forged in fire || [ZEKE]

Zeke was starring absent-mindedly at the few students who had showed up to train, he had to suppress a yawn as they cast hexes at one another; their forms either left them wide open by exposing their chests and torso, or it was so completely unorthodox that it gave them absolutely zero accuracy in their hexes. Form was something that Zeke had beaten into him during his “indoctrination” training; he thought maybe he should implement those training methods among the students; trying to avoid a full-fledged crucitas curse was a little more incentive for ensuring your posture.

Just as Zeke rose to his feet to implement this method he heard the chime coming from a little silver bell that was on the arm of his chair. Zeke felt a smile creep across his face that was well hidden behind his silver mask. “We’ll have to cut this meeting short, it appears I have a visitor… If you’ll excuse me.” Zeke quickly walked out of the room quickly, cutting through the back bar of the Hogshead and into the cool nights air, with a snap and a twist Zeke felt himself apparate to the edge of the tree line just before the clearing in the forbidden forest.

Zeke glanced around and realized that it was not the giant invasion force he had almost hoped for, with a slight sigh he produced his wand as he began stalking towards his tent, “Probably some overly nosey student, most likely a Gryffindor.” Zeke smirked slightly at the last thought, maybe he was getting his hopes up; but it’d been a long time since he’d cast a killing curse, and his wand hand was getting a little itchy.

He peeked into the tent through the partially open slit to ensure that he wasn’t completely out numbered, when he only saw one shadowy figure he let out another sigh, he’d been at least hoping for a challenge. One student wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as a group of two or three, he couldn’t draw it out nearly as long. He walked into his tent, paying no attention to the noise his boots were producing on the tile floor. He saw the intruder spin aiming her wand blindly into his direction, Zeke rolled his eyes as his wand came flying out instinctively, he wanted to have fun with this one. “Cruci…”

Zeke stopped himself mid-hex as the voice hit his ears, he yanked his wand in the other direction as a weird reddish hex flew out wildly into a trunk that shattered into a million pieces, Zeke stepped out into the light of the room, his breathing was erratic he had no idea what to do at this point as he starred at Bellatrix Black. Both of their wands drawn on each other, hers in order to attack and Zeke’s out of pure instinct. “Put your wand down and leave Bellatrix, this is your only chance for that offer.” Zeke said flatly, he didn’t want to hurt Bellatrix…No, he couldn’t hurt Bellatrix, he didn’t have it in him, and he knew it; he only hoped that she wouldn’t kill him because of that.

This is not what Zeke had expected when he came back to his tent, this was the last thing he had wanted actually… He was alone with Bellatrix Black, the women that he had literally killed for, in his tent; with wands drawn at the ready, both on the verge of casting hexes that could kill the other. “No Bellatrix, walk away now and no harm will come to you. Why would I harm a prospect with such potential? Why would I want to kill the person that could become our greatest asset?”

Zeke stared at her speechless as she accused him of being an assassin, Why does everyone assume that Death Eaters just go around killing one another?” he asked himself mentally, frustrated at their lack of opinion towards the brotherhood. “I’m no Assassin, Bellatrix. Besides, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have cast a crucitas curse, nor would I have missed. I promise you.” Zeke was hoping that if he could convince her that he meant her no harm she would walk away and let things go.

That thought process dissipated the moment she held up the pictures and news clippings he had been keeping of her; he had gone back through old papers trying to find out about her, what she had been up to, her classes, anything, and everything that he had missed. Zeke swallowed hard trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for them. “Listen… I Can…” He was interrupted by her hex flying past his ear, he felt the warmth from the hex on his face. He looked back watching the tent burst into flames, they were trapped. Bellatrix was now trapped inside of a burning tent and it was his fault; he took a deep breath and snapped his attention back to Bellatrix, keeping his guard up expecting a second attack. She began accusing him of murdering himself, he wanted to point out how obviously wrong she was.

“I’m not going to kill you Bellatrix, I’m not even going to hurt you unless you force my hand.” Zeke snapped at her before momentarily taking his eyes off of her and flicking his wand at the entrance that was now engulfed in flames, he wouldn’t allow himself to be responsible for her death “Aguamenti!” a jet of water flew out of the end of his wand, extinguishing the flames. Once Zeke was confident in the flames he returned his attention back to Bellatrix, his wand still at the ready position; “Besides, how could I kill someone that’s not dead, Bellatrix?”

Zeke felt the wand press into his neck, he had been careless, he knew it the moment he turned his back to her that he was leaving himself open for a killshot. It had been stupid on his part, Bellatrix thought that Zeke was dead, and even more so, she thought that he was the man that had done it. Zeke made sure his turn back towards her was slow and deliberate, not giving her reason to act. He didn’t want Bellatrix to kill him, not because he was afraid to die, but because he didn’t want her to have to live with the fact that she had been the one to kill him.

The hex pushed Zeke back a couple of steps, it was nothing more than spacing; in a different time Zeke would have chastised her for such a measly move; she had the kill shot and declined it… That was just as stupid as him turning his back on her. Then it struck Zeke… “She wants me to kill her…” the pain of the realization struck him like a dagger into his heart. Bellatrix, HIS Bellatrix was trying to die… She wanted this to end, Why? Why would she want that?” He screamed to himself mentally. Zeke felt something rising inside of himself, something he was familiar with, Hatred.

He could taste it in his mouth, but not a hatred for Bellatrix, or for the muggles which is what he was accustom to… A hatred for himself; for leaving her alone, for letting this happen to her. This was his fault, he was supposed to be here for her; he had promised her that. Zeke felt the agony inside of him, he was her protector, the man that would do anything for her! HIM. ZEKE ANTHONY MAXWELL. How could he have done this to her? Why had he been so weak to leave her alone like that!

He heard the sound before he realized what it was, his wand… hitting the floor. His hand had let go and he stood in front of her, Bellatrix Prosperina Black… waiting for his fate; waiting for what he deserved. He had failed her, he had promised her to be there for here, always. And he hadn’t been there. He felt the tears welling up inside of him as he stared into her crazy and wild green eyes. Zeke slowly held his arms out to his sides as he waited for the kill shot to come, he embraced his fate, “Go ahead Bells, do it. I deserve it...” He whispered softly into the air between them, before mentally finishing, "I'm sorry I failed you..."

Zeke had dropped to his knees without any as she shoved him down, he prepared himself mentally as he waited the finally killing stroke from, he closed his eyes and felt the tip of the wand trace his jawline; he wanted to stop her as she lifted his mask but his arms would not budge. He heard the mask clatter on the floor, and he waited for the incantation, or the scream, the cursing, anything. He deserved her hatred; he had abandoned her after all.

Then he heard her hit the floor, his eyes opened wide trying to figure out what was going on; her hands wrapped around his face, the warmth of her touch melted him inside; the touch he had longed to feel once again, the touch that had haunted his dreams for months on end. “Of course I’m here Trix…” he whispered to her softly, he realized that she thought this was the afterlife but he couldn’t bring himself to ruin this moment, after that if she knew he had been alive this whole time that she would hate him for his betrayal. “I’m right here for you, Bellatrix.” His hand reached up to cup hers, a tear flowing from his face as he felt the feeling of her skin under his fingertips once again. “I’ve missed you so much.” He whispered to her, leaning his head forward against hers.

“But… this isn’t what you think Bellatrix… You’re alive… and so am I…” he whispered to her timidly, afraid to ruin the moment. Knowing that she wouldn’t believe him, he picked up her hand and moved it to his chest, letting her feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He let his eyes bore into her soul as they once had so many moons ago. “I’m alive, Bells, I always was, and I was always thinking of you.” His voice was almost a plea, hardly the tough exterior he had put on just moments before, he could never be on the offensive with her; he’d always been the submissive “I’m back Bellatrix, and I’m never leaving again.”[/color

Zeke never took his eyes off of Bellatrix, he never wanted her to leave his site again; he wasn’t exactly sure what he had done, and if this had been a wise decision to let her know who he was; but he’d done it and there was no going back at this point. Not that he’d even want to go back now. Seeing her face, letting her see his, being able to touch her again; it was all so…so… liberating.

He took her cheek in his hand, cupping it softly, brushing his thumb across her fragile skin. “I know he dead, he told all of you that… I don’t know why, but he did. Maybe he was afraid of you coming to find me; I don’t know, but I’m here now.” Zeke wondered why The Dark Lord had decided to tell everyone that he was dead; to Zeke it seemed a little over the top, a little over done. But who was Zeke to question the Dark Lord’s plans? And it wasn’t as if he could walk up to him and question his judgment. “The truth is that they took me. I had to go through some indoctrination in order to become a Death Eater; I’m not sure if it’s standard procedure or not Bells.” Zeke swallowed hard as the thought hit him…

Bellatrix graduates this year; Would she have to go through it too?

He felt his skin run cold, he wouldn’t let it happen, not to Bellatrix. Zeke would go to Riddle personally and argue this point; he couldn’t stand the thought of Bellatrix being locked in a basement, with Death Eaters coming in at regular intervals to torture her, wondering if you’re ever going to get out alive…

Zeke had to stop his thought process, it was too much for him to think about; He needed to focus on the present, focus on this moment and not worry about the future…yet. “But it’s over now Bells, I’m back, I’m alive. I’m marked, and I entertain the audience of our Dark Lord; he’s assigned me a mission, I’m actually doing something for him.” He remembered the nights that they had spent talking about when they would actually be tasked to do something for the Dark Lord instead of just training constantly. “I’ve completed missions for him; I’m not just training anymore.” He wasn’t sure if he was explaining or just trying to impress her that he had actually done something the past several months. “I never stopped thinking about you… ever.” He whispered softly, his fingers trailing upward and getting themselves tangled in her hair.

 “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamt of this moment, Bellatrix.” He slightly tilted her head and then leaned down as he finally pressed his lips against hers; he still felt the same electricity run through his body as he had the first time he’d ever kissed her. He was just as crazy about her now as he was then, back when they had been fighting to hide their own feelings. The moment was still as clear to Zeke today as if it had just been yesterday they were sitting in the clearing. Zeke pulled away and gave a small grin as he suppressed a chuckle. He looked into Bellatrix’s eyes, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime…

Zeke Maxwell smiled.

Zeke looked at Bellatrix as she agreed that her devotion wasn’t fully to their Dark Lord, and before he could stop himself he felt the words leave his mouth, “And now? Where do your loyalties lie now, my love?” He wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to know the answer to the question, but it was out there and there was no way for him to recant the question. He cringed slightly as she asked him about being taken, and he just nodded as he inhaled sharply. “Yes, took me. It was right after graduation, I had just told my mum goodbye and planned on seeing her in the morning; we had plans to sneak away from the Slytherin party and meet in my room. I walked into my room to change and as soon as the door shut… I didn’t even get my wand out before the curse hit me.” He took a breath, it was still difficult for him to talk about the event but if there was anyone on the face of the earth that he could talk to about it, this was that person. “The pain, I remember it vividly… I’ve never felt a crucitas curse so strong. There was two of them, the other used a binding spell to keep my mouth shut and muffle the screams… I passed out rather quickly, I think I did at least.” He took another slow breath trying to clear the memory from his head, “The next time I woke up; I was chained to a wall in a dungeon… it was black as night, the only light that came in was when they opened the door for more…training.” Zeke swallowed hard as he fought to suppress the memories from his first few months of training, the routine torture they had put him through, the sounds of his own screams echoing in the dungeon… it had been a nightmare, something he was determined to prevent from happening to Bellatrix.

Zeke smiled at her as she traced over his mark, it was an incredible sensation to have her outline the tattoo, her fingers almost producing their own brand of magic. He caught the hint of a smile as she asked him about his first official assignment and just chuckled slightly at her, “Yes. The Dark Lord is not pleased with the progress that Fable is making with his army. What I said to you in the meeting was very true and almost word for word from the Dark Lord.” Zeke’s smile faded slightly as his tone got serious, “I’ve been out there, Bells; there is a war on the horizon and I fear that some of the group is not taking this seriously. I was watching a training session when you tripped off my alarm, and the form that they were using was utterly deplorable. I mean just the basic fundamentals were… novice, at best.” Zeke shook his head, “They would struggle to take down a pack of muggles let alone the Ministry’s trained Aurors. Has fable taught you nothing?” Zeke was rather frustrated with Fable, and his lack of interest in the students. He assumed that Fable had been out of school for several years, maybe even close to decade; Zeke had not however, and these were people he had called a friend not too long ago. “I need to get you all ready, you must be prepared for the battle… right now… you’d all die.”

Zeke smiled at Bellatrix as she cursed at him, he lifted his head slightly and kissed her forehead, “And every time I closed my eyes, I dreamt about the moment I would return to you, my dearest Bellatrix.” Zeke remembered this feeling, it was feeling he thought he would never experience again… it was happiness. Zeke Maxwell was finally happy once again.

Zeke wasn’t exactly sure how he had felt about Bellatrix’s reply, he wanted her to be loyal to him… and maybe only him? Zeke was undyingly loyal to the Dark Lord, and would willingly sacrifice his life for the cause of blood purity… wouldn’t he? For the first time in months Zeke felt a twinge of something… Doubt. The Dark Lord had taken Bellatrix away from Zeke and had strengthened his conviction to the cause, but now that he has Bellatrix back… There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to ensure that he never left her again. Seperation makes the heart grow fonder… It was a saying that he remembered his Mother telling him before him during his first year at Hogwarts, he had been homesick and she wanted to comfort him. Zeke never understood it until now, he had been separated from Bellatrix, his Bellatrix… and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to prevent that from happening again.

Zeke smiled slightly at her comment about him being strong, “We all find our strengths in different ways, Bellatrix.” Zeke could remember all of the low points of his indoctrination, the moments when he wished they would just say the words and kill him already. He remembered begging them for it once… The Death Eater in charge had kneeled down next to him and asked him if he was sure, and that if he wanted to die that they would grant him that wish. Zeke wanted to say yes, he wanted it to be over at that moment… but there was one thing that had stopped him from submitting and agreeing to his own death. Bellatrix Black.

“Perhaps you’ll consider studying under me?” Zeke asked curiously, he was almost a little taken back that Bellatrix would refer to the Dark Lord by his given name… as if they were… equals. He understood calling him Professor Riddle while in class, but to do so outside of class… Preposterous “I’m not asking you to give up your private sessions with the Dark Lord, he emphasized the words hoping that she would see the error of her ways, ”But I could really use the extra wand when it comes to the group that has been under Fable… Their technique and hexes are nowhere near where they should be. If we were to go into battle with them they would be as much a liability to us as they would be a threat to our enemy.” Zeke shook his head, completely dumbfounded as to why Fable would put so little effort into their training.

He chuckled as she defended her own skills, “I don’t doubt your skills, love; I doubt your companion’s skills. This is not a war that one witch or wizard can win on their own; if that were the case, surely the Dark Lord would possess the skills to do so. We need an army; we need numbers, we will surely be out numbered, yes, but we need Wizards and Witches that can kill in numbers.” This wasn’t just about skill, this was chess; they had the superior King, they just needed to get all of their pieces together. “You can’t win a game of chess if your pawn is incapable of making a kill. Even the queen needs an army.”

Zeke smiled and once again kissed her forehead, “I am not going anywhere, my love.” He knew he would be here in Hogsmeade until the war started; The Dark Lord was arranging his pieces to make his move. Zeke had been out in London, he saw the unrest… It must be coming soon, surely it must. He thought to himself silently, knowing that he had little time to train this army made him nervous, he knew that as of now they would be lambs to the slaughter. But it wasn’t that fact that made Zeke nervous, no he could handle the lambs dying. It was the fact that those lambs would be fighting alongside his Queen. He wrapped an arm around Bellatrix’s waist and pulled her closer, “I swear to you my love, I will not leave again.”