Chapter 245: Caged
*Narrator pov*
Voldemort's office was completely destroyed. His large oak desk was smashed to pieces, and broken shelves spilled books and papers everywhere. Burn marks scarred the walls, and cracks ran through the snake carvings on the ceiling. A cabinet lay broken, its contents shattered or thrown across the room. The air still crackled with dangerous magic, warning anyone to stay away.
Outside the room, the Death Eaters stood in tense silence. No one dared to go inside. Even Bellatrix, usually fearless, paused, gripping her wand but not stepping forward.
"Who's going in?" someone whispered, their voice shaky.
"Not me," another muttered, fear clear in their tone.
Bookshelves had been overturned, their contents scattered in a chaotic jumble of parchment and shattered glass.
From within the wreckage came the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground—a final, ominous punctuation to Voldemort's destructive tantrum. The Death Eaters flinched in unison, their loyalty unwavering but their survival instincts sharper still. In the oppressive silence that followed, they remained frozen, hoping the Dark Lord's wrath would subside before he summoned them—and praying they would not be the next target of his ire.
Voldemort to his credit knew in his sensible mind what he was doing was not something a leader should, perhaps it would be better to act as if he expected the momentous failure that was the forbidden forest.
But, he couldn't. Those closest in his circle knew their Lord has been slipping mentally as of late he was more prone to anger than ever before and no one knew why.
Voldemort ground his teeth in fury a low hiss making its way from his throat, "Arghhh!" he groaned massaging his eyes trying to soothe the headache thumping against his mind
Like a devil on his shoulder whispers of making another Horcrux filtered into Voldamorts mind but he held steady not wanting to make another so soon.
"Caw!" Voldemort swiveled seeing a crow on perched on a window he swore was closed a letter lay clasped in its beak
The crow practically spat out the letter before disappearing into the night Voldemort frowned while casting a plethora of charms to check the letter making sure it was safe to pick up and read.
He opened the letter carefully still unaware of just who sent it.
The rage that just began to subside once again flooded his veins this time with some fear.
The letter simply read, "It was fun finding the diadem I can't wait to find the others."
***
Morpheus strode through a dark building it was devoid of all-natural light the only semblance of illumination was small crystals that dimly lit the hallways. His fingers trailed across iron bars.
Eventually his steps halted and he turned to look through the bars, a figure lay weakly on the cold stone floor, "Get up." Morpheus said his tone was sickly sweet
The figure groaned not wanting to raise its head, "I said get up Fenrir." Morpheus repeated flicking his wrist causing Fenrir to fly against the back wall
"Gah!" his breath left him, "I'm up you bastard," Fenrir muttered
"What do you want." Fenrir huffed clutching his side in pain
Morpheus bent to his eye level the bars separating the two, "I can make the pain go away Fenrir, just answer a question."
Fenrir felt the pain on his side worsen and he couldn't remember what happened to make him hurt so bad, "Ask the bloody question!" he shouted
Morpheus smiled brilliantly, "Thank you. Now, where is your point of contact located with the gods? Demons and angels are definitely out I don't take you as a man to agree with them, but someone claiming to be a god of wolves? I bet you jumped into his family instantly, I can feel his stench on you no point denying it."
Fenrir chuckled, "I don't know what you're talking abo-Ah!" he screamed clutching his chest
"Voldemort wouldn't have attacked the Forbidden Forest without assurance, you probably swayed him by posturing your packs strength at the order of your new master. He was the one who wanted the forest wasn't he?" Morpheus asked
"I don't- ARGHH! GODS STOP!" he shouted in fury
"Tell me, he is probably only moving in select locations to protect himself from my sight. It narrows down my suspicions but not completely." Morpheus continued
Fenrir was now doubled over in pain, "Gods I don't KNOW! We communicated through letters!" he felt as if someone, something was eating him from the inside
"Wrong answer."
"GAH! I'm telling the TRUTH!"
Morpheus watched Fenrir writhe on the cold stone floor, blood seeping from reopened wounds and pooling beneath him, mixing with the sweat dripping from his trembling body. The iron bars between them gleamed faintly under the dim light of the crystals, casting eerie shadows on Morpheus's sharp features. His smile, though serene, was devoid of warmth-a predator savoring the chase.
"Letters, you say?" Morpheus mused, his tone lilting with curiosity.
"Convenient, but not nearly enough.
Where were they sent from?"
Fenrir's breathing came in ragged gasps as he clawed at the floor. "I don't know!" he barked, spittle flecking his lips. "They didn't have a sender-just a damned seal!"
Morpheus's eyes narrowed, his fingers drumming against the iron bars. "A seal?
And what did this seal look like?"
"A WOLF MERLIN PLEASE BELIEVE ME!"
Morpheus grinned, "Ah, you have given up praying for your god. Such little faith!"
Morpheus stood, "Where did you first meet him?"
"In Orleans forest." Fenrir panted, "I was there with my pack before I met Voldemort now please make the pain stop."
Morpheus looked contemplative before smiling, "Of course." flicking his wrist Morpheus watched as Fenrir's head rotated from his neck
***
Morpheus stepped back into his manor a lift was in his step as he sashayed over to the liquor cabinet. It might seem like he received barely any information but in actuality, he got quite a bit.
Fenrir said he met the 'god' in Orleans forest of which Morpheus has never had a vision of. A passive and intelligent warding decision on the 'gods' choice. But, now that Morpheus knew where they met he now knows one highly probable location.
He smiled taking a sip of his wine and picking up his two dice jiggling them in his hand they clicked and clacked together while a question formed in his mind.
He tossed the dice and watched as they rolled the first a two and the second a four.
"Six." Morpheus whispered his expression and tone riddled with longing
Voldemort stood in the basement if 'his' manor a crest in his hand as it rolled with dark magic.
A malevolent grin split across his face.