Chapter 148 - Seaside Cottage (1/2)
In a seaside cottage near the sea, it was a windy day. The wind blew from the northwest and clouds in the distance suggested that later in the night there might be a bit of rain. The weather was largely cold and dry with a bit of rain now and again. It's been so far a largely dry, cold winter thus far.
The waves in the nearby distance crash onto the sandy beach as seagulls cry out from their nests. The few birds that were flying whirl about as the air currents take them swiftly through the air. The shadows were growing long as the sun hid behind the clouds. The warmth of the day vanished as it quickly grew dark and gloomy. It'd be dark soon given that the sun was now covered by the clouds.
From inside the cottage a tall, hunched over figure emerges. The elder man would not be recognizable if not for his dark gaze. Morfin's Gaunt had lost most of his pallor thanks to the sun and looked far better than he ever had at the end of his life. He'd actually astonished the healers by outliving their prognosis of one year.
Morfin Gaunt's footsteps creak loudly on the wooden porch as he walks off the steps and into the sand. His neatly trimmed hair and beard flutter behind him as he makes his way down near to the beach. He simply stands there enjoying the salty scent as tiny sand particles whirl about him. And yet for some reason, none of them end up in his eyes or face.
Morfin Gaunt simply waits on the beach as he felt that his time was near nigh. He'd made peace with himself at long last. And now he was simply waiting for that brat to come.
The wind abruptly ceases to fiercely blow to a soft breeze. The loud crashing of the waves can be heard that much clearer as the gray sky is silent. Even the birds can't be seen crying out nor riding on the breeze.
A popping like sound can be heard in the nearby distance followed by the echoes of others. Morfin Gaunt smiles to himself revealing a yellow smile with missing teeth. It was time.
Leading the group of Death Eaters is a man with deathly pale skin and sharp cheekbones. His pale skin is as pale as ever with ear-length hair now thinner than before. His crimson eye pupil seemed more oval than ever even more elongated than before.
Morfin Gaunt did not turn his head to face his nephew as he simply stared at the swelling and falling waves before him. He'd never known just how beautiful the world could be. But then again, he'd never left his home until by force. And now, he so desperately wished he'd been brave enough to do so before. What a fool he'd been.
”Ah, so ya've come,” Morfin loudly said as the figures surrounded him from behind and at his side. ”And wat can I do for ye nephew?” The Death Eater's visibly blink but don't react beyond keeping a firm hold on their wands.
Lord Voldemort's face visible twitches in anger and narrows his crimson eyes. ”A word, Gaunt,” Voldemort coldly said.
”Aye, wat?” Morfin asked as he turned to gaze at the monstrous creature his nephew was becoming. If his stupid sister could see the product of her love, he wondered if she'd even feel the least bit guilty. But then again, she'd always been a lovestruck fool.
Voldemort icily says, ”What do you know of the Chalice?”
Morfin bursts out into laughter, before jeering back, ”A child's tale. Nuthing more.”
Morfin's lips turn into a triumphant sneer at seeing the anger flash in his nephew's eyes. ”Aye, da Holy Grail is merely a children's tale. No more real den da muggles AL-IE-NS.”
”Don't lie to me!” Voldemort spat out.