Unwavering Love Ch. 22

Light

Harry struggled to break free again, tugging at the hand, trying to kick, and claw and scratch and bite. But even that didn't work.

"Harry?"

Harry tried to turn around, but before he could confirm if it was Draco or not, the world seemed to spin and press down on him. He tried to scream, but the hand in front of his mouth still hadn't moved its place. Harry closed his eyes, dread filling him. 'Help me.'

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The ground suddenly appeared under his feet, and his eyes widened, before he nearly fell down to the ground. After he was roughly pulled up by his hair did he fully comprehend what happened. "You bastard! Where have you taken me? Let me go!" Harry tried to turn around, eyes ablaze. The grip in his hair tightened, and a voice near his ear answered.

"I suggest you shut up, or I'll force you to. Oh, struggling has no use, either, since you'll be tied up just about…now." Damien snapped his fingers, and ropes appeared around Harry's hands and feet.

He hissed. "You think you're getting away with this? Draco will come after you, I swear. And once I'm out of this, I'll make sure you'll regret ever kidnapping me."

A cruel smirk marred the once pleasant features of the blond. "Oh, please. Such a big mouth. You sure you haven't got a better use for it?"

Harry snapped his jaw shut, glaring across the dark expanse of room.

A husky laugh sounded in his ear, and the dark haired teen pulled away, not caring how much hair he lost for the movement. A second later he cursed himself, as he lost his balance and fell forward, his elbows and knees blooming in pain as he landed on the cold, tiled floor.

The laugh that echoed across the room only added to Harry's ire. "Well, if you're more comfortable there… Why didn't you just say so? I could've arranged it far earlier. But you're a guest, and guests should be treated accordingly."

A kick in the gut had Harry moaning, and he curled up, while turning over on his side. "Don't be pathetic." Damien said, and grabbed him by his black hair, hauling him up painfully. Harry's face scrunched up in pain and anger.

"Let me go," he hissed, nearly losing his balance as his arm was roughly grabbed and he was dragged behind the blond.

"I told you to shut that pretty mouth of yours. It's the only way you'll get out of this."

"What do you want with me, then? Why do you want me? You don't even know me."

Damien stopped, and turned his head, and Harry felt a shudder work its way through his body as he saw the cold, sadistic smile. "Here, sit down," he said as he dragged the dark haired teen the remaining distance. "It's far better to have a chat sitting down." He pushed Harry in a simple chair, and sat down in his own.

"Well, you're just bait. It's Draco I want. Or, to be more accurate, revenge against him. I have hated him for a long, long time. The way he pranced about in school, how he looked down on people from a different house, or how he taunted the lower year students. I think it's about time that he got something that was coming to him. Not that you would know, since you don't know him that long."

Harry couldn't believe what he heard. "So this is all revenge against Draco? Where do I fit in that picture? I haven't done anything wrong! Let me go! You're a twisted person. Who would do something like this over some jealousy! Because it sure sounds like it."

Harry regretted that last bit, as a fist connected with his jaw, his head snapping to the side. Blinking away tears, he glared at the bastard, who looked as composed as ever.

"It's brilliant, really. An Elf would go to great lengths to save their loved ones. And when he finally finds us, for I know he will find me, I'll make sure he will never leave. He's got everything. Parents, class, money, standard… But soon he won't."

Harry snorted, even though he felt much less confident. "Really, now? And it wouldn't alert anybody that two persons are missing? If you ever lay as much as a finger on Draco, Narcissa and Lucius will skin you alive. And, quite frankly, I would do the same."

Damien clenched and unclenched his fingers, his jaw tightening. "They won't find him. They don't have the same connection that an Elf and his mate have. You're just a bonus. A very pretty bonus at that. I told you it was illegal to have such eyes." His right hand reached forward to caress Harry's cheek.

Snarling, Harry turned his head. Damien grabbed his chin roughly, and made him face the blond. "Listen to me, and listen to me carefully. I'll only say this once. Defy me, and I will hurt you. I don't want to, but you must learn how to control yourself. Now, if you just play along, I won't. Understood?" His tone was low, but as threatening as his words.

"And let you do what, exactly? Kiss me? Fuck me? I will defy you as much as I have to." Harry set his jaw, expecting the blow to come. It did. Blood poured out of his nose, and he let a small whimper escape.

"I told you to behave!" the blond hissed, grabbing Harry's chin again. "You're one word away of being silenced. So, shutting up is the best course of action. As I said, there are far more pleasurable activities."

"Ah, yes, I'm quite sure you know all about it. Cheating bastard." This time a punch landed in his stomach, and he groaned, coughing. Until he realised he had no voice anymore. He looked up blearily, seeing the glum look on the blond's face.

"I told you I didn't want to do that. But Harry, it's for your own good."

Harry laughed bitterly, without sound. 'Bastard. That's nothing compared to what I've been through. I can stand some beating.' His eyes narrowed as Damien scooted closer to him. The bound hands in his lap twitched. 'Just a little bit closer and I'll smash your nose.' Apparently the blond didn't see the danger, and reached out, grabbing Harry's chin in a much more gentler grip. Turning his head to the side, he released a shuddering breath. "God, you're beautiful. How could such a rare specimen belong to one person? And a snobbish prat at that." The left hand came up to caress Harry's cheek. The right guided his face in different positions. "Such beauty… Cheapened by a bastard of an Elven mate."

Harry's eyes fairly glared daggers. 'As if you don't cheapen your mate by sleeping with other people. You're a pig. Draco cares for me, and didn't have to kidnap me. That people actually allowed themselves to fall for you… Were they blind? Did the pretty face and smooth voice truly convince them? Idiots, the lot of them. Draco is far better than you could ever be. And he will come for you. Just you wait…'

Damien's face loomed before his eyes, and Harry realised with a start that the blond came too close for comfort. He tried to jerk back, but the pale hands kept him in place. His eyes widened, before he clenched them shut, not wanting to see the blond. Stomach rolling, he felt lips on his. He felt like being sick. This wasn't Draco. It felt almost like cheating, if he wasn't being forced. When a tongue prodded his mouth, Harry had had enough. Biting on Damien's lip, he pushed him away, and launched at him, his bound hands hitting the blond wherever he could. Ribs, face, stomach, Harry blindly pounded his hands on the soft flesh beneath him. At that moment he wanted to inflict as much damage and pain as he could, for how long he could keep it up. The consequences didn't even register in his head, only the wild need to hit as much skin as he could.

He was thrown back in his seat seconds later, and he toppled over, but didn't slide away from the chair. It was as if he was glued on the spot. Panic seized him, and he tried to scramble away. A looming figure stopped him, however, and he looked up with fear in his eyes, before he swallowed heavily. The blond looked murderous. "I tried to be agreeable. I tried to be accepting. But all you do is resist. I think it's best to leave you glued to your seat, and not being able to raise your hands more than a few inches." He grabbed Harry by the front, and hauled him up. "Know that I'm the one in control, and that I could do anything to you. Think about that for a while."

And with those parting words he turned around and exited the room. Harry released a long breath he didn't know he had been holding. 'Hurry up, Draco.'

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Draco stood paralysed, his right hand still outstretched. His brain had shut down entirely, and even his breathing became stilted. A few seconds later, though, anger coursed through his veins and he saw red. That bastard had kidnapped his mate! He took a deep breath, schooled his features and turned around. It mustn't do to alert other people. He just hoped his mother didn't see through him. Walking over to her, he smiled. Or tried to anyway. "Harry doesn't feel so well, mum. He already left to go home. I'll be going with him. Is that all right?"

She nodded. "We'll be along shortly too."

Draco nodded, turned, and walked out of the church, fingers clenching and unclenching. He hated to lie to his parents, but this could very well be a matter between life and death. The thought chilled him to the bone. He roughly walked down the road, his thoughts all the while racing. Possible scenarios replayed themselves over and over in his mind, until he reached Damien's home. The urge to destroy something was strong enough that he had to close his eyes for a moment. Reopening his eyes again after a few dark heartbeats, he firmed his resolve. The more he got carried away, the more time would be spilled. It was enough to get him back on track. Entering the little cottage, he repressed his automatic sneer. Stepping in the living room, he closed his eyes, focussing on the signature which remained in the house.

After nearly five minutes he opened his eyes with a frown. Glaring at nothing in particular, he stewed silently. The unimaginable bastard. He had managed to erase his magical signature. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he focussed on the second reliable source. Harry. It would be fainter, because he didn't have a magical signature, but the bond would be strong enough to narrow down his search. He had to be calm and collected to make it work, so he took another gulp of air, trying to bring his heartbeat down a notch. When that didn't work, he turned on his heel and left the cottage. At least he didn't have to see the place of the kidnapper of his love. He hurried back to the place he felt most at ease. After the Manor, of course. Because the Manor was out of the question, now that his parents surely would've returned. He wondered when they would find out that something was wrong.

Running blindly to the place he knew as well as his own home, he knocked. Blaise opened the door, took one look at his friend, before his own smile faltered to make place for a frown. "Draco…? What has happened." Theodore entered the hall, took one look at the blond and exclaimed, "Oh." Neither had ever seen such a defeated, yet an enraged face. "Blaise, I'm terribly sorry to disturb you on this evening. Theodore, would you do something for me?"

Theodore nodded.

"Can you make a special tea for me? One that calms a person. But not one that befuddles the mind or makes someone drowsy. I need a draft that soothes. Can you do that for me, Theodore?"

Once again Theodore's head bobbed up and down. "I can do that."

When Draco stepped over the threshold, Blaise's arm stopped him from going any further. "What happened, Draco? What do you need that tea for?" His stare was calm but inquisitive.

A blockage wedged itself in Draco's throat, and he shook his head, swallowing. "Damien. He took Harry."

Blaise looked confused but quickly closed the door. "To where?" But he knew his answer when Draco stared at him with dead eyes. "Theo, hurry, please!" Blaise said and he pulled Draco to the living room, looking dead on his feet, too. "Have you tried tracking down his magical signature?"

The blond nodded. "Erased it. I need to find Harry's signature. But I'm too much of a mess right now to concentrate."

His dark-skinned friend nodded, noticing the wet sheen in Draco's eyes. "We'll help. Theodore's nearly finished setting the tea. Just give him a minute and you'll be able to concentrate."

And sure enough, Theodore walked through the door, a large mug of tea in his hands. He handed it to Draco, who took it with shaking hands.

"Draco?"

Draco turned his head to Blaise, his hands aquiver. "Yes?"

"Get Harry back for us, will you? Get him back and never let him go."

The blond nodded, one tear leaking from under his lashes, before he put the mug to his mouth and took a sip. Nearly immediately his shoulders sagged and his hands stopped shaking, mostly. He calmly looked at the wall, before he took several other sips, careful not to burn his tongue. The tranquillity which overcame him was absolute heaven, though he still knew what to do. What had to be done. Putting the tea away, he closed his eyes, while a fleeting sense of thankfulness for his friends made itself known. His worries seemed dulled and nearly unimportant. Though he knew his duty and what was the price. He let out a long sigh, before he focused on the small thread which connected him to Harry. It felt almost like a second heartbeat, but much less strong and prominent. Instead it nearly felt lifeless compared to his own erratic heart.

Once he had a firm grasp on it, he concentrated on all that he and Harry were. He followed that small heartbeat, deep within him, the one that almost seemed to echo Harry's own. It led him further, deeper, and that's exactly where he needed to go, to get to the roots of their bond, where Harry's presence was strongest. There was no room to doubt now. He had to believe in this and he had to concentrate and keep concentrating. He was sweating, though he didn't know if it was his physical form or his mental form which fought to steady the connection. As he found the precious, fragile centre he was looking for, he felt his physical form leaving the living room of his friends as he willed it to bring him to his mate. But, as he was nearing his destination, he felt a block, and he immediately opened his eyes in frustration.

The surroundings didn't look familiar at all. But it didn't matter to him. Because he knew where to go. Even the blue glow in the air didn't have to lead him. Draco gathered himself, before he stalked forward, hair waving in the wind. Someone was going to pay.

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Harry didn't know how long he was stuck to the chair, the only thing he knew was that he had nodded off. Briefly he wondered how that could happen. But he couldn't muse for long, because the door at the end of the room opened. Even in the darkened room he could see it was Damien. But as soon as he set eyes on him he knew something was the matter.

"What is this?" he asked softly, but deadly, as he pointed towards Harry's necklace, which was emanating a soft, blue glow.

Harry wouldn't have talked, even if he could. Even he didn't understand it. But then again, most of the Elven world remained a mystery to him. And by the looks of the pale Damien, he couldn't place it, either. Or maybe he could. That would explain the sudden pallor.

"Answer me!" he demanded, striking Harry in the face.

Grimacing, Harry spat before Damien's feet, glaring, even though his eye began to throb. But if the bastard was concerned because of the light, that only meant it was good for him. Or so he hoped. His thoughts were confirmed when the blond grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him within an inch of his life. "For Morgana's sake, answer me, you foolish boy!" A second later he realised his own flaw. "Ah, but you can't talk, can you?" He snapped his fingers and Harry instantly felt his vocal cords loosening. "Talk."

"Fuck you!" he spat, wincing as a fist nearly managed to dislocate his jaw. Blinking back tears, he looked defiantly at the blond.

"Don't test my patience. It's growing thin as it is. You will talk, Harry. You've only met the better part of Elven magic. Could you just imagine what powers you can conceive by combining the Dark Arts with what they dub 'the Light Arts'? Can you truly? Its powers are enormous, terrifying, but extremely attractive in its own right. Besides, what's Light without a bit of Darkness?"

He took a deep breath, before he looked down upon Harry, who still glared at him, stuck to his chair and unable to lift his hands the smallest bit. Damien smirked and sadly shook his head. "Harry, Harry, Harry. Why don't you just give in? You've already lost. Not even a glowing necklace will help. You see, there is a barrier over five miles wide, all around us. It takes powerful magic to take something like that down. Power your poor, spoiled mate doesn't have," he added with a hateful sneer.

"So how do you even expect to take revenge on Draco when he can't even get through?"

Damien snorted. "He'll find a way eventually. In fact, I wonder if he'll be on time to spare you from the fate bestowed on you. How long do you think you'll last without water? How long do you think you'll last without food?"

At Harry's alarmed look, Damien started laughing. "Don't worry, Poppet. I won't let you die. Maybe I'll keep you around, once you're a good boy." He ruffled Harry's hair, but in the same move he tried to remove the necklace. Only to find that he couldn't. He frowned and removed his hand, this time trying to take it from the front. But the same thing happened.

Harry tried to raise his hand to see if he could touch it, but he quickly let it drop when he noticed that he could in fact lift his hands higher than previously. Was the spell wearing off? If it was, it wouldn't do to alert the Elf. Harry's grin turned smug. "It's only a necklace, you know? It isn't that hard to remove."

The blond stewed in front of him, turning his head a nasty shade of red. "We'll see how smug you are in a few days. I'm awaiting your begging for water. Maybe that will teach you to shut your trap. You'll break, believe me. You can be noble and headstrong about it, but your body will crave for it before the week is out. Maybe I'll even give some to you. But until that time… Have a nice time with your solitude."

Harry watched the blond leave. If the Elf thought for only one moment that Harry would cave, he would be mistaken. Besides, he had to tell Draco something important. Something very important indeed. Even in the darkness of his cell he found hope and a bit of light. There was Darkness in Light? Well, it was the other way around, too. There was Light in Darkness, and there always would be. And right now his Light was Draco and the bond they shared. And he trusted those. He only hoped Draco wouldn't be too long.

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"Don't you think it's awfully quiet, dear?" Narcissa asked her husband when they returned home and sat down for over an hour after the festivities and cleaning up.

Lucius looked to his wife and cocked his head. "I think they'd be asleep. Harry needs to be up early tomorrow for internship. Besides, he wasn't feeling well."

"I'm not talking about that kind of silence, Lucius. Where's the hum gone?"

The blond haired man tuned in to the humming around him, the magical traces of an Elf, but only noticed one, besides his own, of course.

He got up and stealthily made his way to the third floor, and knocked on Draco's bedroom door. When there was no answer he pushed the door handle down and stepped into the room. With a flick of his hands the lights flared to life. But no Harry or Draco. He tried the room at the end of the corridor, but no sign of either of them. When he returned to his wife she knew the answer before he even spoke a word.

"Shall we try to see if they're with Blaise?" Narcissa asked, her own face paling further, though she didn't dare to let images of her son enter her mind. Draco was strong and besides, they didn't know for certain if they were missing.

Narcissa took the lead and knocked on the lovely oaken front door. A tired but awake Blaise opened the door and immediately swallowed. "Mr Malfoy, Mrs Malfoy," he said, nodding.

"Blaise," Narcissa said, smiling pleasantly. "Would you mind very much telling us where our son is?"

Blaise nodded and beckoned for them to come in. "I think it's better if it's taken inside," he commented as he moved to the living room, hearing the door close behind him.

Theodore had gone to bed after he took some of his own tea. In case of an emergency he could be woken, and him and Blaise had decided to switch guard in case Draco or Harry came back. Blaise decided to take the first one, since Draco meant the world to him. After his mate, of course.

He gestured for the Malfoy family to sit down. "Well, it's like this. Today, or more like yesterday now, something happened at the church, after Ron and Hermione were married. We were invited, but we opted to stay home because Theodore wasn't feeling that well. Anyway, at a quarter past ten or so someone knocked at our door and there Draco stood, deathly pale and trembling on his legs. I knew something was the matter the moment I saw him. He asked Theo for a tea that calmed frazzled nerves. He needed it because… because Damien had kidnapped Harry. So now Draco's gone after him. I don't know where he went. But I hope he's still thinking clearly without running headlong into something."

Narcissa replied a bit snappishly. "Harry is his mate. Do you truly think he'll be calm and collected and composed enough to negotiate? We have to get there in time or something bad is going to happen."

Blaise cringed, and Narcissa apologised immediately when she saw the facial expression. "I'm sorry, Blaise. You've been a true help, thank you. But we'll take it from here. I'll get the foolish boy back, just as his mate."

The dark skinned youth smiled weakly. "I'm sure you will, Mrs Malfoy. But how do you intend to find him?"

She grinned a feral grin. "Watch," she simply said. Cupping her hands, she grabbed the sand she conjured from the floor and held it between her hands. She blew the sand away, until a map with a dot remained. It showed the ruins of what would've been a mighty village once.

Blaise watched, fascinated. "What is that?"

Narcissa grinned. "It's a tracking spell on Draco's necklace. He often got lost, as you well know. It's how I find him back. And it's how we'll find him right now. I recognise the area from years ago. It's abandoned, and has been for a great many years. People believed the place to be haunted. Lucius, if you would."

The teenager moved forward too, but Narcissa just smiled patiently at him. "I know you want to come with us. But in case they get back before we find them, it would be nice to know that someone was taking care of them. Besides, we wouldn't want to worry your mate."

Blaise nodded dejectedly, though he understood the means of staying behind. He watched the remaining Malfoys shimmer away and he sighed. He couldn't live with the anxiety coursing through his veins. Making his own cup of tea, he settled back down on the couch. All he could do was wait now.

Draco snarled. Of course the bastard would've conjured and erected a ward, the coward. After the block he felt while appearing in the area, he could walk for a mile or so, before he bodily encountered one. He raised both his hands and touched the ward with the tips of his long fingers. He closed his eyes and let the magic from the ward seep through him, to tell him what kind of ward he was dealing with. He almost laughed out loud when he noticed what was required to step through the ward. Was the Elf such an idiot? So convinced he wouldn't love his mate, didn't care for him at all? Well, it wasn't his loss, and he stepped right through the barrier when he dredged up all the feelings he had for Harry. He wondered what Damien had in stock for him next. Obviously the blond would know when he breached the wards.

The breeze that he first felt when he set foot in the area only picked up and something told him it wasn't a regular wind. He concentrated on the bond and knew he was getting closer. The harsher wind didn't even have to tell him that. A gust of wind nearly knocked him over, but he steeled himself, gritting his teeth. He'd get through this and he would take Harry with him. And when he got to Damien… Well, he'd think about that later. Right now all he could focus on was getting to Harry. So he pushed on forward, even though he nearly had to double over to stop himself from being blown away, his feet planted firmly on the grassy ground. The blue light was still shining brightly, which told him where to go.

The wind suddenly went down and Draco fell forward, not expecting the sudden stillness. When he looked up, the light was closer than it previously was. In fact, it was hanging over a large tower. A tower which reminded him of a fairy-tale the humans used to tell. The tale of a fair lady, being locked away in a large tower, an evil witch her only company. She had long, golden hair, which was used to let a young, brazen man enter her tower. But no golden hair came down to guide him a way to the small window visible. The moon cast eerie shadows over the surrounding area. His heart beat faster, though he didn't dare hope it would be that easy. He raised his hand, touching the impenetrable stone. But shortly after, a frown covered his face.

It almost seemed to him that Damien wanted to be found, even though the first ward could've warded him off easily enough, were the feelings he had for Harry not true. Well, he'd prove Damien once and for all how he felt about his mate. With determined eyes, he looked for a way to get up. And then he'd find Harry and take him with him.