Rob was sat in sparks. Boredom was the only thing that seemed to fill his work hours. He was sick of it and was just about ready to stick the pen in his eye. He was truly, that bored and wanted a little more freedom. Lizzie would no doubt complain but he could have cared less about her protests. It wasn’t as if her opinion truly mattered. “Sod this,” he said, throwing his bullpoint pen down on the notebook he had out. “I quit.”
Lizzie, who was busy cutting carrots for a soup, turned on him and pointed an accusing finger at her employer. “What are you going to tell Khaat then!? You can’t just quit, Rob!” Rob scowled at her and grabbed his coat up from the back of his chair. “Watch me. I refuse to sit here all day looking at things you could be doing.” The way he said it made it sound as if Rob looked over paperwork a lot more than the average employer did. There was something more.
“Me!?” she all but screeched at him. “You haven’t lifted a sodding finger for a month and you’re telling me there are things that I could be doing? Rob there are many things that you could be doing but you don’t! When will you get off of your arse and stop acting like a spoilt little rich boy!?”
“Excuse me!?” Rob asked in utter disbelief. “I earn that money, thank you very much!”
“How; killing innocent people? Rob don’t actually think for one minute I don’t know what you get up to. The Illegal potions trade for example, how long have you and Jen been running that? I don’t doubt you own the bloody business! You kill people and let people die for money, for your own benefit! How can you live with yourself knowing that your wife and baby were nearly killed by your sordid little business?”
Something inside Rob snapped at that point. In a flash, Lizzie found herself pushed against the brick wall of the kitchen that had yet to be plastered. Her bones cracked and protested about the rough treatment and she looked up to see the full fury in Rob’s eyes. He was barely able to contain it and the grip on her arms probably was his little outlet before he really started to hurt her.
“Do you want to say that again?” He asked darkly, his expression changing and hardening. He was turning into a completely different person right before her very eyes. “Do you want to accuse me of this....this...”
“Truth?” she filled in for him. His grip on her turned vicelike and she cried out in obvious pain. A flash of sadistic pleasure flew across his features but quickly disappeared as compassion and empathy got in the way.
“You better thing of something to get back into my good graces because otherwise you’ll find yourself six feet under in less than a week’s time.” He threatened. His voice had an air to it, telling Lizzie that he wasn’t bluffing. He truly would dispose of her. She wanted the situation light – she needed to defuse it.
“They gonna find the body?” she asked, swallowing hard.
“Empty coffin.” He said without a hint of emotion betraying his words. She knew he was telling the truth.
“Monster.” She mumbled before raising her voice to him. “That’s what you are! You’re a f*cking MONSTER!”
Rob tightened his grip even further and Lizzie sucked in a breath of air. “What is it...you want to know?” he asked quietly. She coughed and looked at him with pity in her eyes.
“Why? Why did you do it? You inadvertently supplied Khaat the potions. Who brewed them?”
“I don’t think it matters.”
“Y-yes it does.” She asked, trying to keep the subject going.
“How so? How could it possibly matter....to you?”
“Khaat is my friend. She has a right to know it was her deranged husband that nearly killed her. Does she ever wonder where your never ending money supply comes from?”
“Like I said, Elizabeth, it doesn’t matter.”
“She needs to know. You’re the King of the Illegal potions trade and Jenifer your Queen – the parents of the illegal trade that cost many magical folk their lives. It’s been growing for years. You’ve been nuirturing it haven’t you? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was you two that set it up!”
Rob pulled Lizzie away from the wall and she saw the murderous look in his eyes. He wasn’t done yet. Her back collided with the wall again and she cried out in agony as the tears began to fall from her eyes. He didn’t want to hurt her but she was testing his patience and his explosive temper.
“You’ve got a strange mind, haven’t you?” he leered. “Illegal potions, huh? Does it stop there or go on?’ Enlighten me.”
“Muggle drugs.” She said quietly. “The Liquid Unforgivables that can be sold in the dingiest of apothecaries. Poisons for everything and everyone. New spells...dark spells. Dark potions to resurrect the dead. Dark everthing... just ... evil. You’re a dark wizard and you know it!”
“The list goes on, dear one but think, what have you missed?” his voice was like velvet, inviting her in.
“Death Eaters.” She whispered.
Rob threw his head back and laughed. It was a bark that reminded her of his Animagus but it had an evil undercurrent to it that made her shiver. He looked at her again. His eyes were black. It was if all of the evil inside of him was being communicated through those onyx orbs. They were beautiful all the same though. Enticing, just like his voice.
“No actually darling. We’re free lance – work for ourselves and others when it pays to. In a way, I own them but I shan’t go into that. It’s far too complicated. Anything else you wish to add?”
“W-werewolves....V-vampires and t-the Knockturn Alley whores.” She whispered, stumbling over her words. Rob’s smile was sadistic and cruel.
“Ours to manipulate....Jen doesn’t like them....she owns the little play things.”
“Why doesn’t she like them?” she asked.
“They’re the scum of the earth.” Rob said it as if he were talking about the weather. “Werewolves aren’t much better.”
“You married a Lupin though! You got her pregnant and you’re saying werewolves are the scum of the earth! Her uncle was one! Miseria is one!”
“And what a pretty creature she is.” Rob said, referring to Miseria.
“How can you talk about her like that!?” Lizzie raged. “She’s meant to be your daughter!”
“Still....she’s quite pretty for a dog!”
“Your Animagus is a dog!”
“Is it?” he questioned.
Lizzie whimpered. He was always good at winning their arguments; always quick to rebuttal and try to prove her wrong. He wasn’t this time though. He was just letting her play it out. She didn’t know who he was anymore. He wasn’t the weak little boy who looked as if he’d never lived in the real world and spent more time looking up ladies dresses than living life with his wife. He was man and a dangerous one at that. Lizzie wondered if Khaat knew that.
“I don’t know. I don’t know you anymore. You’ve changed...”
“Not really.” Rob shrugged. “Perhaps changed back but not really changed.”
“You are a dark wizard!” she hissed angrily. “You are the scum of the earth; you and the rest of them. Not the werewolves and vampires! You!”
“Filthy little half-breeds, the lot of them. You know, I’m thinking....what if I was to kill you and disappear for a while? Do you think you’d be missed, sweetheart?”
“I hope she betrays you.” Lizzie said in a low voice. “I really do. You’re a dictator, a dark wizard – everything she stands against!”
Rob smiled that sadistic smile and loosened his grip on her arms a fraction. It was looser but not enough to give her any relief as he still held her too tightly. He could feel his fingers making indents in her skin.
“Looks can be deceiving little Lizzie.”
“So you lied to her?” she questioned.
“I don’t owe you an explanation y’know...” he reminded her good naturedly.
“You’re a Ravenclaw and you’re acting like a f*cking Slytherin!”
“What a lovely, but crude, assessment Elizabeth.” He said coolly, referring to her blaspheming. “Do you honestly think for one minute Dents could get away with being Slytherin’s? Of course we would but we’re a light family. Even with all of the darkness that clouds the Whitlock name even they have pandered to the light side. Rethink your accusations dear because it may just cost you your life?”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, defeated.
“You were the one that accused me of being the daddy of the illegal potions trade that nearly killed my wife. So, technically, this is your own fault.” He said with a smirk, his eyes lighting up in amusement.
“You didn’t deny it.” She said, not missing a beat. “So you are the King of the illegal potions trade.”
“I did not deny it but I did not say I was. Now, any questions or do I really have to kill you?”
“If werewolves are the scum of the earth why did you marry Khaat?” she asked, desperate to know.
Rob paused. “.....Connections.” he lied smoothly after a little bit of thought.
“I don’t believe you. Y-you’re stronger than anyone thought! I knew there was something there you weren’t telling us and you hid all of this...this strength, this power!”
“Your point?” he asked wryly.
“Why do it? Why lie? You love her, I know you do! You nearly killed her....I-”
“Elizabeth, darling, you’re not making much sense, love.”
“You are a secret within another secret which is within one of its very own. What layer have I pulled off? Who are you?” she asked quietly.
“Which one do you think?” he asked.
“You’re not bad; not really. You just have a side to you that’s dangerous.”
“You said it yourself though....I’m the King of an Illegal potions empire that is used daily by witches and wizards of all ages. I kill people for fun – I’m a monster.”
“So did Lord Voldemort – so was Lord Voldemort.”
“You’re likening me to him? How lovely. I’m flattered, Elizabeth, really.”
“Y-you....how many Horcruxes do you have?”
“I plan on making eight; just to spite him.”
Lizzie screamed in frustration and Rob raised an eyebrow at her. “What else do you do!?” she demanded, his eyebrow rose higher at this. “What else do you sell?”
“I sell the whores at an auction. We drain the vampires of their essence and sell it. We have the werewolves bite people for fun and skin them during the full moon. Etcetera, etcetera.”
“What else?” she probed.
“You know, you might just have to be donated to some of those who work for me. We’ll test the new escalated liquid Cruciatus on you. How does that sound?”
“Escalated?” she asked, her voice strained.
“Ten times more the pain.” He leered. “Although, pouring it into unsuspecting Muggles’ drinks is always fun.”
“You’re sadistic! You’re monster! You’re going to end up killing your wife and your child! How many wives do you already have? I bet you kill them off when you’re bored.”
He sighed dramatically. “I only wish that were true.”
Rob threw Lizzie at the wall where the pots were hung on the hooks and her back collided with them. She landed on the tiles and the pots fell off of the wall and landed on her. Rob walked over to her and grab bed her by the neck. He pushed her against the wall and looked at her with black eyes.
“Now, listen to me and listen good. Whether or not I am a Dark Wizard, King of the illegal potions trade and the one who was responsible for Khaat’s addiction while using my wares doesn’t matter. You tell a soul and I swear you’ll find yourself in a dungeon quicker than I can yell Avada Kedava in your general direction. Do we have an accord?”
“You sick bastard! You’ve got mental problems! You’re a bloody psycho! You admitted to it all! You are the king of the illegal potions trade and you are a dark wizard! You’re responsible for it all!”
“You’re smarter than I gave you credit for, love.”
“So you admit to it all?” she asked.
“No. I’m not. I’m implying without actually saying I am. I’m putting the words in your mouth, love.”
“What?”
Rob looked her up and down.
“How do you feel about working for me? I can make it worth your while....”
“I’d rather poke my eyes out with red hot pokers!”
“That can be arranged.”
“F*ck you!”
“Darling...you’re confusing me now. Yes or no...you’re stringing me along. It’s not fair on the male before you.”
“WHAT!? I don’t want to be your mistress!”
“What a shame.”
Lizzie screamed, loud enough to be heard from the dining area.