Chapter 46: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Lucius Malfoy and the three other Death Eaters stared, their shock freezing them for a crucial second.
This was impossible. The Death Eaters, for all their faults, were adult, trained wizards. They were not opponents a Hogwarts student—a first-year, even an older one—should be able to handle. And yet, two of their number lay unconscious on the forest floor, their wands broken.
An ambush? The Order? Lucius's eyes darted around the shadowy clearing, seeing no one. His cautious nature screamed in warning. This boy was wrong. That sentient, hovering cloak was wrong.
The other Death Eaters, however, felt only contempt for their fallen comrades.
"Pathetic," one spat, his voice distorted by his mask. "Two grown men taken down by a child. They disgrace the mark."
"Waste of space," another agreed. They made no move to help their fellows. Mercy was leaving them alive.
Ignoring Lucius's hesitation, the three focused their wands on Elian. They dared not use the Killing Curse—the Dark Lord wanted this one alive—but other spells would serve. Three jets of light—red, blue, and gold—shot across the clearing.
Lucius Malfoy took another step back. It's too easy. He's too calm.
He was right.
The instant the spells flew, the red cloak was no longer at Elian's side. It was simply in front of him, as if it had always been there.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The spells struck the cloak and vanished. The fabric didn't even ripple. Elian hadn't moved a muscle.
One of the Death Eaters gasped. "Impossible—"
"Stop holding back! All together!" another roared, then turned on Lucius. "Malfoy! Help now or I'll name you to the Dark Lord myself!"
Fury surged through Lucius. "You fool! You used my name!" he hissed, but the threat worked. He raised the wand concealed in his cane, and a fourth spell joined the next volley.
It was time to end this. Four against one. They could not fail like the fools on the ground.
The four Death Eaters, now acting in unison, broke apart with practiced Apparition cracks, surrounding Elian in a deadly circle.
"Phantom Shifter?" Elian murmured, looking at each of the four in turn. A cold smile touched his lips. "Four on one?"
His new reward, the Icon Illusion, itched to be used. They thought they had him outnumbered.
They were about to learn how wrong they were.
The Levitation Cloak swept back onto his shoulders. Then, to the utter shock of the four wizards, Elian's feet left the ground. He hovered in the center of their circle, arms crossed.
Then, from his back, six more pairs of arms shimmered into existence, an impossible, multi-limbed silhouette against the eerie green glow of the Dark Mark.
A wave of primal fear washed over the Death Eaters.
"DO IT!" one screamed, terror cracking his voice.
But it was too late.
Before their eyes, the sixteen-year-old boy… multiplied. A dozen perfect copies of Elian Throne burst into being around him. They moved with impossible speed, swirling out until each of the four Death Eaters was faced not with one target, but three identical, hovering opponents.
In a heartbeat, the trap was completely sprung.
The poles had flipped. The hunters were surrounded.
(End of Chapter)
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