In hindsight, there were many things that I could've done better. So many things that I could've done different that might've shaped this path in a different direction.
Too late for that now. Luke and the group had Disapparated far from the forest onto the pathway to a huge house—more like a manor. The dark sky enhanced the creepiness of the setting. The pathway was gravel, hedges on each side, making walls. Before the manor were black iron gates that looked as if they had just been polished.
I highly doubted any of these guys actually owned this place. They probably stole it from the owner, killing them, or maybe the place was abandoned and they decided to make themselves at home. My hope was more on the second theory.
Not wanting to confront my fate just yet, I dug my heels into the gravel. Blake had to elbow me hard in my back to make me stumble forward. It wasn't the worst thing they could've done.
Luke lead the way proudly, a regal step in his gait. Adam lingered behind Blake and me in case I decided to make a dash for it.
The iron gates looked more menacing as we approached. With a flick of his wand, Luke made them creak open, making our path uninterrupted. My heart beat furiously. The awful feeling that I'd never see my parents again unnerved me.
They'll never see you again only if your Patronus doesn't make it to Ron. I needed to have some optimism. That would be the only thing that would keep me going through the unknown torture I was about to receive.
Thunder rumbled overhead, making me jump. Adam snorted a laugh.
Luke opened the black door as if it was nothing. With no choice in the matter, I was forced to walk inside the manor. The eerie lighting made the inside creepier than outside.
We looked to be in the main room. It was a wide one: a fireplace on my left, a cobwebbed chandelier creaking above, looking very unstable. Large windows were on either side of the door and along the right wall. The wood flooring looked a tad bit dusty, and it was also black.
Clearly whoever lived in this house loved being dark.
"Well, well, well," purred a soft voice that sent chills up my spine. "She's caught at last."
Coming down from a stairwell was Liam. I swallowed; my heart sprinted faster than before. Any faster and my heart would explode with fear. "I was hoping you decided to move on to another poor soul to prey on." I hated how those words tumbled out of my mouth.
"Don't act as though you're so special, we've been on the hunt for months, plucking who we can—those that people tend to not miss," Liam drawled.
"I don't know, you made it pretty convincing that you were obsessed with having me in your grasp." And now that I am, I wish I was anyplace else.
"You happened to be the luck of the draw when we were at the Three Broomsticks."
"I wouldn't consider the ambush in the alley lucky." I glanced around nervously. "What is this place?"
"What used to be Malfoy Manor."
I knew Draco's family had money, but I never thought I'd get to step foot in their infamous home. I took note of the lack of Malfoy family present. "Where are they now? Did you murder them?"
Liam chuckled. "No, we haven't...lucky for them. Malfoy's parents found another home, while Malfoy himself inherited this. Clearly, he wanted nothing to do with it, because when we came here, it was deserted, and dusty. We decided to roost and turn into whatever we wanted."
"And just what is that?"
"A little slice of paradise for ourselves. You see, this manor has a lot of unoccupied rooms. It's full of enchantments, so nobody except for us can get out when we please."
Liam was giving me more information, a stupid move on his part. "Is this your personal slaughterhouse?"
"Er, yes and no. We really try not to muck up this place more than it already is. Consider this a stop. You're going to be moved in about two or three days, we'll see. It may be a little longer than that. If we think you're worthy, you get to leave. If not, well...this will be the last stop for you."
I was more confused than before. This group was snatching people, that much was obvious. For what purpose remained to be seen. The more of the truth I could discover, the better. If I banked on my optimism, I could ruin this whole operation that they seemed to have.
Sure, one lone witch, ruin a potentially big operation? Where is that delusion coming from?
"Hand her over to me," Liam purred. "I'll figure out where to place you. You might have some roommates, just a head's up."
Just as long as none of them are you, I'll take the company.
Liam and Blake met halfway; Liam grabbed me harshly by my arm as Blake released me before rejoining Adam and Luke.
"Since we're done running your errand, can we get back to recruitment?" asked Blake.
Liam waved the trio off. "Go hunting. Don't end up in Azkaban like those fools from before. You know the rules: if you get caught, you're on your own."
Luke and Blake Disapparated out from the manor, Adam remained behind.
"Now, about your room placement..." Liam started to pull me forward.
I tried to dig my heels in. "You don't realize how big of a mistake you're making. Aurors will find out what happened to me. The minute they do, they'll swarm this place, and your gang will join the rest of your buddies in Azkaban, where you can rot in hell," I hissed.
"How will they find out? Do you think your little Auror is going to tell his buddies?"
"How do you even know he was with me? You weren't there."
"True, I wasn't, but it's obvious that he was assigned to protect you. The boys didn't kill him; otherwise they would've been happier. Tell me, what did they do to your Auror?"
"They left him alone."
"Ah, so he was too weak to fend them off." The corners of Liam's lips curled upwards. "He's a goner, then. By morning, he'll be dead."
"He's stronger than you think. He'll pull through."
Liam resumed his tug of war to pull me up the stairwell. I struggled, squirming, beating on his arm.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Frankly, my dear, you have no choice. Unless you want to drop dead on these stairs, I suggest you get a brain and use it."
Thunder rolled and lightning cracked as a door slammed open, crashing hard against the wall. Liam kept his grip on my arm, and I looked in hope. It had to be the Aurors; my Patronus must've hurried!
My glee was short-lived and unwarranted.
"Back away from the girl," Brian growled as he flicked the door shut with a swish of his wand. "Now."
I didn't need a pinch to my skin to know that this, somehow, was real. Because of course, why not add on to the really bad day? My heart sped up in a bad way at remembering his voice.
I couldn't see Brian well enough yet since it was still really dark. We needed some form of light; I wouldn't have minded a lightning strike right about now. Preferably a strike right on Brian would do. Or Liam. On any of these guys as long as I didn't get into the crossfire.
"Just who do you think you are?" Liam snapped. "Telling me what to do?"
Good to know I'm not hallucinating; Liam sees him too. But is that really a good thing?
Brian's footsteps echoed inside the creepy, silent manor. Each step made my heart pound faster. "I believe you have your hands on my girl."
Well, he certainly confirmed he was delusional. We hadn't been together for a while.
Liam's eyes squinted but widened just as quickly. "You escaped."
"Don't sound so surprised. Since the Dark Lord fell, it seems as though Azakban has lightened security—that's something I would've never expected to say. Can't understand why they felt the need to be stupid enough to think that, but all the same I am grateful for it."
"H-how did you...?"
"Know about this or know where to find you?" Brian returned with a question of his own.
"Both."
"In the time I was in Azkaban, I saw two fellow Death Eaters get their own cells. It took them some time to remember me, like you. I was able to communicate with them. I asked them what they did to get in there. A mention of a beautiful girl caught my interest. Yes, they spoke about you, my dear." He shot a flirty look at me. "How I came to find you was just the same: they blurted it out," Brian went on. "You really need to double check who can keep secrets, Liam."
"Clearly you don't know everything, otherwise you wouldn't have come barging in here putting a claim on her," Liam hissed as he yanked me to him.
I tried to tug myself away. "Neither of you have a claim on me!" I said in protest.
"Then tell me, Liam, what I'm clearly missing here," Brian asked in a rather bored tone.
"You've been in Azkaban a little too long," Liam taunted. A stupid move, really. "With the Dark Lord gone, we still continue to carry out work in the name of his views. We're being more...covert about it. If you choose to hang around when we move her, you'll get to see it all. How about it?"
Brian looked as though he didn't want to waste any more time with Liam. Truthfully, I was in the same boat.
"Fine, I'll entertain you and stay," my ex decided. "If you hurt her in any way, I'll make you hurt more." Brain strode up the stairs to Liam and I. "I can take her off your hands."
"How about neither of you touch me?" I said. "It's the least you can do. This place is warded and I don't have my wand. I can't...I can't run anywhere." That harsh truth created a lump in my throat.
Brian nodded minutely towards me. "Fine. You heard the lady, Liam."
When I pulled my arm close to me, Liam let go.
"You don't know where to put her, I do," Liam reminded Brian.
Instead of being alone with one—which was terrifying in itself—I was escorted by both Death Eaters further up the stairs. All doors I saw were shut, and for the most part, the hall was silent. I jumped the first time I heard loud banging and loud profanities.
"What is this place?" I whispered in horror.
"A final resting place for some," Liam answered. "Hopefully it won't have to be yours. We need some new blood in the arena. Seeing the same faces time after time...it gets old, and boring. We need to breathe life back into the sport."
What sport? I knew if I asked, Liam would keep it hushed up. It was one of those things I would have to wait and see for myself. And in order to do that, I had to...I had to...
I had to play by their rules.