run boy run
Prologue
The free land phoenix is the land people fear. But only the people who were taught to be scared. People who have never seen it with their own eyes. The people living in the realm Slytherin.
Slytherin was once a realm called Hogwarts. Shared by four rulers, King Godric Gryffindor, Queen Helga Hufflepuff, King Salazar Slytherin and Queen Rubina Ravenclaw. They lived together in peace as Soldiers, Poets and Kings. In peace with their volk and the land outside their realm. Until Salazar suggested the idea of a hierarchical society, meaning kings are worth more than the soldiers and the poets, the soldiers are worth less than the kings and worth more than the poets and the poets are worth nothing. The others didn’t agree with Salazar, calling him a narcissist and a war broke out. A war Salazar won. He subdued the population of Hogwarts and executed the rulers. Everyone that didn’t agree with Salazar got either killed or enslaved as servants for the new high king.
Salazar feared the people will flee outside his realm, to ensure that wouldn’t happen he build walls around the new realm Slytherin. He believed he was clever to build death snares into these walls making sure anyone who even dares to try to leave his realm is killed. He trapped the people inside and forced them to play by his rules. He made sure the poets are separated from the other population, living in poor villages getting only a decent education but nothing else. He made sure the soldiers will be turned into killers loyal to the King and the Kings play under his hands like marionettes. Families were separated, kids were taken from their parents, most of them didn’t see each other ever again. In school the children learn, doesn’t matter in what unit they are, about the outside world as dangerous and deadly. Over the years they believe his words and don’t dare to try to flee. Later, long after Salazar’s time where descendants of Slytherin rule a prophecy predicted the fall of Slytherin by the rulers of the free land phoenix. The rulers that are own to his volk, the rulers that are unitless in his realm. Two boys. Two rulers. Two kings.
chapter one
Regulus wakes up drenched in cold water Barty has just poured over his face. Gasping for air he jumps up, practically standing in bed “ Barty what the actual fuck “ he exclaimed his heart hammering hard in his chest. “shh “ Barty looks at the door before striding to Regulus closet “ Not so fucking loud” he takes clothes and throws them at Regulus. “ Barty what are you doing ?” He asks watching his best friend scurry trough his room packing his belongings into a bag. When Barty doesn’t answer he steps in front him and rattles his shoulders, demanding an answer. “ You have to leave “ Barty then said his voice thick with fear, his eyes filled with panic “ what do you mean I have to leave ?” Regulus is confused. Barty pushes him aside and starts to pack food out of Regulus hoard in his room, for when his parents send him up without any. “ I’ll explain, just get dressed while I talk, we don’t have much time” he hurries, so Regulus doesn’t really have any options. He quickly puts on the clothes Barty gave him, noticing his training suite for when he’s training sword fighting with him. He feels sick in an instant. “ Peter Pettigrew that rat snitched on you and James Potter. He told Riddle you two are unitless. Riddle called the soldiers in right away and demanded to kill you. Tonight. He believes you two are the boys out of some stupid prophecy that will bring the fall of Slytherin” he stopped to take a breath before continuing “ I could sneak away to warn you, but they should be here any minute”. Finished dressed Barty gives Regulus the bag and pushes him to the direction of the secret passage behind his wall tapestry. The last time they used it, they were sneaking away to meet Evan and Pandora. How different the use is today. Regulus doesn’t know what to say. His voice is trapped in his throat. His head is spinning with information. He knows it’s not a stupid joke because Barty doesn’t joke about this. He doesn’t joke about the fact that Regulus is unitless and only undercover at the kings. He doesn’t joke about the fact that Euphemia Potter changed Regulus’s test results so he won’t be executed right that second. It’s not a joke and what is Regulus supposed to do with this. “Where should I go ?” he asks rather pathetically. “ Somewhere they don’t find you or better won’t even look for you “ Barty answers sincere, Regulus couldn’t help but scoff “ Well that’s fucking helpful” his voice tripping with sarcasm. He’s almost behind the tapestry when they hear many loud steppes in front of Regulus door. Barty pushes him in the passage and they run down the stairs that lead to the servants entry. “ Aren’t you coming with me ?” Regulus asks, knowing the answer already. Barty shakes his head “ No, someone has to stay here and make sure they won’t find you “. Barty speaks in his casual voice but Regulus hears the fear in it like he did earlier. Barty is never frightened and that’s why Regulus’s lungs start to refuse the air to reach them, he is chocking on his fear when they make it to the entry, his exit. His palms are sweaty and he is shaking when Barty hugs him. “ Be careful “ Regulus says knowing that what Barty is doing for him will be at high risk. He would like to tell him he shouldn’t risk anything for him, but he knows Barty won’t back down anyways. The hug is familiar and he really has to hold back his tears. Barty is one of the few people Regulus feels comfortable touching. The only other Person is Pandora. Barty holds him at his shoulders gripping them firm “ Listen to me Regulus, you know how to fight, you know how to kill and you know how to survive. Take care of yourself and don’t get fucking caught “ Regulus swallows the lump inside his throat and steppes out the door. Before the door closes, he does turn around on last time. The question is burning on his tongue and he can’t stop himself from asking “ what’s with James Potter ?”. Barty looks at him with sad eyes “ Its to late for him ” with that he closes the door. Barty had warned Regulus, there wasn’t any time to warn James too. Regulus head hurts and his lungs burn. His damp curls are sticking uncomfortably to his forehead when he begins to run. As fast as he can he runs away from his home. He doesn’t notice the jab on the left side of his chest right away, but when he does he knows its because of James Potter. The boy he hates but can’t help to adore. Barty managed to give Regulus a big head start. He made it over the bridge that connects the castle to the village when he hears the first screams of discovery behind him. The horses of the death eaters are coming closer and he knows if he doesn’t turn into a small alley he will be dead in a second. It won’t earn him much time though, Death eaters don’t stop hunting just because they can’t go further on their horse. No. A Death eater has only his target in mind and won’t stop hunting until it’s dead, so they will follow you on foot as long as you are able to run because they can run longer, so they will swim after you mile after mile until you give up because they can swim longer, so they will play hide and seek until they find you, until they can kill you. He feels the spear graze his arm and turns abruptly in to the lane to his right. He heard the woman curse behind him. At the end of the lane he takes another turn causing him to run through a labyrinth of lanes. The death eaters are near, he hears them giving each other instructions somewhere behind him. Eventually he makes it to the end of an alley that leads to the main road out of the village. Regulus is almost at the main road when a death eater crosses his way and throws him to the floor with a hard thud. He is laying flat on his back and only registers, the man in front of him swinging his sword to dig it into Regulus scull. He dodges the sword barely by kicking the man against the shin. The man staggers back a few steppes trying to launch his weapon again, but Regulus is faster. He buries his dagger in the mans throat. The gurgling sound makes Regulus feel like throwing up, the blood the man spits in his face does then. The screams of the other death eaters get louder and without thinking Regulus pulls the uniform off the man in front of him. He puts on the belt, the black vest and the signature silver mask before continuing his way down the main road. He will be ok walking around the village with this outfit but as soon as he leaves it, he will have to put it off. Regulus doesn’t know where to hide. If he is leaves the village tonight they will notice him right away, but he can’t stay here either. He spots a small staple in an alley and decides to hide there until he figures out what to do . He crouches next to a donkey and covers himself with hay. Regulus knows it’s not the best hiding spot but he really doesn’t have time to think of something else. He decides to wait until the death eaters leave the village, seeking him in the realm. After he makes it out of here his only goal will be to reach the land behind the walls, Somewhere they won’t find you or better won’t even look for you Barty had said, and the Land behind the walls is the only place nobody will. Everyone is terrified of what’s behind it. Regulus doubts it can be much worse than this. The only chance to make it out unnoticed, is with the mask he retrieved of the man he killed and if most death eaters have already left the village. Regulus rocks back and forth trying to calm himself, the metallic taste is bitter on his tongue, this was his first kill. He had trained with Barty for these situations, he had buried his daggers in uncountable amounts of dummies and learned rule after rule to not let it affect him. He thought he will manage this situation. He doesn’t. His breath stutters and his chest feels tight. He just killed a man he doesn’t even know the name of. He freaks out then. Really freaks out. He bites his tongue to stop himself from making any sounds, he closes his eyes and doesn’t stop rocking back and forth back and forth back and forth. Regulus doesn’t know how long he does but at the end his fears and regrets turn into a different emotion. He feels angry. Really fucking angry and this feeling settles itself into Regulus, consuming him. He welcomes it like an old friend, which makes him the most deadliest person ever stepping a foot into this realm. He focuses on his anger and begins with its source. Peter fucking Pettigrew can count his days. Regulus sets off at dawn, the adrenalin is pumping through his body, keeping him steady, fast and awake. He had used some of the hay to polish the blood off his daggers and mask. It’s easier than he imagined it to be, like he guessed most of the death eaters are out hunting, so making it down, outside the village isn’t hard. He tries to walk as up lifted as he can, like the arrogant assholes that are usually under that mask. He grimaces thinking of Barty wearing that mask, by the wish of his father. The first stall owners are starting to build their tables and the first children run around. Regulus doesn’t encounter a Death eater until he is almost out of the gate. The death eater is eying him while he continues his way out of the village “ Oi where you going ?” he asks and Regulus stops. His mind is thinking about answers that are believable, but before he can answer the man spoke again “ are you taking the next shift ?” and Regulus can’t help but smile under his mask of how easy he just made it for him. So he nods and the death eater yawns in delight stretching his limbs “ fucking finally if been on shift for the last 10 hours I’m hammered ” he said and patted Regulus on the shoulder before walking away. Regulus didn’t wait ten minutes before throwing off the mask and the vest, heading out of the village. Really he just waited for the other man to be out of sight not daring to stay longer. Regulus runs. It feels like flying down the road to the woods. He doesn’t stop and surly doesn’t slow down. His heart is racing and it’s louder than any thoughts his mind is currently trying to build. Eventually he breaks through the woods onto the meadows. He has no clue where the death eaters have gone but he hopes not the direction he took. He slows down on the meadow now, not much, just so he can maintain the pace. For the next few hours he alternates between jogging and walking, but then comes to a sudden hold. His eyes fixed onto a dandelion. James . He hasn’t thought about James since he asked Barty about him. He picks the yellow flower and holds it tight between his hands before returning to a fast jog. Regulus is trying so hard to be denial about his feelings for that boy. Every emotion regarding him regulus hates. He hated James Potter the moment Sirius introduced him to Regulus. Mostly he hates James for taking away his brother. He hates him because Sirius needs James more than him. He hates James so fucking much for being able to give Sirius something Regulus can’t offer. These are all the reasons Regulus need to hate James Potter with all his might. These are the reasons that give him the motivation, no, the must to hate the rest too. He hates James for being just so fucking bright, so fucking perfect. He hates James because he charms Regulus. Regulus hates James Potter because he can’t help but want his attention. It doesn’t matter, the thing is he can’t like James because he’s James and he hates that too. But this is all useless now. A numb feeling is settling in Regulus stomach. He doesn’t know if James is alive. No one warned him of the attack. If he was lucky he got away, if he wasn’t then he is probably dead. Another kind of denial is seeping into Regulus. James can’t be dead. He can’t be. If James is dead they won’t keep the troupes out looking for him. The prophecy said two rulers. Two, not one. That means if either of them die the other one is able to survive. Regulus considers that just for a second before dismissing that thought. Regulus will make it to phoenix and James, well James just won’t die. Regulus manifest that right here right now. He doesn’t know where he is, but James just can’t die. He goes a while until he needs water. Back In the woods, he feels secure enough to take a break. Regulus slumps down next to his pack, exhausted. He finds a filled bottle and slowly gulps down half of it. He will need more continuing this journey and definitely will make use of bottle of iodine to purify the water. Regulus is glad he had read so many survival novels, preparing him for situations like these. He looks trough the rest of the bag and wonders how Barty found all these things in his room. Regulus doesn’t remember owning a flashlight, a sleeping bag or dried meat. In the end it doesn’t matter, he is thankful to have them. Strengthened from the water and some bread he continues walking. A dagger always ready in one hand. He tucked the dandelion in his backpack, not able to throw it away. Night is arriving and he needs a place to settle down. Regulus feels restless and the idea to stay at one spot makes him queasy but he knows he has to rest or he won’t be able to make it through the next days. He walks by various potential spots before deciding to hide under a low tree with leaves hanging down to the floor tangled with roots. It’s granting enough space for Regulus to lay down and secure enough to not be recognisable at first sight. He rolls out his sleeping bag and curls himself up in it. He is shaking and doesn’t remember when he grabs the dandelion. But he holds it close. Wondering where James is right know. With that thought and even though his day had been eventful, he falls asleep clutching to the dandelion.