Bab 14: Chapter 14: The Black legacy
The moonlight bathed the small clearing in the forest, casting long shadows among the trees. Máximus remained silent, feeling the cold breeze caressing his dead skin and the sound of insects buzzing around him. He had longed for this moment, the liberation from the cave and the sensation of the outside world, but now that he was out, something within him resisted this "peace." The darkness and silence of the cave, which had once seemed like a prison, now felt like a lost refuge. This world, full of life and movement, was disturbing.
He took a deep breath, even though he didn't need to. Around him, his three trusted Inferi—Rachel, the boy, and the man—maintained a vigilant control over Regulus and Kreacher, who were motionless, daring not to make the slightest movement. The tension in the air was palpable.
Máximus looked up at the night sky, contemplating the moon, but his thoughts were far from the tranquility of the night. He had to decide what to do with Regulus. The young Black had been responsible for the catastrophe in the cave, unleashing the unstoppable Fiendfyre that had consumed many of his Inferi, his "people." Hatred bubbled inside Máximus, but alongside that hatred was the cold, strategic calculation that now dominated his nature.
"It's time to decide," he thought, as his eyes returned to Regulus, his penetrating gaze laden with intention.
—Well... —he said, his voice hoarse and filled with contempt—. What should I do with you after what you've done?
Regulus shuddered at the question, but his training as a member of the noble and proud House Black prevented him from showing fear openly. Still, his eyes revealed doubt and calculation. He knew he was in an extremely precarious position, but he also knew that his only hope was to negotiate. His upbringing in high society and Slytherin, filled with manipulations and political alliances, was the only thing that could save him.
—I... defended myself... —Regulus began, searching for the right words—. I had no other choice. It was an attack. I only did what I believed necessary to survive.
—An attack? —Máximus replied, stepping forward—. Your attack cost the "life" of many of mine. —Anger seeped into his voice, the latent threat behind each word.
Regulus hesitated for a moment, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tried to think of a response that wouldn't sink him further. He had never imagined that his mission to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes would lead him to face an Inferius that not only could talk but also reason. But at the same time, this situation offered him an unusual opportunity.
—Sir...
—Máximus. —said Rachel from behind him.
—Sir Máximus... —he said, striving to sound conciliatory—. It was not my intention for things to come to this point. My goal was to destroy what was contained in that cave. My intention has always been to stop Voldemort, not to fight you or yours.
Máximus listened to him in silence, his expression impassive, but his thoughts were a storm. He did not trust Regulus, not after what he had done, but the words of the young Black contained an undeniable truth: Voldemort was a common enemy.
Regulus, seeing that Máximus did not respond, continued:
—I went in there to destroy something very dangerous. The locket that held the Dark Lord's fragmented soul. —As he said this, his gaze drifted to Máximus's neck, and his eyes widened at seeing what hung from it—. The locket... you are wearing it.
A dark smile appeared on Máximus's face, a gesture that did not reach his eyes.
—I wear it as a trophy —he said proudly—. It is the symbol of my victory over Voldemort.
—But... —Regulus hesitated—. Do you know what it is? That locket is a Horcrux. It contains part of Voldemort's soul. I went into that cave to destroy it.
Máximus narrowed his eyes.
—It no longer contains Voldemort's soul —he replied, his voice low but firm.
Regulus looked at him, surprised.
—How do you know? —he asked slowly, a mix of disbelief and hope.
Máximus did not provide more details, but his words resonated with a certainty that Regulus could not ignore.
—I destroyed it myself —Máximus answered, in a tone suggesting he would reveal no more.
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unresolved tensions and unanswered questions. Máximus had absolute control of the situation, but he was still undecided about what to do with Regulus. On one hand, he could end him right then and there, eliminating a possible threat, but on the other hand, keeping him alive could provide resources he did not yet fully understand. Regulus Black was not an ordinary wizard; that was clear.
Then, Máximus had an idea. If he was going to trust Regulus, he needed to know more. Much more.
—Hold him —he ordered coldly, and the Inferi obeyed, gripping Regulus tightly by the arms. The young wizard did not fight back, but his breathing quickened as he felt the inhuman strength of the hands that restrained him.
Máximus stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Regulus's with an intensity that sent a chill through the young Black.
—Do not interrupt me —Máximus said, addressing the Inferi. He then focused deeply, recalling that unsettling sensation when Voldemort had invaded his mind. Legilimency.
Regulus, sensing what was coming, tried to prepare his defenses. As the heir to one of the oldest and most powerful families in the magical world, he had been trained in Occlumency, the mental defense against attacks like the one he knew he was about to receive. But he had also been trained in Legilimency, and he had an audacious idea: if Máximus tried to invade his mind, he could attempt to do the same.
Both made eye contact, and suddenly, the world around them changed.
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Regulus found himself standing in a dark, surreal landscape. It was the cave, but different. The lake that had once been limited now seemed to stretch infinitely, and the island where the pedestal had been floated in thick fog. He turned, and before him stood Máximus, watching him with a cold smile.
—What is this...? —Regulus asked, his voice trembling.
—You put yourself here —Máximus replied, his voice echoing like an ominous sound—. Every action has its price, Regulus. And you are going to pay for what you've done.
Regulus tried to step back, but the ground seemed to crumble beneath his feet.
—No! Wait... We can come to an agreement —his voice was now a desperate whisper—. I can be your ally! We can destroy Voldemort together. I can offer you... money! Power! Whatever you want!
Máximus said nothing. He simply raised a hand, and at that moment, the spectral figures of the Inferi from the lake began to emerge from the dark waters. Their deformed and twisted bodies crawled toward Regulus, grasping him with cold, stiff hands, trapping him in a prison of dead flesh. Regulus struggled, but he had no escape.
—There is no deal —Máximus whispered as he slowly approached—. You are going to pay.
And then, like a wild beast, Máximus lunged at Regulus's spirit, his teeth sinking into his arm. Regulus screamed in agony as he felt his "soul" being devoured. The screams echoed throughout the mental cave. However, before Máximus could finish him off, Regulus's body began to fade slowly, flickering as if his connection to this world was breaking.
—No! —Máximus shouted, feeling the power slipping through his fingers. He tried to devour faster, but it was too late. Regulus's spirit disappeared, and Máximus was forced back to the outside world.
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His eyes snapped open, and the first thing he saw was Kreacher struggling, fighting with a surprising ferocity for a house-elf. The small Inferius holding him was distracted for a moment, and Kreacher, in a desperate act, stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers.
—NOOO! Master Regulus! —the elf shouted, his voice filled with pain and desperation.
Before Máximus could react, Kreacher broke free and ran toward Regulus's unconscious body. In a single swift movement, he clutched his master's torn robe, and with another snap, both vanished with a faint "pop" that echoed in the tranquility of the clearing.
Máximus stood still for a moment, unable to process what had just happened. He had been so close... too close to obtaining what he needed. A roar of frustration rose in his throat, and he let it escape in a furious scream that resonated through the forest.
—DAMN IT! THEY'VE ESCAPED! —he roared, his hands clenched in anger. He could feel the adrenaline and fury coursing through his body like an uncontrollable fire, as rage consumed him.
His Inferi stood still, watching without moving, waiting for new orders, but Máximus paid them no mind. In the midst of his fury, he noticed something different within himself. A strange sensation, almost like a spark crackling inside him. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling his energy flowing through his body. There was something new within him.
—What is this...? —he murmured to himself, staring at his hands with fascination. It was as if a new power had awakened within him. He felt stronger, more connected to the dark magic surrounding him, as if by biting into Regulus's soul, he had absorbed more than just energy.
And then he understood.
As he devoured Regulus's spirit, he had absorbed a part of his essence, something that belonged to him. It wasn't as powerful as a soul, but it was enough for Regulus's memories and emotions to start filtering into Máximus's mind. He could feel fragments of Regulus's life mixing with his own. Memories. Fragmented scenes of an opulent childhood in the Black mansion, moments of internal struggle over his loyalty to Voldemort, and the decision to betray him. There was also something more, a deep yearning for redemption, a burden of guilt that had weighed on him until the very end.
Regulus was not just a traitor, Máximus thought as the memories settled. He had been a tormented man, but also brave.
A small smile of satisfaction curved Máximus's lips as he felt that energy circulating within him. Even though Regulus and Kreacher had escaped, he had come away with something invaluable: knowledge. And now he possessed Regulus's wand, a symbol of his victory and his growing power. The wand was an object that could connect him more deeply with the magical world and its secrets.
As those thoughts swirled in his mind, euphoria began to take hold. More energy. Máximus could feel his power increasing, flowing like a dark current through his reanimated body. He was no longer the same being that had emerged from the cave. Something within him had changed forever.
He was becoming more powerful.
—This is just the beginning —he told himself, looking toward the spot where Kreacher and Regulus had vanished. They would return. He knew they would. If not them, it would be others searching for them.
With renewed calm, Máximus turned to his three loyal Inferi.
—Let's go —he ordered coldly—. We have things to prepare.
The Inferi followed him without question, and the group once again delved into the shadows of the forest, leaving the clearing deserted under the moonlight. As he walked, his mind was already formulating his next move. He knew he would have to face many more people: Voldemort, the Ministry, and perhaps even Dumbledore. He would have to plan.
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Author notes
Finally!! We are outside and we´ve reached 12k words!!! I´m proud to get this far :) I´m a bit closer to my dream of being a writer.
I´ve opened a p4treo n so if you like my works you can support me there!, I wont have new chapters or somenthing earlier but I´ve put polls there to vote for new arcs and storys :) anyways it´s only to support me if you like what I write.
patreon.com/Hujikiongyu
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