Run Boy Run
James heard the slithering and ducked down behind a rocky outcrop. He’d wandered into a large circular bowl-like cavern filled with roughly hewn tiered stone benches around what looked to be a central altar and body of dark still water. There were several rocky outcrops scattered along the ledge he was on which allowed him to peer down without being seen. He hoped. James watched as a Lamia slithered past, the long snake body undulating easily over the broken stones until it reached the water at the bottom of thr bowl.
“You’re late.” The voice was ordinary and somewhat reedy. It was also vaguely familiar.
“I am exactly when I wanted to be.” The soft, seductive voice hissed.
“You came alone?”
“Since the death of my sister I am always alone.” The Lamia turned large yellow snake eyes upon the non-descript man who had sauntered out of the shadows into the cold light of the cavern.
“I told you. I had nothing to do with your sister's death. She told me she had found the temple of your god and was going to meet him. The next thing I know Nagini and our Dark Lord turn up dead in France.”
“And now you pretend to be him. You! A lesser wizard with more ambition than talent.” The Lamia sneered.
“I am not a lesser wizard. I have mastered the dark arts,” the man snarled.
“You have mastered the basic spells of illusion and crowd control. A child could do those. When you can pull demons and witches through time and space, then you may call yourself a master.”
The man looked up sharply from the silver items he had been placing on the altar. “What have you done Zmija?”
“I have summoned gifts to be sacrificed. They will bring us great power.”
“Where are they?” The man was curious, despite his annoyance.
“On their way.” Zmija said archly, remaining on the other side of water from the altar.
James gasped. Willow and Tara. He had to warn them. He started to stand when another figure stepped silently into the chamber behind the man at the altar.
“So this is why Voldemort was so enamored of the Black family. Interesting.” A cold, dispassionate voice drifted effortlessly up to James. James felt his heart plummet. Of course Regulus would be here. It was who had prompted him to go exploring in the first place.
“I am Lord Vol de Mort.” The man said, drawing himself up to his full height without turning around.
“Oh?. I didn’t realise Voldemort was still alive. I must say, you’re much shorter than you used to be.”
Even from where he crouched, James could see the man’s face blanch. James almost felt sorry for him.
“Zmija.” Regulus said
“Yes Lord Black.” The Lamia replied
“Good. You recognize me.”
“Of course Lord Black. Those who think they are in charge are worried about what you will do. They like to come here and seek advice from the water spirit.”
“And what have you advised?”
Zmija gave a low, throaty laugh. “I do not advise. They reach their own conclusions.”
Regulus stared at Zmija. The man claiming to be Voldemort visibly squirmed. James was oddly disappointed that this nondescript man’s stage presence had been an illusion. The silence grew more and more uncomfortable.
After a long few minutes Zmija emitted a low hiss. “I advised those who asked to kill you if they wished to remain alive and in power.” She ground out, all seduction replaced by bitterness and anger. “You murdered my sister. You must die in return.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t attempt it yourself.” Regulus raked stoney eyes over her. Zmija was beautiful and brutal as all Lamia were. But without the power to shapeshift they were restricted to a world with little human interaction. Even with the strongest illusion spells and transformative potions, their natural form and inherent malevolence activated the most basic of instincts and terrified everyone they met.
“You made sure to never be where I could reach you.”
“I’m here now.” Regulus spread his arms wide. The man at the alter grabbed a scalpel and dove at him. Regulus flicked a wrist, freezing the man in place, arm outstretched, face tearful, beads of sweat now dripping into terrified pale brown eyes. “Really? A two inch blade? That’s not nearly enough to make a dent on a moving target.” Regulus gave an exaggerated sigh. “Is this the best Voldemort could do? Surely between you and Nagini you could have found someone of higher quality.” He sneered.
Zmija stiffened. “We brought many worthy subjects. This ..” she flicked her tongue contemptuously at the frozen man “was the only one who survived.”
Regulus gave a brittle laugh. “I’ll have to do something about that.” He dropped his arms and his wand appeared in one hand pointing at the man “Im..”
“A duel.” Zmija hissed violently before Regulus could cast the spell.
“A duel? You actually care about this one. Interesting.” Regulus studied the two in front of him. It made sense. The man was just weak enough to be easily manipulated by the sisters and the dark lord. He would be able to procure necessary items to make being trapped in the city worthwhile. He was also the reason Voldemort escaped the final battle and survived as long as he did.
“I do not care. He is useful. That is all.”
“Where and when should we have this duel? Would you like this man as your second? Should I have a second? What is the prize?” Regulus asked, genuinely curious.
Zmija stared at the arrogant thin pale man walking slowly around the altar towards her. He radiated an aura of power. She could taste a mix of magics. Some she had encountered many times in her century upon the earth. Some so old she wondered why he was not ruling the world. “Who are you? What are you?” She hissed.
“I am Lord Black. And as far as I’m aware I’m human.” Regulus responded calmly, completely ignoring the nightmarish water now below him, as he circled around Zmija and back onto the main floor of the cavern. “You have yet to answer my questions.”
“We do not need seconds. Your companions can witness your demise from their hiding places along the upper ledges. When you are dead I will use them for my pleasure.” Zmija rippled slowly and sensuously from her shoulders to the tip of her tail as she ran a hand down the valley between her breasts to where her torso gradually blended from human to snake.
Regulus shrugged. He had known James was there and had asked Pandora to keep an eye on him. It made sense that the rest had finally caught up, particularly if Remus was following his nose.
Regulus caught the spell Zmija cast hoping she had distracted him. He almost laughed. Why did everyone assume he was straight? And flung an imperious curse back at her. She dodged. He bounced her next spell back increasing the speed. It hit her tail. Zmija screamed. A mix of pain and fury. The casting grew more intense. Regulus stuck to predictable known magic, Zmija grew wilder and wilder as she drew on the darker spells she had learnt over the decades.
Up on the ledge James was ducking and dodging boulders as spells went wide, hitting the cavern walls and ceilings. He could see the fierce control in Regulus’s movements. “Why isn’t he using Black magic?” He heard Sirius whisper desperately as another spell exploded at Regulus’s feet, causing flames to race up his trouser legs.
James couldn’t answer that. Most of the spells they had seen so far were banned at school for being part of the dark arts. Even the Order refused to let the younger wizards and witches learn let alone cast them.
“Because it’s too unpredictable.” Pandora whispered
“But he used it on James. It saved his life. Why won’t he use it to save his own?” Sirius said desperately. “I don’t care if he still hates me, I don’t want him to die.”
“I don’t hate you. Now shut up and let me concentrate.” Regulus muttered, barely getting his shield up in time to deflect another explosion. Every muscle and scrap of flesh on his body was screaming in pain. Regulus could only imagine how the Lamia was feeling as he jumped and rolled out of the way of her lashing tail. There were scorch marks along the length of her body, as well as vicious red welts on her arms and face. Zmija was far more powerful than Nagini had been.
“Do you yield?” She hissed, watching triumphantly as Regulus struggled back onto his feet.
“No!”
“I will make it worth your while.”
“Not interested.”
“You would be my favourite lover.”
Regulus did laugh then. “Sorry love. You’re not my type at all.”
“It’s the lack of legs isn’t it? Trust me, I can do things that will make you beg for more and never go back to a biped again.” Zmijs purred as she threw a lightning bolt, fiendfyre, and curicitus curse at him.
“I'm sure you could. Perhaps next time.” Regulus panted, barely deflecting the spells. Sirius was right. He needed to draw on his heritage. If only to go out in a blaze of glory. ‘I promise you Jamie, if we survive this I’m going to rock your fucking world.’ He thought and smashed everything he had into one last spell.
The cavern roared and shook. Instinctively James pushed Sirius who was beside him into the ground and pulled Pandora with him, shielding them both with his body. He saw Remus do the same with Tara and Willow as Lily dove down beside Pandora.
“Shield.” Remus yelled over the noise of crashing rocks. Instantly the world muted as Lily and Sirius cast one. James rolled cautiously to one side and peered over the edge. The centre of the cavern echoed with screams as a giant shield prevented the roof from plummeting down on the three frozen figures engulfed by flames both magical and real.
“Run.” Remus commanded. “The shields aren’t holding and neither is the ledge.
“Not that way.” Sirius yelled grabbing James’s arm. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Reg. Can’t leave Reg.” James cried, struggling to go over the edge.
“We won’t.” Pandora said calmly. James looked at her. Torn between wanting to save the man he adored and the determination he heard in her voice. “We won’t,” Pandora repeated. “I know a safer way down to the floor,”
James allowed himself to be pulled away from the edge. Carefully the seven of them hurried out of the cavern and into the myriad of surrounding passages, all of which shook violently.
“Lily. We are going to have to seriously run to get down to that chamber. Can you do it or do you need me to carry you?” Remus asked
“You go. We’ll catch up.” Lily said. Willow nodded.
Not waiting any longer Remus, James and Pandora set off at a full run, Sirius and Tara not far behind them, while Willow and Lily brought up the rear.
It was even worse than James realised as Pandora led them through collapsing corridors. They dodged and scrambled over debris until at last they were at the rear of the cavern floor. James could see the altar, and the immobile man who had somehow managed to roll into its shelter. Carefully the three of them slipped and slid their way to the block of black marble still standing intact. The noise down here was horrendous. The violent bubbling and boiling of whatever the liquid was in front of the altar adding to the cacophony.
“Now what?” James asked, desperately searching for Regulus.
Pandora reached out a hand to James. “If I wrap you in a protective shield do you promise to pick up Regulus regardless of what state he is in? Or what he may do to you?” She asked, her eyes probing the pleading ones staring at her.
James nodded. “Anything.” He whispered. “I would do anything for him.”
Pandora smiled slightly and cast the spell. “Go. You have about three minutes before everything disintegrates.” She turned to Remus pulling off her jumper. “Wrap this around this idiot's head and arms and get him out of here.” She indicated the prone man who lay with his face pressed against the stone. “Rat” she whispered viciously to the exposed back. “If I could. I would.”
“What about you?” Remus asked, doing as Pandora instructed.
“I will stay and make sure they escape with me.” She smiled up at him. “I'm not leaving Lily anytime soon. I have books to write.”
Remus nodded once and threw the now unconscious man over his shoulder.
James ran headlong into the fray. He didn’t care about the fire engulfing his body, the steam and smoke threatening to choke him, or the ceiling which was starting to fall through the collapsing shield. He only cared about reaching Regulus. Except he couldn’t see through the fire and smoke and dust. He could hear Zmija groaning and cursing though and that was even scarier up close.
“I can smell you boy. I command your help.” She hissed, her sibilant voice vicious and harsh.
James ignored her. Something solid whacked him in the legs and he fell hard onto his shoulder. “Fuck!” He muttered, scrambling to his feet again. “Luminos” he said, hoping a brighter light would help. “Fuck” he repeated when he saw what was in front of him.
“You are pretty. I will keep you alive if you get me out of here.” Zmija said, trying to inject more seduction into her words. She was in so much pain. Parts of her were trapped under fallen stones and an arm dangled uselessly by her side. Only time and potions would repair all the damage done by what she had assumed would be a quick and easy duel, despite the unfamiliar magic she’d tasted.
James assessed the situation. From what he could see, Regulus lay curled up in a tight ball on his side completely surrounded by the boiling liquid. He smiled his most charming smile. “Thank you for the offer. I'm sure a lesser man would be pleased to help, however I have a friend to rescue.” James said and vaulted up onto the Lamia’s trapped body. He ran as fast and as far as he dared along the body until he could see a clear spot and jumped for all he was worth. Zmjia hurled every invective she knew at the human abusing her in such a way. James ignored her. He was so close. Tentatively, James dropped closer to ground and reached out to touch what he had thought to be water.
“I wouldn’t if I was you. They like pretty young things.” Rasped a voice
“Reg? Reg! Can you move?” James nearly fell into the liquid in his eagerness.
“If I could, do you think I would still be here?”
James grinned. He couldn’t help it. Regulus was snarky. That was far better than he had hoped for. “I need to get you out of the puddle.” He said cheerfully
“Good luck. And do keep the cheeriness to a minimum. It only encourages them.”
“Encour … “ James launched himself backwards as a series of claw like hands shot out of the pool surrounding Regulus and began to pull the younger man towards them. “Oh Merlin,” he breathed in horror.
“Potter. Whatever you’re going to do. Please hurry the fuck up.” Regulus bit out. He really really wanted to scream. To uncurl and let everything out. All the pain. All the terror. Every nightmare he had ever had for the last nineteen years. But he wasn’t going to give these hideous creatures that satisfaction. He might be completely out of magic, but he definitely still had his pride. He curled up more tightly. Give them less places to grip. His clothes were already shredded and disintegrating with every touch so that helped as well.
James felt the panic rising. His internal time sense told him he had twenty seconds left on Pandora's spell. He dropped his wand into his hand and cast a levitation spell. It barely lifted Regulus off the ground as the claws continued to grasp at what was left of his clothes and pull him towards the deeper water.
“Come on Potter. Come on. You. Got. This.” James muttered to himself, pushing more energy into his spell. He could feel the shielding spell begin to fade. Heat from the boiling water and smoke was making its way onto his lungs. Everything was starting to burn. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t save Regulus. He… he …. He’d lost again