Chapter 50

"Are you going to tell me what you plan to do with it?"

Tom stared at the necklace that sat gently above her breasts. Anastasia watched as he buttoned his shirt, slowly slipping her underwear back on.

"Something very important." Tom grinned. Anastasia loved how he still looked so flustered, continuously having to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Suddenly there was a small bang, making Anastasia's eyes widen. The bang was followed by another, and then another until Anastasia realised where the noise was coming from. As her eyes landed on the trunk by the fireplace Tom had already started making his way towards it. Just as his hand nearly touched the wood he turned back to face her.

"Are you ready?" There was a devilish twinkle in his eyes. Anastasia was yet to recover from him being on top of her, his sweat still lingering on her skin. In this moment he was too excited, too pleased with himself for her liking. The pit of her stomach told her something was wrong.

"Tom-"

"What's the point in asking? It's too late now. You can't change your mind." Tom grinned.

"Tom what-" Tom flew towards her, almost floating. As he reached her he placed both hands around the back of her neck, his thumbs locking into place under her chin. Anastasia gasped at his speed, nearly falling backwards but she was kept upright by his firm grip. Tom leaned down slowly to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

"You've given yourself to the devil, Anastasia. I've had you now. All of you. No matter what happens you can't change that." He whispered into her mouth. "How does it feel? Being mine?" Anastasia was breathless. Being his was all she had ever wanted, but the hairs on her skin stood sharp at his words. As he laid gentle kisses along the curves of her mouth her body responded.

"Everything I've ever wanted." Was all she could whimper.

"Then you'll love your surprise." Anastasia opened her eyes as her skin went cold and her senses reached out for him. Tom strode back over to the trunk, leaving her half-naked and exhausted. He turned to her with a final grin before proudly lifting the lid of the trunk. He bent down inside and groaned in strain as he lifted a large brown sack out. Anastasia watched it move under Tom's grip and slowly stood up from the desk as he placed it on the floor. With one swoop Tom grabbed the material and threw it off. Anastasia looked down to see a man lying in the foetal position. She watched the long dark hair sweep the floor as he struggled. She felt herself slowly walking towards him, her eyes widening with each moment. The wriggling man suddenly looked up, revealing his eyes.

"Elius?" She whispered. His eyes turned wide with shock and he started struggling more feverishly against his magical bounds.

"Surprise." Anastasia looked up to Tom who loomed above the captured man with a clear grin.

"Tom wasn't the dress enough? He never tried to contact-"

"Stop." Tom lifted his hand, shaking his head. "Please don't insult me by insinuating I have kidnapped this man purely because of my own pathetic jealousy? No, no, no." Tom stepped over Elius who was looking more and more frightened with each second. Anastasia looked back and forth between the men, making Tom lower his head to obstruct her eye-line to Elius.

"Then why would-"

"I got him as a gift. For you." Tom smiled, but his stare was cutting. Anastasia sank under his looming features.

"A gift? Tom, I really thought we had put Elius behind us-"

"DON'T" Tom screamed before inhaling sharply "speak his name." Tom's restrained voice was even more spine-chilling that his shout. He turned back towards Elius. "If anything we're giving this filthy scum an honour he doesn't deserve by using him."

Anastasia watched as Tom hissed down towards Elius, looking like a predator with his prey. His prey. Anastasia began to shake slightly as her hand reached to clasp the necklace. The necklace she had brought for him to make a horcux. She didn't know too much about horcruxes but there were two things she did know: one that Tom wanted to create multiple, and two that you have to kill to make one. Anastasia looked down at Elius, knowing that no matter what she did now it was too late for him. The overwhelming power of guilt washed over her and absorbed into her skin. She remembered how he had spoken to her at the Avery dinners, making her feel intelligent and strong. She looked over to the desk, where Tom had just been inside of her while Elius lay beside them inside that trunk and prepared herself for the tears. The tears didn't come. She patted her dry eyes before remembering that she had made a deal with the devil, she no longer qualified to pity herself with the release of tears.

"You already punished me with Rosier. You didn't need to do this." Her tone was cold and flat, making both the men turn with slightly shocked expressions.

"Punish you?" Tom's hands gripped the ropes and he lifted Elius to his feet and then above. Anastasia quivered at Tom's strength as his hands lifted high above their heads with Elius dangling next to him.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding." Tom winced as Elius struggled in his bondage. "Why do you think I asked you to pick an object?" Tom suddenly threw his arms forward, propelling Elius onto the floor so he lay before her feet. "Why do you think I've brought him here instead of just killing him where I found him?" Tom took a step forward as Elius spluttered below her. "I've told you multiple times Anastasia. I don't want to do this without you." Anastasia gasped as Tom bent down and picked up her cloak. He removed her wand and handed it to her over Elius' body. Anastasia took it from him, and as she raised her green eyes to meet his dark brown ones there was a moment of clear silence.

"I'll only ever offer this opportunity to you Anastasia, only this once." Anastasia trembled as his whisper caressed her nose. "Prove to me you are who I think you are." He pressed his forehead against hers, both of them staring down at the winded man. "Prove to me you're worthy to stand by my side. Forever."