocky, Malfoy." I sneered, and he chuckled.

I paused, pursing my lips.

"Spit it out." Draco prompted, as I wiggled to sit on the arm of the chair. He wrapped his arms firmly around me, locking me in a vice grip across his lap.

"Spit what out?" I asked, innocently.

"Whatever's on your mind. It's written all over your face, so go ahead and spit it out." Draco said impatiently.

I hesitated, sucking in a deep breath. It's not that I wasn't curious about some things, it was that I didn't know how to ask respectfully.

"I just was wondering if I could—-see it." I said, motioning to his left forearm.

Draco blanched, leaning away from me.

"See...it? The Mark?" He asked, his voice rising. I nodded, chewing on the inside of my cheek.

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

"I've just never seen one up close, that's all." I replied.

Draco sighed, reaching for his sleeve. In a split moment, he had rolled his sleeve up past his elbow and flipped his arm to expose the pale skin.

There, marked between the elbow and wrist, was the Dark Mark.

A menacing skull with its mouth wide open, and a black snake sliding out of it. I shuddered slightly, trying to hold it and reached out my hand. Draco froze.

"C-Can I touch it? Will it...do anything?" I asked, hesitantly.

"Er—no. It burns a bit but y-you can go ahead, if you want." Draco said, his expression one of fear and wonder.

I trailed my finger against the mark, feeling the raised ink buzz. Draco's jaw clenched, but otherwise he gave no indication of discomfort. As my finger neared the snake's head, it narrowed its eyes and hissed at me.

I jumped, snatching my hand away and looking at Draco in fear.

"It does that, when a non-follower touches it." He said, casually.

"Did it hurt? T-To get it, I mean." I asked, my voice small.

"It—was the worst pain I've ever endured." Draco said, solemnly.

"You had it...when you met me?" I asked, watching Draco nod.

"I took the mark the summer before my 6th year. Right before I met you. You came into my life...at the worst fucking time, Clarke. I can't even tell you how bad of a time you came into it." Draco sighed, his eyes wandering away. He was guarded, hiding. His eyes were unfocused.

"Tell me." I pressed, leaning closer to him. His eyes stayed trained to the fire.

"I was ready to just end it. I can remember—-standing at the top of the fucking stupid Astronomy tower and wishing—-just fucking wishing I had the balls to jump. It—it may have been the right thing to do, and I had my bloody fucking father telling me I was a failure day in and day out. And then...and then there was you and—-Merlin, Elizabeth you were so trusting—-you just...didn't look at me like you were disappointed. I scared you so badly, but you kept coming back. And every fucking night I stood at that Astronomy tower trying to just fucking fall, I'd think of your stupid fucking red hair or your stupid fucking freckled face or your stupid fucking pink lips and I couldn't do it. I couldn't. I still can't." Draco finished, daring to glance at me.