A week had come to pass, without a fight between the two lords and the Death Eaters noticed small changes - small but there nevertheless. They saw it the way the Dark Lord held back his Crucio and instead used vocal punishment, though an improve they now heard and saw how he had sneaked around a accusing of murder when in school - what an vocal ability! Almost to the point of working as an Imperious, with just his voice he could make them do almost everything from hurting themselves in shame to regret what they had done.
Malik had also seen it and were impressed, the way he could with words... Even voice level, soft and none threaten to low and disappointed - if you asked, all would say they preferred Crucio - then they knew what to expect and had lived with that for as long as they could remember.
Malik had also kept a close eye on Bellatrix, often seeing her with one of the Young – the one known as Alex, from his file. His sister were in the kitchen, learning fast and always with a shine in her eyes – like Alex.
He needed to remember to compliment Hermione and Ginny on a great job, making them completely forget their life before this one.
He suddenly became aware of a Human approaching his door, he checked the signature and felt the air and were very surprised to find it were Bellatrix, even more when she knocked.
Knock knock – knock knock
"Enter Bella … " She did with a confused expression, properly wondering how he knew it was her.
"My Lord …" She curtsied low and stayed there, despite the situation Malik found himself wondering how she managed to stay that low that long.
"Rise Bella, you wish?" he stalked towards her, getting almost overwhelmed by smells of; angst and fright … yet, a smell of calmness and confidant broke through with a strength yet seen in a human – not to Malik at least.
Bella slowly stood, emotions in wild chaos; what if she were doing the wrong thing? Her beloved Lord and not so beloved husband would kill her for sure.
Then a image of her much loved Boy appeared in her mind, he were smiling – beaming at her, the same expression she was meet with every time he saw her.
Suddenly she felt much calmer and sure it was the right thing to do – Sirius would be proud of her, binding herself to Pierce would break any engagement, marriage and some minor bonds; making her free from her lunatic husband.
She stood straight and looked over at her soon to be only Lord; she secretly took in his person before making eye contact. "For you to be my Lord." All planned thoughts of what to say disappeared at the knowing stare he were giving her.
"That we settled a week ago, didn't we not?" Malik smirked when she looked puzzled for a moment before remembering the Dinner.
"Yes my Lord, we did. I merely wanted to be certain." She curtsied again.
"What's your wish? … or should I rather ask; who's your wish, Bella?" Malik walked over to her and lifted her head to look at him.
"The last … my Lord ... and …" Malik hushed her, laying his hand over her mouth.
"I know Bella. I've watched you and your concern; he'll drive you mad before long." He helped her standing before continuing. "We can't have that, now can we? What would Alex say?"
"That's his name?" Bellatrix looked shocked. "I was going to call him … that .."
Malik walked over to his desk and opened a draw from where he drew out a file; he glanced up at her before opening it. "I think a new room would be wisest in your case, next door to mine maybe?" he smiled when she bowed her head in gratitude. "Are you aware he has a younger sister working in the kitchen? I thought not." he threw the file he was holding to her, who barely caught it. "Amidela, seven year. Quick learner and a bright mind for one so young …" he looked over at Bellatrix, who were starring at the photo. "Ah yes, stunning resembles was my thought too. You sure you never had kids? Even Alex looks a lot like you …" she shook her head with a glare.
"I think I would've remembered, My Lord."
"True … so, you want them?" she looked unsure; about her having two or that Malik didn't care but he had noticed the positive changing in her. "You can always train them to pester Tom …" she chuckled at the mere thought but shook her head.
"No, not that …" She looked at the photo again while Malik arranged her new room besides his, opposite of Voldemort's on Pierce's right side.
"Have you thought of a new spouse?" Bellatrix turned to him, Malik again glanced at her knowingly; which actually pissed her off. "Do I even have to ask?" apparently not as she shook her head slowly. "Severus then, if he accepts … can't help you there, though I don't see a reason he wouldn't." he gave her a clear up-and-down with his eyes while smirking, showing two sets of sharp fangs. She felt how her cheeks heated, even more when she felt a soft kiss. "Go ask him, give him that blush and he's yours." She curtsied low before almost running out the door, leaving a brooding Malik.
Bellatrix noticed very little on her run down to Severus's chambers, which unsurprisingly was in the damp basement but it gave him the peace he needed when brewing for their Lord.
But she, one of few, knew the real reason - to be as far as possible away from same person.
Something she never fully understood but now she did; hard to keep hold of your emotions in front of their Lord, takes a lot of energies from your when under constant fear of, what she personally called 'mind-raping'.
Just as that thought ended, his door finally came into vision and she speeded up. Five seconds later she knocked, not her usually way as she wanted him to come and open the door himself and not shout 'enter' and as she predicted, two seconds later a surprised Severus opened the door, expecting who know who, only to find herself - who very rarely was down here.
"Bella … is something wrong?" He gave her a critical up-and-down search for marks, cuts or bleeding but when none meet his eyes; he studied her face for any indication for her visit.
"You have a moment? I want a word, concerning our Lords …" she thanked when he hurried to step aside to let her inside, a quiet 'what now!' could be heard but she paid no mind and as soon as the door closed, she turned. "How loyal are you really, and don't insult me by playing stupid. I know of your double-game, so … how loyal and how much were surviving?"
Severus had frozen with his hand still on the handle and the other flat against the hard wood with fingers almost white from pressing. Breathing was wish thinking and far out of his reach, his mind kept playing the same thought; what gave me away? When and why haven't she reported me?'
"Calm down, I'm not reporting you - that would be suicide …" at that he turned shocked, a finger pointing at her.
"You?" she nodded, knowing he referred to her well known 'love' for their Lord and she was the last to suspect for switching side - to any side! "You made a deal with that, that … thing!"
"Now you're crossing a line Severus, Pierce will take over - sooner or later. He may be a vampire, so what? Really, the only reason you don't trust him is because he hits on you, right?" She smirked when she got a death glare. "Back to my question, how loyal?" she looked on as he walked to a cabin and drew out a bottle of bourbon and two glass, she walked over and sat by the fire before turning to him.
"I thought … I don't know what I thought, I was double-playing, out of despite for both. Then when Potter went missing and Albus refused to tell anything .. I don't know, I thought he took him from …" he clamped a hand over his mouth but the damaged was done.
"You loved him, didn't you? You thought Albus did it to hurt you, so from then you were loyal to our Lord? But now it turns out it was something - or someone - else and now you're not so sure … right?" he nodded as he pressed on his nose by his eyes with two fingers in a stressed motion.
"Yes Yes, high score to you …" he turned his black pit less eyes to hers equally black ones, a searching of her face gave no clues. "But, why did our Lords need those bodies? And why are Potters friends here?" he slumped forward over his knees, arms tight across his chest. "Why did one look like Potter …? I can't figure it out!" Bellatrix hurried over to him and fell to her knees in front of him, gently lifting his head to look him in the eye.
"I don't know Sev, but maybe for now you can stop think about it - it will work out, in the end." she smiled softly as she brushed away a single tear falling slowly, she was surprised when Severus fell to his knees, arms tight around her as he sobbed into her shoulder. She hurried to take him fully into her arms, rocking gently as she whispered everything would be alright, over and over.
"I need … him Bell … he seemed, so … cold to me …" She hushed him softly, still rocking from side to side. "We haven't se..seen … each other for … a whole year ... And he just … ignored me totally …" she hushed again, then she remembered how her mother used to calm her when crying. She tried to remember the melody and started to hum it.
It didn't take very long before Severus calmed from her humming but he stayed in her arms, not that she minded at all but her heart was another case. She now knew Severus wasn't into women and though she knew he cared deeply for her - he could never love her and it made her heart cleans sharply. "Sev ..?" he tensed for a moment before pulling back to look at her. "I came to, ask you of something … a favour ..." Severus noticed her voice shaking slightly so he returned the favour and took her into his arms, gently running a hand through her hair.
"What's that Bell? I'll help if I can.?"
"Well, could … would you be … my husband … on papers? I need to get … away from Him …" Severus didn't have to ask who 'Him' was, it was a known fact that her husband abused her and he had for a long time thought about how he could help.
"I will, if you will do me a favour." he smiled to her, who answered back with one of her own. "Help me with figuring out what's going on?" she beamed as she hugged him tight.
"Of course Sev, anything for you."
Back at Malik's chambers, a certain vampire had just finished drinking and placed Luna on his bed before pulling the comforters over her, shielding her from the crisp wind from the open window. Malik walked to his desk and pulled out Bellatrix's file in which he started writing but not for long as his door banged open and Voldemort came in, relatively calm if one trusted appearance.
"Tom, what can I do for you?" Malik hid the file from Voldemort's glancing eyes, not that it seemed he had eyes for anything else than Malik.
"Bella's husband has just been in my chambers, saying his marriage is cancelled. Have I missed something, for he could tell me more. He said that when he went to confront her, Severus walked between them and told him that if he hurt her, he would stand responsible to Severus himself.. and … you?" Tom walked around the desk to lean forward on Malik's stools armrests, making him force Malik to lean back.
"Ahh, 'bout that. What were you thinking leaving her with that maniac of a husband? Do you know what damages he's done?" Voldemort backed off as the situation had turned on him.. And he didn't like to have a pissed vampire that close to his neck. "You're lucky Neil managed to fix her! She was on the edge of self-destruction or worse!" Malik hammered his hand in the desk as Voldemort backed more.
"You expect me to have an interest in my servant's life beyond their duties? Bella's a big girl; she can take care of herself!" Voldemort backed again as a very angry vampire snarled at him before leaping into the air, tackling the Dark Lord to the floor with a hiss.
"No she can not; losing one's mind is not taking care of oneself!"
"Malik, calm down ..." Voldemort bended back his head and starred at Luna, who had woken from the shouting, Voldemort saw the two holes in her neck and noticed she seemed slightly weak. "Malik let go ..."
"Go back to sleep Loon, we're just talking. Right Tom?" Voldemort looked back at Malik.
"You call this talking? This is assault!" he tried to get his arms free but he only managed to use up his energy, well and a long hiss from the angry vampire. "I demand to know why Bella has moved Rooms? What did Severus mean?"
"Bella is under my command and protection, she's with Severus now and you better keep your none-existing nose out of her life from now on! She's on her way to recover her mind and no one touches her, right?" Voldemort had stopped fighting and was studying Malik.
"What's with you, I thought you hated her? Why such a mother-hen, she killed Sirius …" Malik was about to snarl out his answer, when Luna hugged him from behind.
"No she didn't, not on purpose … her spell missed it's intended target and hit the Veil's frame … from where it hit Sirius, who fell inside it …" Voldemort starred in curios fascination as Luna straightened, hugging Malik's head to her stomach while running her soft, gentle hands through his hair in shooting moves. Malik had let go of Voldemort arms but was still holding him with his legs, he had closed eyes and had eased his own arms around her legs. "It could have been one of your own spells … she regrets …" Voldemort saw how she started to sway and her legs were shaking.
"Loon, you should be in bed – recovering. Come on …" Malik stood in one swift move and had also managed to get Luna on his back. He walked over and placed her on the bed, again pulling the comforters over her.
Voldemort were in fascination of the show of affection and … care, yet that word seemed too small to cover it. Maybe 'love' was the right word …
"Are we done?" Voldemort turned to the sound and found Pierce right behind him, leaning down over him. "You kind of erupted my dinner …" just as he had said it, the door opened and Neville came in.
"Heey Neil, right on time. Five minutes more and I would have called for you, starving really …" Neville laughed warmly while shaking his head.
"Control yourself mate, you've just ate. You okeey there Loon?" he got a warm smile and a small nod, she indicated to Voldemort with her eyes a few times before herself, then she made a walking motion with two fingers and a sleep motion. Neville had been busying the Dark Lord and their friend while checking from the corner of his eye and he understood she wanted for Voldemort to help her to bed while he and Malik stayed.
Malik who had seen it too, turned to Voldemort himself, not really sure Neville wouldn't be cursed for asking. "Tom, would you please support Loon to her room, I'm afraid I've exhausted her a bit?" and to everyone's surprise; Voldemort stepped over to the bed and pulled, maybe a bit awkward, Luna up in bride style after having wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. He bowed his head for each and bade goodnight before walking out.
Out in the hall he turned left at Luna's indication, he felt really weird; walking with a young female in his arms, who had her arm around his neck and was resting her head on his chest - like it was perfectly normal!
"you seem tense, my lord. Is something bothering your mind? Tell me, maybe I can be of some help?" when Voldemort glanced down at her, she had that 'wise' look in her eyes again. He hurried to look away from those knowing eyes, focusing on the hall while formulating his answer.
"My most loyal servant had turned to Pierce, I keep asking myself; what does he do/have that I don't. What does he give, that I don't?" he kept avoiding her stare, thinking he already knew the answer. But another part kept searching for a logical answer, was it respect? Kindness even?
"Don't give me that look, Tom. You know what. Deep inhere ..." she gently put her hand over his heart. "… not everything is logical; sometimes you have to see past that." she smiled briefly before telling him to stop at the next door.
He wordlessly spelled the door open and walked in, quickly scanning the room and saw a bed through an open door. He again glanced down slowly to see if she did something but she only smiled and told him to go on, which he did. He walked over and shortly after he placed her on the bed, felling 'funny' inside when he felt a gentle kiss on his lips as he straightened slowly.
"Thank you for carrying me, I guess Malik enjoyed his meal …" she chuckled softly and turned her eyes to Voldemort, who stood a few feet away, feeling out of place. "Have a seat, I for one don't bide." she smiled warmly at him as he came over and sat at the foot of the bed, facing her but tried to avoid her eyes which were hazel brown, almost dark brown in the candle light … why did he notice that?
"why do you, and your … peers, let him drink from you? Aren't you afraid he'll drain you?"
"Malik wouldn't do that to people he know, or love. And because we do it so willingly, it had a better taste… richer. He doesn't need much to be full, but I guess we got a little carried away for a moment …"
"You didn't answer my first question, why let him?" Luna chuckled again before looking sadly at him.
"I'm sorry for the life you have been lead, all the pain and loneliness. But Destiny have a mind of its own, and I ask of you one thing; hold on, the war is soon over and time will come for choices and redemption." Voldemort huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking to his right.
"My choices have been made for me, so has my fate." He turned his red intense eyes to hers hazel's ones, a question on the tip of his lips but something held him back.
"It's Love, it's a gift. One everyone should have, even you and don't give me that look. Your soul is longing for it; even as you try to deny it … I hear it, a call... So pained, seeking its counterpart." Voldemort starred weirdly at her, looking like he thought she was crazy.
"I'm not in denial, look at me; no one can love me as little as me loving them back." suddenly Luna looked really sad, at the point of crying - if you asked him.
"I'm sorry you see it that way Tom. Love is not about appearing, true that in some it is, like Draco's parents, normally it's about that spark … you feel overly happy whenever seeing them, worried sick when they are in danger. You want nothing else than be with them all the time, depressed when not. Later you feel content and relaxed, Ron and Hermy fights all the time but you can just see it; the sweet love in their eyes." while she had been talking she had walked over to him, taking his head between her gentle hands, slowly lifting it and scanned his expression, which were tense and scared - though well hidden. "A day will come, even for you." taking his jaw in one gentle hand, she ran soft fingertips over his face; mapping out all curves and bones underneath. "One day you'll come across a very special person, one you have to hold in your arms to feel complete. And when that day comes - everything will work out as Destiny will it.
"You're talking in riddles, and as if you know for certain." Voldemort stood, taking her head very gentle and lifted it like she had. "Just who are you really?"
Luna looked very long at the man in front of her, her wise eyes locked on his and he felt how magic flowed in the room - gentle, a melody of its own creation, filled their ears. "I'm first maid for Queen Celia; send to keep an eye on her Son. I'm also daughter of a high Seer; Luciana Drew is my real name. I've been known as Luna for nearly seven year." she gave him a considering glance. "Do I have to say this is between us two only, neither Malik nor the others must know."
"I would mean that goes without saying." he studied her as he released her, trying to get a grip on himself.
"I wish you a good day, have a nice sleep when you get to that." she curtsied while he bowed his head before walking to the door, just as he was about to go through a call made him turn back to her. "Oh and Tom? Try opening your eyes to the world around you, you might be surprised." Voldemort inclined his head and closed the door after him.
On his way to the throne room, he thought of what he had just learned.
He found a growing respect for her; of her double gaming for so long.
He had just passed Bellatrix's room and you could hear laughing from inside. He stopped a moment and listened, wondering what they laughed about.
Just then the next door opened. "You should talk with him, mate … URG!" Voldemort starred as Neville hurried out and dodged as a glass vase flew into the wall across before the door banged close. Neville, oblivious to the Dark Lord besides him, turned to the door. He started to beat the hard wood while shouting. "You did not just throw a fucking vase after me! What are you, a girl? Don't you dare do that again!" when no response came, he gave up and stood back a little to glare at the silence door. "Who does he think he is? Well, a vampire - so what!" Voldemort stood in shock as Neville kept mumbling angry words to the closed door.
"Ahem …" Voldemort smirked when Neville looked confused around him, eyes landing on the Dark Lord before flicking between him and the door. "Mr. Longbottom, is that a way to talk about ones friend?"
"Well he deserves it!" Neville flinched a little when Voldemort smirked wider. "And it's Neil or Nev, none of that mr-nonsense. I'm not my father." Voldemort inclined his head in acceptance. "Same goes for the rest, I trust you remember what Loon called them." this time it was Neville who bowed his head before walking past him, calling over his shoulder. "Hope your talk with my fiancé was enlightening and of help." then he chuckled and turned left; leaving a confused Dark Lord.