A/N: At last we've reached the end :) I'd love to list everyone who reviewed, favved and put this story on their alerts but there's too many of you, and by this point I've made you wait enough xD I want to thank you all for sticking with me for so long, and bearing with the long waits... you were what kept me going! So enjoy this, and I'll see you in the sequel! :D
Epilogue – Untouchable
The corridors in the palace were empty. The footsteps of two wizards were the only sound that sent an echo across the white halls as they walked to the Emperor's personal meeting room, underground. Anyone hardly ever walked these corridors for the sole reason that they were in the heart of the palace, surrounded by massive labyrinths, curses and traps. Only those who had been there before knew the way and had access. The older of the two wizards had been down this particular corridor countless times, and so led his young counterpart on his first journey across.
"I let them take it…" the young one said faintly, with a vacant expression in his eyes. "She said this weird chant and pulled it through my neck… she took it… and I just let them."
The older wizard gave him a look. "Yes, because I'm sure you could have taken on all seven Shades on your own," he said sarcastically.
As soon as the young wizard had managed to send an owl with his location –Riddle Manor, of all places- his father had travelled to England to pick him up after two days of frantic searching. He had not been ready for the news of the stolen Violet Key, or the 'birth' of Deimos, or his minion's treason and murder. At his son's own hands. They had set out immediately to Ebur; he still had to deal with the boy for murdering such an important link to their enemies, such an amateur mistake! The boy would pay, but first he had to speak to the Emperor. Not because the Key had been stolen, no… the Emperor was not even aware of the Key's existence.
The boy gave his father a sour look. "I could have fought for it," was the curt reply.
"And lost," insisted the father to his son. "They would have killed you, and you are no use to anyone if you're dead."
They needed Emperor Tersias' silence because now eight people knew the Dark Prince was alive…. By now, what remained of the Order of the Phoenix would know of Jack Riddle's survival. Now, Jack would be hunted down by wizards and Shades alike.
Jack hissed. "Why are you trying to convince me that I couldn't have done anything about it? Why aren't you even a bit angry with me?"
"Because it is the truth," growled Tom. "No one can fight seven Shades. It is suicide; even I wouldn't try it. That I am seeing reason does not mean I think nothing of you losing the Key. We have to get it back now, somehow, before they find the Violet Keystone and unlock it."
The boy frowned slightly and looked away from his father. "And if they find it? What would happen, then?"
Tom stopped and ran a hand through his hair. "Wish I knew…. Whatever is on their minds I cannot guess, but nothing good can come out of it. We have to stay alert now more than ever."
"They knew I was alive," mumbled Jack. "For a good while now, they've known I was alive. We let our guards down."
The Dark Lord resumed his walking and scoffed. "Let our guards down? If you had spared Wormtail we would know a lot more of what they know," he growled, shooting a glare at his son, who winced. "I don't know what went through your head when you decided to use the Killing Curse, but I cannot think of a worse course of action. On top of everything, the life debt Tersias' father owed me expired when Laverna first heard you were alive."
Jack's eyes widened. "It did?"
Tom lifted an eyebrow at him. "The deal was that they kept you a secret because Hakan owed me his life. Now that you are not a secret anymore, and war is inevitable, Tersias has to choose between alliances. He cannot afford to keep your whereabouts a secret from some of his allies without facing retaliation."
Jack frowned. "You've lost me. What alliances? What are you talking about?"
"You do remember your lady friend… Black, was it?" Tom taunted him.
"Black? Are you out of your mind? I haven't seen her in ages," argued Jack with a scowl. "What does she have to do with anything?"
"Do you know who she is?" continued Tom in the same tone. Jack didn't bite. Tom smirked. "She's royalty. She's cousins with the heir to Fatura's throne, a country whose alliance Tersias has worked hard to keep. And she's Harry Potter's best friend, who is Dumbledore's protégée. You can guess their reactions if they ever find out that Tersias has been keeping his mouth shut about us."
Jack opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. Kristen was part of a royal family? "You're afraid he'll spill?"
"Oh yes," Tom replied bitterly. "Where we live, what school you attend, our connections, and our second identities. We would have to start all over again."
Jack grimaced. Well, what a mess. "And what do we do about it?"
Tom scoffed. "If it were up to me I'd threaten him to keep his mouth shut, kidnap his son, something like that… but I've found those plans tend to backfire. Cutting a deal should last longer."
Jack thought it better not to comment about his father's idea of everyday coercion methods.
Tom sighed heavily as they came within sight of a pair of grand steel doors. He could feel a headache starting. What a mess.
Jack looked up at him. "Of what kind of deal are we talking about?"
His father shook his head. "Whatever it is, the price will be steep for us. We will have to offer something so grand, that Tersias cannot resist it despite the consequences he will have to face if he is ever found out by Fatura's queen."
"What do you have in mind?" Jack asked cautiously, fearing they might not have something worthy enough to offer.
Tom sighed and rubbed his temples. "Nothing yet."
Jack stared at his father worriedly as Tom turned back to the steel doors and pulled out his wand. He drew a symbol on the left door and then a different one on the right one, causing a series of clicks to echo across the empty hallway. The boy looked around wildly to check for any intruders the racket might attract.
Tom laughed. "What are you doing?"
Jack blinked at him in confusion. "Just on the look-out…"
The Dark Lord laughed at his heir again. "Don't be so paranoid just because you've lost the Violet Key. No one comes down here except for the Emperor and the Untouchables in office."
Jack glared at his father. "Must you know everything? You have no idea of how annoying it gets… and what's an Untouchable, anyway?"
"Patience is not your virtue, is it?" asked Tom dryly, though with a sadistic smirk.
The massive steel doors then opened inwards, cutting short Jack's huff of indignation. They seemed to drag their weight for ages, until they finally came to a stop with a heavy groan. Inside was an antechamber, completely bare except for the flickering torches on the walls.
Tom stepped through first and led Jack to a smaller set of doors across the chamber. Through the doors they could hear the sound of two men arguing on the other side, without being able to make out what was being said. They stopped abruptly, as if they'd heard them step into the antechamber.
Jack was about to say something but Tom motioned at him to remain silent. Jack bit his tongue and looked away. They waited in silence for a moment and then one of the doors swung open. A grizzled man stepped out and looked at them both up and down with his light blue eyes. They looked out of place in such a severe looking face sporting a neat salt and pepper beard.
Jack had never met the Emperor, but he knew this couldn't be him, because the Eburian royal family had white hair. This must be the man Tersias was arguing with.
"Christoff," the stranger greeted Tom with a slight nod.
Jack was shocked to see his father nod back. His father didn't nod to anyone.
"Garvan," replied Tom, almost tiredly. The corners of the man's lips twitched, as if he was trying to hold back his laughter. He gave Jack a last curious glance and then walked away.
Jack stared after him, confused. "Father, who was-?"
"Not now," replied Tom tightly. "We are expected."
He stepped forward confidently and Jack followed. Inside was a meeting room. The large oval table could easily sit thirty people; maps with blinking dots hung on the walls like tapestries, and three overhead chandeliers bathed the room with light. There were no other doors. At the head of the table sat a white haired man wearing wine red robes.
"Tersias," his father greeted, not impolitely. Jack noticed the lack of a nod. Peculiar, how he would bow to that stranger and not an Emperor.
The white haired emperor tilted his head. "Voldemort," he greeted cheerfully. "In what uncomfortable and painful position will you put me into this time? Your message sounded urgent."
Tom smirked. "I like your optimism, Tersias. Makes my life easier."
Tersias chuckled. "Take a seat. You both look like hell."
Jack gladly sank into one of the surprisingly comfortable armchairs. He was exhausted. He could feel his father's disapproving glare, but at the moment he couldn't care less about his manners.
Tersias rubbed his hands and sighed. "So. What is this about?"
Tom exhaled a short breath and got down to business. "As you would have found out sooner or later, our deal expired," he explained. "The Shades know my son is alive. By now, Dumbledore knows too."
The emperor's face showed surprise for a split second. Then it hardened. "And if I know you, you are after a second deal."
Tom smirked slightly. "You read my mind."
Tersias stared curiously at Jack. Jack stared back. Tersias frowned. "What is it you want?"
"Your silence," replied Tom, looking at the exchange between his son and the emperor. "Without the life debt holding you back, you would have given us away the moment your father died. I want to make sure that will not change despite what happened a few hours ago," he added, drawing a cautious glance from the emperor. "Two days ago, the boy ran into the Shades and survived by a miracle. He says Deimos has found a host that fits him."
Tersias snapped his attention back on the Dark Lord. "Deimos?"
Tom nodded. Tersias tapped his chin with his fingers.
"So war is finally coming," he muttered. "And we're not ready to face it."
Tom rolled his eyes. "We knew it was coming."
"But not so soon!" snapped Tersias. "The raids started three years ago. Dealing with raids is one thing, but a full-scale war? Lead by seven Shades? Three years are not enough to raise an army powerful enough to face them. The country will need powerful allies. Allies like Fatura. Close ties to Albus Dumbledore," he added, looking pointedly at Tom. "If they find out that I'm striking deals with you-"
"You will lose their alliance, yes I know," Tom snapped back, annoyed. "So you better hope that in times of war they are able to overlook your past dealings; for the sake of the 'greater good' they so love to quote."
Tersias didn't look happy. He took a deep, calming breath, and closed his eyes. "You want my silence? You better have something damn good to offer. Preferably something that can help in the war effort."
Tom sighed heavily. "Name your price."
Tersias opened his eyes, surprised. "You're desperate, huh?"
The Dark Lord remained stoic. Jack looked at his father and then at Tersias. He felt grossly out of place in the conversation.
The emperor's eyes travelled between the two Dark wizards. He seemed to be thinking hard. "During the last war," he said finally, "you played an important role, Voldemort, or so my father used to say-"
"I'm not fighting for you, Tersias," cut Tom suddenly, his eyes flickering red as he did so. "My participation in the last war was merely circumstantial. I would not have done it if I had had a choice."
Tersias raised an eyebrow. "Garvan is getting older. The Untouchables need a new, fresher leader. You know the ropes. Garvan himself thought you could handle the job."
Tom grimaced. "I'm not interested. Besides, I have other… commitments."
"I thought you wanted my silence?" said Tersias conversationally.
"We do," piped in Jack, before his father could say something else. With the look the Dark Lord was giving him, he knew he was going to pay later. "Isn't there something else you want?"
Tersias shifted his attention to him, and suddenly his eyes widened, almost as if he had just seen Jack for the first time. "There might be something else…" he conceded. He leaned forward and intertwined his fingers. "You see, I will eventually need able fighters. The very best. Fortunately, there are young people out there with powerful bloodlines sitting in their pockets. Young people like you."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. Did Tersias just ask him to fight for him?
"Absolutely not!" snapped Tom, his eyes turning red.
"Hear me out," said Tersias calmly, not at all unfazed by the Dark Lord's outburst. "Your boy is still too young to join in any kind of fighting. And while I expect him to be learning a lot of skills in Ingoldstadt, there is only so much a school can teach him. I will try to deal with the war the best way I can, but if it ever becomes necessary, I want to be able to call on him. I want him to train under Garvan, and become an Untouchable."
Tom laughed humourlessly. "Tersias, are you trying to replicate me?"
Tersias grimaced. "I know who the boy's mother was. I know who her ancestors were," he said grimly. "I'm not trying to replicate you, Voldemort. I'm trying to top you," he said at last.
Tom scowled. "You're out of your mind."
"I have a country to protect," retorted Tersias. "I want the very best allies to do so. Why don't you ask the boy what he thinks about it? He seems old enough to be able to make choices by himself."
Both men looked at Jack, and Jack felt his mouth go dry. Dear Hades, why did he have to open his mouth? "You said… 'if it ever becomes necessary'. What do you mean by that?"
Tersias smiled. "It means that if things turn out right, I will have no need of your services at all. I might never bother you," he added. "It's a gamble. Take it, and whether I need you or not, you will have my silence."
Jack considered his words for a moment before consulting his father with his eyes. The Dark Lord didn't seem happy at all… but if they didn't take Tersias' offer, they would lose everything they had, and Dumbledore would be a step closer to them.
"What would I have to do?" he asked cautiously. "If I were to agree."
"Just answer the call," answered Tersias, stroking his chin. "You would come here to this very room, where we will be waiting for you. You would be trained in all sorts of arts and fighting skills, and in a few years you would join the ranks of Untouchables: our elite intelligence group. Are you up to it?"
Jack lowered his eyes and frowned. It didn't sound too bad… and if he learned to fight like one of these elite people, wouldn't that actually be an advantage for him? Maybe he could avoid making mistakes like the one he had made last night, maybe he wouldn't be so helpless if he ran into a Shade again, and maybe… he could get the Violet Key back. With all those possibilities, why was it that his father was so against it?
He shot a look at the man. He seemed determined to stare at anything that wasn't Jack or Tersias. He knew he was outnumbered. And he knew it would be their only chance.
Jack took a deep breath and looked into the Emperor's eyes.
"I am."