Paradox | T. Riddle ✔

~•4.5•~

She was bound tightly in ropes that she couldn't break out of as those masked Death Eaters took her to the Dark Lord's hideout. She struggled against them but the silencing charm did not let her speak and the ropes held her tightly, restricting her movement.

At last the entourage reached the hideout and they dragged her in, throwing her at their Master's feet.

Eleanor drew back in alarm, eyes traveling up the jet black robes of the creature in front of her, stopping on that chalky white face and murderous red eyes.

Lord Voldemort.

The Dark Wizard who was responsible for the terrible war that was about to break out as well as for killing several innocent people including her parents.

"Well done," he appreciated his followers but then ordered them to leave the room.

And when there was no one but him and Eleanor, he bent down, revoking the silencing charm from her.

"Welcome back, Eleanor," his voice was raspy and sent chills down her spine but she braced herself, not willing to surrender easily. "I see you after so many years yet you remain the same... Beautiful, fiery and looking quite ready to kill me."

His voice held a derisive hint as if mocking her for how the tables had turned. Even after all her efforts, she couldn't stop him from becoming Voldemort nor could she stop the war.

She might not have changed apparently, however, she could see how much he had changed in all those years.

He looked nothing like the Tom Riddle she had seen last. His head was covered with a dark hood and his grey eyes had turned blood red in color. His features though the same sharply striking were even more deadly and his skin had lost the humanly tinge, turning a terrifying chalky white.

"You broke your word," her eyes flashed in rage, "I should have made the Unbreakable Vow that night so that you'd have been killed already."

His bony hand reached out to caress her cheek, watching her turn her face away as if repulsed. "Just as angry as you used to be... Some things really never change."

"Such as your ability to backstab, you vile, monstrous, piece of..."

But his cackling laughter drowned away her words and that once he didn't care that she was trying to pull her face away from him. Instead his hand closed onto her jaw, forcing her to look at him.

"I did not backstab you, love. Regulus and Esmeralda are both alive."

She stopped resisting against him at those words, "what?"

"Yes. I did not break my promise to you and spared them. Even though Regulus wasn't even fated to die by my hand but I prevented his death and he is also alive."

Her heart ached to be able to see him because for her it had been so long since she had laid eyes on him. Hearing that he was alive made her yearn to go to him and Esmeralda.

"Where are they?" She asked, her eyes still flickering in doubt, "I won't believe you until I see them."

"Very well," he nodded and with a single flick of his hand, the ropes bounding her tightly vanished.

She stumbled but he reached out, his hand closing onto her arm to steady her. Eleanor would have pulled away immediately but then paused, knowing any resistance might end up in him changing his mind and refusing to take her to Regulus and Esmeralda.

"Wise decision, love," he remarked smugly, leading her down to the dungeons where the prisoners were kept, "though you must know I do not intend to bargain their lives for free."