Chapter 683 - Ruse Ⅵ

Following the explosion of the cottage, the Death Eaters spread out to attack the Auror's, who had arrived not too long ago and had taken refuge in the woods to position themselves to counterattack. With the woods serving as a successful cover for the Auror's, the Death Eater's had no choice but to descend and attack. The Death Eaters began to spread themselves across the entire forefront lest the Auror's encircle them from any flank and plunge from behind them to attack. The result was that Lord Voldemort was left alone on the hill to hunt down Auror Percius Clements and force the stubborn Auror to reveal the location of Potions Master, Damocles Belby.

Down below the steep slope at the edge of the woods, the burly, broad-shouldered figure of Antonin Dolohov can be seen with a merciless smile as a cleverly wicked idea appears in his mind. Rather than hunting the slippery Auror's, he'd force the rats out of hiding. Lifting his wand, he says, "Incendio," and sets the woods aflame.

Dolohov's long, pale twisted face is ruthlessly revealed beneath the sight of the bright, flickering flames. "Fools, they should have set the woods ablaze since the very start," he arrogantly remarked out loud. "The Auror's will have to flee or emerge from their hiding hole lest they be trapped in the fiery inferno."

Dolohov's eyes glimmer catching sight of a nearby Auror. He ruthlessly casts his trademark spell as purple sparks emerge from the tip of his wand and catch the unaware at the edge of the woods. The Auror goes down with a pained grunt as his fellow Auror's grab him and retreat further into the woods with their wounded comrade.

"Weaklings," Dolohov sneered under his breath. They should have abandoned their comrade and instead turned to face him. Their numbers would have been enough to even cause him to pause. This was what sentimental nonsense cost those fools, who cede to such lesser emotions. It made them weak, brittle in front of those with true strength of heart.

Dense clouds of smoke begin to fill the woods as Auror's and Death Eaters are forced to take precautions against the flying embers of ashes that spread the hungry flames even further through the woods. Auror's and Death Eater's alike cover their faces with clothes in order to breathe, while their eyes fiercely sting from ash and the smoke. The hungry fire spreads even faster and faster singing clothes, and various body parts.

With the woods beginning to transform into a fiery inferno, the Auror's split up. Half of the Auror's provide defense and attacks, while the other half attempt to extinguish the flames as the Death Eaters keep setting the woods afire. They had no other choice lest they be burned alive or worse find themselves trapped!

Wading into the worst of the foray, Dolohov expertly defends himself as he casts spells left and right. To his astonishment, he finds himself stopped by three young Auror's guarding the flanks. One of them was a handsome dark-skinned wizard, whose bare scalp glinted in firelight accompanied by the glint of a single golden hoop earring. The other two Auror's are witches; one has auburn hair, pale skin, and brown eyes. And the other is a petite witch with tan skin and curly hair.

"And might I know who I have the pleasure of dueling?" Dolohov flippantly asked, before shouting with his next breath, "Crucio!"

The three Aurors throw themselves to the ground and roll to the side, before scrambling onto their feet. Rising to their feet with leaves, mud, twigs on their clothes, and tangled in their hair, they each cast a spell at their shared foe. However, despite their combined forces with ease Dolohov parries their spells by casting the Shield Charm, "Protego."

"Not bad," Dolohov earnestly remarked, before casting his trademark spell. Purple sparks emerge from the tip of his wand and cut the auburn-haired witch.

Clutching her shoulder, Auror Marlene Stein does not cease to move as she hastily casts, "Episkey," onto her shoulder to staunch and heal the bleeding wound. The gaping wound does not heal very much, but at least it scabs over enough to not permit her to bleed to death. Knowing she is a liability rather than an asset; she begins to retreat and provide cover for her fellow Auror's should they need it.

Seeing that Marlene is wounded, Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt shouts, "Retreat Dorcas," and begins to drawback. He understood that the Death Eater before them would mercilessly continue to attack the already wounded Marlene. Without a doubt, the Death Eater would ignore the two of them and aim for the kill. And Kingsley was not about to for any friend of his to die on his watch!

Auror Dorcas Meadows prettily purses her lips together in annoyance, but she understands that she is no match in this body for Antonin Dolohov. Still, they could not allow him to survive that night. He had taken the life of one of their vessels, and they did not forgive a rabid dog, who bit out of turn. He would perish that night!

With a frown Dolohov casts spells after them, but other Auror's nearby provide cover for the three younger Aurors. Vexed at the sight of his prey slipping away, he hungrily eyes the battlegrounds for prey until he spots the young Damian Muliciber being cornered by Auror's. He held no interest in the spoiled brat, but he owed the elder Muliciber a past favor. And they were still friends of sorts, if not allies with one shared common purpose, the acquirement of power.

Wading through the battlefield, Dolohov emerges near a witch in her late twenties, who had cornered the golden-haired, handsome figure of Damian Mulciber. Without warning, Dolohov casts his trademark curse at the witch. The female witch turns away but does not manage to turn fully as she lets out a painful scream as the spell tears through the left side of her eye. Blood wells up from the destroyed eye socket and pours down her face as covers the empty eye socket with one hand.

Before Dolohov can finish her off, her partner, a younger wizard in the scarlet Auror robes with a long ponytail casts "Impedimenta," knocking back Dolohov and Damian Mulciber to the ground, before casting a stunning spell.

"C'mon, I've got you," the long, pony-tailed wizard said as he aided his wounded partner to his feet. Tearing a strip of clothing from his sleeve he creates a temporary eye patch for her to sojourn the bleeding until she could be treated. The two Auror's hastily retreat into the woods firing back lest any Death Eaters enclose upon them.

"Pathetic," Dolohov said as he broke the stunning spell and rose to his feet. With a sneer, he casts the reverse and reviving spell for the Stunning Spell, "Rennervate."

With acute embarrassment and humiliation, Damian Mulciber spits out. "I didn't need your help, Dolohov!"

"I should have let the Auror's have you, spoiled brat," Dolohov icily said. "I won't be so generous favor next time." Indeed, he wouldn't.

Before he can finish speaking the tip of the hairs on the back of Dolohov stands on end. Trusting his instincts and without any hesitation, he grabs Damian Mulciber by the collar and hurls him in the direction of the feeling of danger. Damian Mulciber lets out a shriek as the green sickly light of the Killing curse hideously digs itself into him. With eyes full of terror, he slowly falls to the ground not knowing how he died. For terrible, vile darkness swallowed him whole bones and all and did not spit him back out.

Whirling around without any regret merely relief at knowing his instincts were accurate, Dolohov whirls around to face his attacker presuming it was an Auror. To his utmost shock, it was not an Auror, but rather the widowed figure of Empusa Snyde. A cold gleam of viciousness is seen in her eyes as she sneers at him, before fleeing into the woods.

Dolohov stands there for a moment bewildered by the act of such a sniveling widow having the audacity to attack him. However, he could honestly think not of a single occurrence that would warrant his death. Yes, he had been callous within the hall of Gibson Manor, but it did not warrant such hatred. And nor had he been responsible for the death of her husband, so then just was the reason as to why?

Bemused, a gleam of interest slowly appears in Dolohov's eyes. He did not know the reason as to why the widow, Empusa wished him dead, but it had been some time since he played such an interesting foe. He relished the hunt, and he would hunt this intrepid prey.

With light footsteps, Dolohov leisurely returns to the battlefield no longer putting much effort as he eagerly sought out his prey. She could hide and hide she would. However, he would hunt her down whether she wished to be or not. He had never failed in the hunt before and he was not about to now.