The Cave
Regulus
Regulus had never imagined things would end up this way: that his last moments on Earth would be in a cave along the British coast, trying to save the wizarding world from the threat of a dark wizard he’d supported for years, in order to preserve the safety of the soulmate he’d not talked to in so long though still dwelled in the best part of his heart, of the family he’d built and that he cared for more than everything else, accompanied by his old house-elf who’d always been a friend to his in the hell of the house he’d lived in.
Regulus would die in loneliness. Though he didn’t particularly mind that.
He’d made his decision. After all, he would have no chances of survival anyway, not with nobody there to rescue him. Kreacher had no magic like a wizard, there were no spells he could cast against the Inferi.
It was fine.
That was exactly what he wished for: to find his peaceful end in such an eerie and yet mesmerising place, finally at peace with himself for having done everything in his power to remedy his mistakes.
His eyes flew over his surroundings as a gentle breeze blew through his hair, whistling among the stalactites and stalagmites, like whispers, warnings, that seemed to be coming straight from the lake. He knew that was impossible: Inferi didn’t talk. But… were they the only creatures living in that mysterious place? A shiver ran down his spine as the wind rippled the surface of the dark water, its shade hiding all of the dangers and dark creatures inhabiting the depths beneath the waves. He wrapped his arms around himself, eyes still fixed on the water. That was it. His destiny.
“Are you really sure about all this, master Regulus?” Kreacher pulled him away from his thoughts. When Regulus turned to him, he noticed the anxious look in the elf’s eyes: it was obvious he would have rather been anywhere else but there.
He nodded, lips pressed together. “We must do this, Kreacher. It’s for the well being of you-, us all” he corrected himself before Kreacher could ask any uncomfortable questions.
“It’s extremely dangerous, master Regulus. Kreacher drank the potion in the basin himself, and he can confirm it’s absolutely terrifying: it tears you apart from the inside, so painfully you can barely even stand, it makes you crave water to ease your terrible thirst to the point of crawling close to the shore, an easy prey to Inferi. The chances of survival are really low”.
“But you’re here with me” Regulus pointed out. “You’ll give me help in case I need any. Everything’s going to go just as planned” he looked back at the waves, gently lapping the shore, apparently so innocuous. He could feel Kreacher’s eyes on him, attentively scrutinising his indecipherable expression, the emotions whirling inside his eyes.
“Kreacher trusts you, master Regulus, you know that. But Kreacher also cares so deeply for him he can’t help but fear for his life. Please, don’t do anything stupid” Kreacher’s voice slid into a subtle pleading, and Regulus clenched his fist by his side.
“Thank you for being here, Kreacher. You have no idea how much it matters to me. Now let’s get started, shall we?”.
Kreacher watched him as he gave his back to the sea and walked up to the dark grey stone basin standing in the middle of the Cave, its base a whole with the smooth floor. Inside it, the potion Kreacher had told him about: crystalline, pretty similar to water, of a pure aquamarine shade. So beautiful to look at, and yet so deadly. Magic was often deceiving, that potion was the proof of that. And there, at the bottom of the basin… his heart skipped a beat as his eyes landed on a locket lying under the liquid’s clear surface. It was made of rusted, bronze-like metal, perhaps gold opaque with time; a bright serpentine S was inlaid in the metal with small green gems, perhaps emeralds, or green sapphires, glimmering under the dim dusk’s light filtering from the Cave’s entrance, shining upon the dark waters.
The Drink of Despair.
Regulus swallowed the knot tightening around his throat. “Take the locket as soon as I finish drinking, Kreacher. We need to be as quick as we can”.
“Wait, you’re the one who’s going to drink the potion, master Regulus?! Wouldn’t it be better if Kreacher did, since he’s already been through it?”.
“Don’t worry, I can do this” he reassured him, hoping he wouldn’t catch the note of worry in his tone. He met Kreacher’s gaze, a smile managed to appear on his lips. “Kreacher, I… I just wanted to thank you. For everything you’ve ever done for me”.
He smiled. “Thank you master Regulus. It’s always been an honour to serve someone like you”.
The sun was getting lower and lower on the line of the horizon. Voldemort had his hours counted. Regulus had his life in hand. A thrill of adrenaline travelled over his skin as he bent over the basin. He cupped his hands and dipped them inside the potion, cold as ice.
Something inside him was screaming to run away, as long as he could.
He ignored it.
The Dark Lord’s end was getting nearer. And then they’d be free. All of them. He would be no longer immortal after Kreacher destroyed the locket.
That thought gave him enough strength to continue.
Regulus stopped drinking only when there was nothing left of the potion. And then, its effect hit all of a sudden. Pain, bursting inside his chest, forcing him to his knees.
Kreacher called for him, his voice sounded distant even though he was standing just a few feet from him. Regulus’ head spun, black spots danced before his eyes. Monstrous shadows, stretching over him. He shut his eyes, holding his head in his hands. Those were nothing but illusions, Kreacher had warned him about them. Though they still felt so incredibly real. One of them kind of resembled the Dark Lord himself… at some point, Regulus thought he could hear his voice, whispering right in his ear: “You won’t make it, Regulus Black. You’ll die, and all of your efforts will be nothing but vain”.
He shook his head, the murmuring ceased, replaced by the gentle whistling of the wind. That filter was making him go crazy.
“Master Regulus” Kreacher called again.
“Take the locket, Kreacher. Exchange it with the fake one we made” Regulus managed to mutter between gritted teeth. His tongue was sticking to the roof of his mouth, so dry he genuinely thought he would die like that, dehydrated, prey to excruciating pain. “Take it and run. Destroy it as soon as you find a safe place”.
“Kreacher can’t leave his master here” the elf complained. “Master Regulus promised him things would go as planned, that they’d both get home safe”.
“I’m sorry Kreacher”. His sacrifice wouldn’t be pointless, no. He’d die as a hero.
“Kreacher can’t leave his master alone” he shook his head again.
“Take the locket, replace it with the other, and go. Destroy it, so that we’ll all be free”.
“But-”.
“Go”.
He knew he couldn’t oppose himself to his master’s orders.
The thirst was becoming unbearable, draining every part of Regulus’ body. He started crawling towards the shore, the rough stone scratching the palms of his hands.
He lowered his mouth to the height of the lake and managed to gulp some water, easing the terrible feeling growing inside him. The illusions started glitching, his vision adjusted just in time to see bubbles coming to the surface.
They were coming.
It took no longer than a few seconds for the creatures to arrive. The first skeletron hand emerged from the obscure depths just as Kreacher Disappareted.
Relief washed over him: he’d complete his mission. They’d all be fine. James would survive.
Other hands made their way to the surface, followed by thin arms and… a surge of dread overwhelmed him as he met one of the creature’s eyes: milky, empty. Inferi were nothing but corpses turned into the worst kind of zombies. The creature hissed at him, revealing its sharp teeth, just as the others slowly approached him. Regulus knew he had no way of escaping. But that was fine. Soon everything would be over.
An Inferius’ hand closed around his right arm, its claws digging in his flesh. He tried to jerk away, but the creature was stronger. He allowed the others to take him, slowly starting dragging him towards the waters. He didn’t put up any resistance as they pulled him under after he took one last breath. More Inferi awaited him in the darkness, reaching for his body, holding him underwater. Regulus could feel their claws slicing through his shoulders, his hips, his arms, his neck. His lungs burned as the surface got more and more distant. He stretched a hand towards it for one last time. He wouldn’t be able to hold his breath for long.
There it was.
The end.
Death, waiting for him just behind the corner; he could already sense its fingers brushing over his face, calling his name gently. And then Regulus just let go, one last thought lingering in his mind as his eyes closed. His lips parted in a simple sentence, muted by the water gurgling inside his mouth as the Inferi kept dragging him down.
“I love you James”.
A glimpse of light coming from above, enlightening the depths of the lake.
Then, darkness.