Saturday 2nd December 2023
6:15 pm
"Maybe release me from these stupid invisible chains?"
"No. You can stay there, I don't trust you a single bit."
At this point, Reynold and that Rio guy had left the room, leaving myself and Marie. I despised my mother enough to not even call her mother. She's never been there for me, and she never will. And as she said, she doesn't trust me.
I've done nothing to her for her to be able to say that. I guess my existence pisses her off or something. Funny.
"Right, now what do you think of Rio?" She asks me and I roll my eyes.
"I don't know. He's just a random guy I know nothing about."
"Oh, don't you worry about that." She smirks as she sits down on the sofa, taking a sip of wine and then swirls the cup. "You'll get to know him enough."
"I don't get it. How would he help me?"
"You're going to use him to make Riddle jealous of course." She states, as if it's the most obvious thing ever. "As I said, jealousy is a powerful tool, and it'll only draw the Dark Lord's son closer to you."
"Riddle doesn't like me nor does he care about me. Why would he give a shit if some rando is just following me around?"
"God, you're so incompetent." She scoffs. "Just do as I say, and if you don't, I will find out. Rio will be reporting back to me everyday."
"Brilliant." I mutter under my breath, watching as she taps her face with some pressed powder.
"So when you get back to school in a couple of moments, I want you to act as if you're dating Rio. It's best to get to that extreme." She sprits perfume over herself. "Understood?"
I let out a deep breath and process what I've gotten myself into. I can't do this. Not now, not ever. I knew this day would come so I should've prevented it somehow. The day my parents would use me to fulfil Voldemort's desires.
Mattheo and I have just gotten on good terms, and now they want me to ruin what we have immediately?
***
7:32 pm
"I think I should head back to Hogwarts now... my professors won't be so happy."
"Oh, don't you worry about that." Reynold says, sat at the top end of the dinner table, whilst I sit directly opposite this guy Ryan - or whatever his name is - and Marie. "You'll return tomorrow morning. I've owled your school. Told them you had an emergency appointment."
I almost choke on my food.
They probably think I'm a death eater now too.
"You alright?" Rowan asks me, looking at me with his beady eyes. I stop myself from pulling a face of disgust and tilt my head with a fake smile.
"Perfectly well thank you Ryder."
"It's Rio." He scoffs.
"Close enough, Rafael."
I watch as his fist clenches and I smile to myself in content. After that, the silence in the dining room is deadly, just sounds of cutlery tapping and scraping against the plates, as I finish up the food that Kathy had made for us.
She'd found me earlier on, on my hands and knees with the magic chains keeping my limbs together. She couldn't bear the sight, but there was nothing she could do. She cried and hesitantly walked out of the room as soon as Marie gave her a dirty look.
I continue to eat, trying to ignore the presence of the two devils sat near me and the stranger sat opposite me, but I realise he can't take his eyes off of me. Am I being delusional? No. There's nothing to be delusional about in this scenario... he's just been watching me this whole time, and I begin to grow uncomfortable.
"If you'll excuse me." I say, standing up as my chair pushes back. "I think I'll be off to bed now."
"Rio, if you're done too, Jaya will gladly show you the way upstairs to the guest room." Marie says and I stop myself from loudly sighing. Instead I roll my eyes, and head upstairs, with the rat scurrying along behind me.
"So, darling." He starts and I almost feel like puking.
"Oh god, don't call me that."
"My bad." He chuckles. "So, which way is my room?"
"Not your room, just the guest room for now." I tell him, and point to a room at the far end of the hall, feeling glad it's as far away as possible from my own.
"Right, thanks. You should join me for a while." He winks and I stop myself from throwing myself down the stairs.
"Keep dreaming Raven."
"Ooh, kinda like that one better than Rio." He smirks and I scoff, before heading towards the bathroom.
I open the door, heading inside and locking it behind me. I stand in front of the sink, and stare at myself in the mirror. My wrists are sore, with the redness from the invisible chains still prominent. My makeup is half gone, and I look a right mess.
Suddenly, my eyes widen like they never have before, my jaw drops and I'm about to shout aloud in shock, when I see someone stood behind me as I look through the mirror.
He quickly covers my mouth with his hand to stop me from screaming, holding onto my waist from behind.
Riddle.
"Sshh." He whispers lowly, his breath fanning against the skin of my neck. I slowly calm down my breathing and he eventually removes his hand from my mouth. I immediately whip around to face him, looking up at him in surprise.
"What are you doing here Mattheo!?" I whisper-shout, trying to control myself. Rio could be outside this door any second. Luckily, Marie and Reynold have their own bathroom so they won't be anywhere near this one.
"Uh, come to save you?" He raises his brows.
"Oh my... this is the worst place you could be right now."
My mind flashes back to the sound of my fathers voice, telling me about how I must return Mattheo to the Dark Lord. I don't know what to do.
If I told Mattheo the truth, he'd probably do something crazy, putting himself in danger.
"How so? You're here." He smiles and I look down, covering my face with my hands.
"You need to return to Hogwarts. It's not safe here for you." I tell him. "My parents are here-"
"Oh yeah, I know." He says casually. "I saw them too when I looked for you through my dreams."
"You did what!?" I gasp, and he lifts his hand to hold my face in his palm, as he tilts his head to inspect my face.
"I was really worried about you Jaya... I knew something was wrong the moment you wandered off. What even happened? What did your parents say?"
Shit. What do I tell him?
Fuck it, it's his safety over mine.
"Oh they... they just wanted to ask me if I had something going on with you." I tell him, clearing my throat, when suddenly there's a knock at the door.
"Shit." I mutter under my breath, my heart beginning to race as I fumble and push Mattheo against the wall behind him, my body slammed against his. "Who is it?" I call out.
"It's Rio. Just wondering how long you're going to be."
"Rio? Who's that?" Mattheo pulls a disgusted face, looking down at me, and I slap my hand over his mouth.
"I'll be about 5 minutes." I respond.
"Alright, take your time sweetheart." He says and suddenly I notice Mattheo looking furious. He attempts to push past me and reach for the door handle, but I swiftly grab his wrist and pull him back to me.
I stumble backwards, my back against the counter, and his body impossibly close to mine. His hands lean against the table behind me, his face inching closer to me as our eyes don't leave each other's.
He still looks angry, angry enough to kill someone.
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author's note
long time no see my pookies🤗