Chapter Twelve
A/N: Marilyn Manson may be my muse but apparently Quentin Tarantino is my spirit animal. I want to thank everyone for sticking with me and thank you so much for all of the follows and favorites. I love each review. I would also like to thank my lovely Beta DutchScorRosefan.
Disclaimer; I own nothing, it all belongs to J.K.
'Kill For You' Skylar Grey ft. Eminem
'You can make me a believer
Even if that shit aint true
You will make me commit murder
Baby I would kill for you'
If I Choose the Darkness
He had lost them, he knew it. He could feel it. Had seen it in their eyes. Cursing under his breath, Tom paced the length of his suite at Lestrange Manor. It had been three days and he was still seething with anger at the impudence of Lord Nott, how dare he. He should have been invited to their little get together. So, he didn't know Cygnus Black. He should still have been included. He could care less what Lord Nott did in private. Maybe he would join in next time! Lord Nott could suck his cock! This was all Abraxas' doing. He was behind this sudden exclusion. That little incident in the cabin didn't go unnoticed. This had started after the dinner party at Notts'. He was sure he hadn't given anything away. That insipid muggle cunt shouldn't remember a damn thing. Besides, Daemon should have killed her by now.
This is when they had started to control the thoughts they showed him. They were stronger than he had given them credit for. There was a lot more talent to the spoiled rich boys than he had first presumed. Too powerful to manipulate, he would need to change tactics. Children were of course more malleable. He would start with the Black sisters. Bellatrix showed promise.
Druella and her daughters were staying on at Lestrange Manor. Giving Tom all time he required to seduce the young girl.
An early morning storm had chilled the room, the hearth lay dark. Rain drops clung to the window panes. Illuminating Bella alone in its cold grey light. So vulnerable. Sitting at her vanity staring into the mirror. Her eyes rimmed red from crying. They would bury her father this afternoon. She would be ripe for him to pick today. He approached from behind unannounced, his hands sliding across her frail shoulders, kneading at the tightness. Slowly, he didn't want to scare her. Tom leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her damp cheek. Her dark eyes watching his in the reflection of the mirror. Tears spilled onto her cheeks. Tom scooped her into his arms, "There, there, sweet girl…all will be well…I promise." He cooed while carrying her to a large chair in front of the fireplace. It crackled to life with a flick of Toms fingers. Quickly warming the chilly room. Tom nestled the girl in his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck.
He stroked her hair, whispering in her ear. "We will make them pay for what they did, my little dove. We will make every filthy muggle pay for killing your Father."
Bella burrowed deeper into his embrace. Relishing the small circles his hand was making at the small of her back. Not caring at the impropriety of the situation. Her father was gone. Her mother deep in a bottle of elf made wine, and the bed of Reinhard Lestrange. And she hadn't seen Lucius for days. Damn impropriety, she felt safe wrapped in those strong arms, his powerful magic humming against her. The soft kisses he placed on her head, the way his fingers felt against her skin. As they slipped under her silk chemise, tracing circles along her spine. The other hand, tangling his fingers in her long curls. His voice promising vengeance while his lips whispered across the shell of her ear. The dark tendrils of his mind slipped into hers. She would belong to him.
Narcissa crept down the long dark hallway toward her sister's room. She needed help with her hair and wanted Bella. She needed her big sister. Bella's melancholy was beginning to be tiresome. She missed her father too, but there was no changing the situation. Better to buck up and soldier on. It's what her father would have wanted. Not a bunch of crybabies. If one thing was for certain, Narcissa had decided she would never be a crybaby, ever again. She would pull Bella out of this mood and get her big sister back. Narcissa approached the bedroom door, Seeing it was cracked she hesitated, hearing the whispers from the darkened room, peeking first seemed the appropriate action. Narcissa watched the scene play out through the crack in the door. It was improper, her sister should not be sitting in Toms lap. Part of her wanted to burst through that door and tell them to stop. The other part of her, the part that won out. Told her to keep quiet. And watch. Andromeda would be here soon.
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Overlooking the southern coast of England hidden near the muggle city of Brighton. Icy fingers of fog caressed the folds of the terrain and Cygnus Black was laid to rest on the family Estate. A sober affair consisting of close family and friends. Members of the Sacred twenty -eight had come to pay their respects. Reinhard kept a steady hand on the small of Druella's back. With Helen and his boys at his side. Andromeda stood next to her mother and held her little sisters hand. Bella however had wrapped her arm around Tom Riddles. Dry eyed and composed.
Andromeda gave her little sisters hand a squeeze and gave her a questioning look, "What is going on with Bella?" She whispered.
"Tell you later tonight… promise." She reassured her older sister, in a hushed whisper.
"Is it as bad as it looks? ...Who the bloody hell is that? …...He looks old enough to be our father! …. Why is Mother just standing here like nothing, like …... it's nothing?" Andromedas angry whispers began to draw attention.
"SHHHHHH…..."Cissa hissed, "I will tell you later….. and it's worse than it looks …...Andy please …I will tell you tonight. Please be quiet…. He's looking!"
Andromeda didn't like the look of the man with his arm around her little sister. His gaze held hers briefly. Andromeda quickly looked away, shivering. Evil, emanated from the man. She was terrified to look back, feeling the icy tendrils of something dark prodding her mind. Fighting back the instinct to bolt for safety, taking her sisters with her. Andromeda straightened her back, taking a deep breath she concentrated on her occlumency. Even at fifteen Andromeda Black was a skilled occlumens. This evil man would have to work a bit harder to break into her thoughts. And if he thought he could just waltz in and take her sisters. Well he was going to be in for one hell of a fight.
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The wake at Black Manor had been dragging on into the afternoon, when Lucius approached Narcissa with the suggestion of an afternoon ride. She jumped at the chance. The spring sun of early March chased the fog back to the coastline. Leaving a brisk chill to the air. Lucius had been eyeing the tall, sleek thoroughbreds gracing the stables. Watching them pacing their paddocks, eager for an afternoon gallop as he was. He was tired of stuffy rooms and itchy robes, and ancient witches pinching his cheeks. The pathetic attempts to set him up with their daughters or granddaughters, it was exhausting. He sent Cissa to attempt to pry Bella away from Riddle and to round up Rodolphus and Rabastan. He had doubted Helen would want to go, she seemed to be in a deep discussion with Andromeda.
Lucius spotted Walden first. Tucked in back corner of the garden. As he approached Walden he spotted a pair of legs sticking out from under a gooseberry bush. The red boots on those legs could only belong to Rabastan. "Who's up for a ride?... What are you doing?"
"Blibbering Humdingers… I saw them dart under here!" Rabastan called out, Walden rolled his eyes at his friend. He was leaning against a tree, Huginn perched on the lowest of branches.
"What does a Blibbering Humdinger look like Bast?" Lucius inquired, kneeling next to his friend. "Do they bite?" Rabastan was always looking for strange creatures. Lucius was never sure if they were real or simply lived in his friends imagination.
"Well, they can be black or brown, and they have little wings, and a long tail and a pig nose… I don't know if they bite… I've not caught one yet."
"So, do you want to check out the stables…. The forest may contain Blibbering Humdingers."
"No… I mean yes, I'll go with you guys….. but no they don't live in the woods… they live in gardens…. I did see a lot of mistletoe in the trees, there may be nargles." A smiling Rabastan scooted from under the bush dusting himself off. "I'd love to see some nargles." Rabastan was forever on the hunt for magical creatures, real or imagined.
Lucius started laughing, he reached over and plucked a small twig like creature from Rabastans collar. "Well, I'm not sure about nargles, but you certainly have found yourself a bowtruckle." The tiny creature hissed , scratching at Lucius. "Here you go mate." He dropped the little critter into Rabastans hand. It scampered up his arm, tucking itself back into the deep folds of Rabastans robes.
"Not sure bowtruckles are allowed at Hogwarts Bast." Walden chuckled.
"Neither are ravens, but I know that won't stop you." Rabastan added, stroking the head of Huginn. Who was now seated on his other shoulder, with a nefarious eye on the bowtruckle.
"Have either of you seen Antonin or Xander?" Lucius asked as they made their way from the gardens.
Both boys shook their heads no, "I'll brave the parlor again if you two want to just meet up at the stable." Lucius offered.
He was met with a unanimous, "Deal!" And both of his friends darted off towards the Stone barns.
Lucius quietly slipped between rooms searching for Antonin and Xander. Dodging old witches and his mother. Shouldering through the crowded banquet room. Lucius felt a strong hand grasp his arm. "Just where have you been hiding yourself young man?...Your mother has been looking for you." Abraxas grinned at his son.
Lucius looked up at his father, the terror clear on his handsome young face. Abraxas began to chuckle, "Go on….. you need to disappear. She's dragging around a poor Elizabeth Greengrass in hopes of a betrothal….I'm not joking around , she's in the next parlor…..Run!" Abraxas pushed his son in the direction of the side door.
"I can't leave just yet, I need to find Antonin and Xander! We're going riding."
"You head to the stable …I'll send the boys, now go!"
Lucius caught a glimpse of his mother as he ducked out the side door. Elizabeth Greengrass in tow. With a sigh of relief he headed to the stables. Halfway down the walk he was met by Antonin and Xander. "Where the bloody hell have you two been?"
"Your mother had us cornered, along with my mother," Xander rolled his eyes in exasperation,"What is wrong with these women? I'm too young to be betrothed … least of all to some simpering pureblood witch….Have you met Elizabeth Greengrass?" Xander gave Lucius a quizzical look, "No, …That's right your father saved your arse….I swear to Salazar Lucius, if I have to marry that whining, spoiled, princess. I'm going to Avada you. And spend the rest of my days in peace in Azkaban."
Their mood brightened as they made their way down the path. The smell of horses and fresh hay, helped push the sadness of the day to the back of their minds. Along with the idea that any of them would be betrothed to one of Greengrass girls.
Lucius was pleasantly surprised at the sight of Bellatrix, saddling a horse. He hadn't expected to see her. She wouldn't look in his direction, all day. Narcissa however greeted him with a warm smile. "I blackmailed her to get her to come." Cissa whispered. Lucius raised an eyebrow and Cissa emulated the Malfoy smirk, "If I told, I'd never be able to use it again….. now would I?"
Leaning in and whispering back,"Thank you," He bumped her shoulder with his. Then preceded to stroll through the barn looking for his favorite horse.
Lucius tightened the girth on the big chestnut he had chosen. Talking softly to his mount, while he made the needed adjustments. He had been watching Bella all day, unsure of how to even approach her. It was his fault, he hadn't spoken to her in days. Unsure of what to even say to the grief-stricken girl. He cared for her. He had thoroughly enjoyed holding her, sneaking kisses. But the weight of being betrothed to her at the young age of eleven, was all a bit too much. What if he met another witch at school, he was young, he should still have options. It wasn't even official, not like their fathers had drawn up a contract. It had merely been suggested. Then Lord Black had been murdered.
Lucius glimpsed around the neck of his mount. Bella was bent over cleaning her horses' feet. Feeling his gaze, her eyes met his, dark and haunted. Lucius managed a weak smile before she turned away. She seemed distant and preoccupied. Preoccupied that is with Tom Riddle. Lucius had been surprised when she had come along with them to the stable. He thought for sure she would stay with Helen. But she hadn't said a word to her friend all day. Choosing to stay on the arm of the mad man whispering in her ear. If he could get her alone, he could explain.
Xander hopped aboard the blood bay, quickly gathering the reins and taking a deep seat. The horse snorted and danced in place, steel shoes clicking on the cobble stones of aisle way, "Mount up boys! The Magnificent Seven ride again!"
"The Magnificent Seven all died Xander… all of them …. horribly and most violently…died!" Antonin smirked, "Try again! He mounted his own horse, steering her out of the barn.
"Alexander Corbin Yaxley, are you leaving us out because we're girls? …. Bella and I make nine ….We would be the Magnificent Nine!" Narcissa sniffed, "I ride just as well as any of you!" Climbing aboard an elegant chestnut mare, the perfect ladies mount with her tall white socks, flaxen mane and tail and beautiful white blaze. Narcissa sat sidesaddle on her dainty mount. Glancing in her sisters' direction, normally this conversation would have Bella's hair up.
Lucius wondered if Xander was baiting her into an argument. Today he wouldn't get one. Bella had quietly mounted a heavy bay mare and had left the barn. She waited politely at the entrance, her back to the group.
"Alright then, Horse Soldiers…. We can be The Horse Soldiers …. You remember that one Bella?" Xander called out to her. "Bella you remember, you liked that one … come on …..you can lead the charge." Xander poked her in the ribs as he halted his horse next to hers.
"Who will play the rebels Xander?" Bella poked him back, and her smile seemed genuine. Narcissa however, could still see the grief in her sisters eyes. Along with something else, something sinister flickered briefly in their depths.
"Deer, rabbits, maybe a fox?" Xander's blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"How about muggles?" Bellatrix tilted her head with a wicked grin, "Muggles can play the rebels this time."
Lucius placed his horse in front of hers, "Bella, that's against the rules …. We can't harass muggles, not the innocent ones and not outside a sanctioned hunt…. I won't let you do it." His hand resting on the base of his wand.
"Would you really hex me Lucius? …. Over muggles?"
"There are rules in place Bella … For a reason. I'll not let you endanger us."
Bella leaned over in the saddle, kissing Lucius on the cheek, "Relax, Little Lord Malfoy, I'll not hurt your precious muggles …. I won't even scare them…. maybe" Bella edged her horse past Lucius, "We can just look for some ….:"
Bella nudged her horse into a trot down the pathway. Lucius scowling after her, "Bella ….Bella Wait up!"
"Are we really going to look for muggles?" Rodolphus looked ill, as he kept pace with Lucius. "I have a bad feeling about this Lu!"
"We'll just stay with her…. And keep her out of trouble, alright."
Bella never looked back, letting the big mare charge ahead. Bringing the group to a full gallop as the small trail opened up into the rolling hills of the Southern coast. Hooves pounding in the damp grass, the horses charged, each fighting for the lead. She grabbed a handful of mane and steered the mare toward a dark copse of trees and a rock wall. The muggle camping area was not far from the beach. The boys stuck with her. Rabastan was at her flank, and Xander beginning to pass. Three horses leaped the wall in unison. Bella spotted the trail through the woods and set off at a brisk trot. Rabastan, Xander and Theo, now staying with her. The rest had fallen behind. They could catch up or she would find them later.
Narcissa's horse refused at the wall, running out and sending her tumbling into the rocks. The rest of the group came to an immediate halt. Lucius slid from his mount. Walden was already at Cissa's side. A small trickle of blood ran down her blonde curls. Her helmet had become dislodged and she had struck her head upon landing. Cissa was not moving.
Lucius dropped to his knees in the damp grass, "Is she breathing?"
"Yes…..yes she is." Walden pressed the edge of his cloak to her wound.
"Rod….Ride back and get help!" Lucius called out. "Antonin come with me … Walden! …
Rodolphus slid to a stop, "Is she alright?"
"I'm not leaving her Lucius!"
"I know that Walden, …. Just …Can you send Huginn to find Bella for me…..I'll never locate her otherwise." Panic rising in Lucius' voice, "She's unconscious Rod, bit of a knock on the head….. we just need to get her home…. Quickly!"
"I'll get my father, you get Bella before she does something she'll regret!" Rodolphus spun the horse, bolting for the Manor.
Walden clicked and chirped to Huginn. The black bird made eye contact with Lucius, and lit into the air. He circled twice high above and landed back in a large oak near the wall, waiting for Lucius.
Remounting quickly, he and Antonin pointed their horses at the stone wall, clearing easily. Huginn swooped down into the shadows of the trees, hot on Bella's trail.
"Bella slow down, you're going to fast!" Rabastan called out. The trees and heavy brush whipping them while they charged down the trail. Fog was beginning to creep in from the coastline, dense and cold.
Theo maneuvered his mount past Rabastan, urging it in front of Bella. He could have used magic but it would have brought unwanted attention. They had left the protective wards of the Blacks property line long ago. He needed to stop her before they reached the ocean. There would be muggles on the beach. He could see the water up ahead through the trees. Sliding to a stop he reached out and caught the bridle of Bella's horse. Bringing everyone to an abrupt halt at the edge of the woods.
Trees gave way to the dunes, and muggles. The sounds of waves crashing on the rocks, gulls calling out and the sweet smell of salt water. The sound of the horses startling a small child. He looked up from the sand castle he was building.
"No contact Bella, you promised!" Theo hissed. Startled by the darkness she emanated. He dropped her reins. His own mount, nervously stepped back.
"I did no such thing… I merely told Lucius what he wanted to hear….." Bella stepped off her horse, straightened her robes. Her demeaner innocent and sweet. Yet Theo could feel the deadly venom rolling off of her as she walked confidently to the little boy. That voice she was speaking in, that little girl, lollypop voice, scared the shit out of him. Theo knew when someone was possessed. He had seen the demon move behind his father's eyes. He could feel the wickedness wiggling in Bella. And there wasn't a damned thing he could do.
"Where are your Mummy and Daddy ?" Bella asked in a gentle saccharine voice.
"In the tent, for a nap….. just over there." He pointed in a direction over the nearest dune.
Bella knelt down in the sand, eye level with the little boy, "How old are you?"
"Five, I'll be six next week." The little boys dark curls fell into his eyes. He looked too little to be five.
"May I play too?" The child nodded yes. Bella's face broke into a wicked grin, and she began to build a moat in the sand around his castle. She let the warm sand run through her fingers. "Is there a dragon for your castle?"
"No, but there's an evil witch and she's kidnaped the princess…. I'm the Knight and I'm going to rescue her." He held up the toy knight in his hand. Small and plastic, the chipped silver paint sparkled in the weak sunlight.
"Does that mean I can be the evil witch?"
"Well, you are wearing black… but I think you're too pretty to be an evil witch." The little boy giggled at her.
"What's your name?... You can call me Bella."
"Xavier…..It's a pleasure to meet you Bella."
Bella leaned forward and whispered, "Would you believe me if I told you, I really was an evil witch"
Her hand snaked around the back of Xavier's head, she gripped his hair, his eyes went wide. Like a striking cobra Bella pulled the silver blade from the top of her boot. Driving it into the boy's chest. Her blade sliced through the little body severing the pulmonary artery. Too shocked to scream. He shuddered letting out one last gurgling breath, A sputtering cough, speckling her face. Bella's fingers still laced in his hair, drawing his head up she licked at the blood trickling from his lips. Inhaling deeply. Bringing his head to her shoulder, she pulled him into an embrace. While his blood pumped, dark and thick, coating her hand and the knife. Filling the sandcastle moat.
Theo caught the flash of silver, it happened in the flutter of a heartbeat. The time it took for him to take a breath. He heard Rabastan gasp. Theo watched the tip of the blade emerge through the child's shirt and retreat. A dark stain began growing across the little boys back. The body slumped against Bella, it's fingers dropping the toy knight into the blood filled moat.
Theo was at her side, swiftly scooping the boy from Bella's arms, "What the fuck Bella?" He hissed, running for the trees with the dead child in his arms. They needed to get far away from here and fast. Xander and Rabastan were dragging Bella to her feet.
Theo placed the little boy across his saddle. "You crazy fucking bitch…..What the fuck !"
Bella stared back, silent, blood stained lips and a vicious grin still on her face. Her eyes were no longer the soft warm brown of the Bellatrix he had once known. "Get on your fucking horse! While I clean this up." He snarled at her.
Lucius slid to a stop next to Theo. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Bella drenched in blood and the limp body of the child lain over a saddle. Rabastan and Xander held Bella between them. Her smiling face enraptured in contrast to the horror.
Theo was seething with a quiet rage, "This crazy cunt, just murdered a muggle child Lucius!...For no fucking reason!...None …A baby Bellatrix…You murdered a baby!" Tears threatened to spill from Theos eyes, his hands shook, fists and teeth clenched he spit the words at his friend. "Lucius , help me get rid of the evidence and then we need to hide this body….. Rabastan, remove that BITCH from my sight!"
"Hey Bast, take her back home … her sisters been injured in a fall." Lucius surveyed the scene beyond the trees, "Theo, wait up …. I'll help….. my manipulating the weather won't show up. We can't leave a magical trace. "
Lucius' gaze fell on Bella mounting her mare, "You had a choice Bella…. You had a choice." His voice barely above a whisper.
"If I choose the darkness instead Lucius? What then…?"
Lucius closed his eyes and fought down the bile that threatened to rise in his throat. He would deal with her later. Right now he needed to clean up her mess before anyone found out. "Wait up Theo….. " Lucius took another cleansing breath and walked out over the sand toward the brutal scene. Dropping to his knees at the blood filled moat a glimpse of silver caught his eye. His fingers gingerly picked up the little toy knight, wiping it off as best he could, he slipped it into the pocket of his cloak. Lucius held his hands out over the foot prints in the sand, calling on the wind. The breeze he conjured swirled, and the sandcastle began to vanish. Covering the bloody moat and the foot prints. Lucius slowly backed away into the trees while the wind did it's work. No trace of the boy or anyone else remained. He couldn't bring himself to look at Bella, "Bast, as soon as you feel the wards. Clean her up!"
"I'll go with you Bast," Antonin fell in beside him, "I don't trust her alone with you."
"Will do mate! …. Thanks Tonin, Can't say as I trust her myself!" Rabastan pulled on the reins of her mount, leading her back through the woods. The bowtruckle still hiding in the collar of his cloak. Kept its eyes on Bella, a low growl in its throat. "Easy, little mate. You're alright." He reassured his friend with a scratch on the head.
Bella gripped the horse's mane. Serenity settled across her face , she began to sing 'Little boy blue' an occasional giggle twisting her lips. Innocence of the lyrics couldn't hide the malevolence in her voice. Antonin thought she looked proud of herself.
Xander stared at the blood on his hands, while his horse followed Theo and Lucius through the woods. Lucius had conjured up a thick fog after the wind. Muffling sound and disorienting anyone trying to search. In case someone started looking for the boy. Numb from the shock. Sure he had himself had used unforgivable on a muggle. But this was different. Those men were bad. Bella had murdered someone, a child, an innocent. Not that he had never been involved in a killing because he had . They all had. There was difference. Now here he was on a mission to hide a body.
The boys moved deeper into the woods until they began to feel the wards of the Black Estate. Theo pulled his horse up near a stream. The heavy brambles coving the opposite bank were perfect for the cover they needed. "This should be sufficient….. What do you think Lu?"
"Yeah, let's get this over with….. Xander?...Are you Alright?" Lucius noticed his friend was pale and quiet.
Xander looked down at Lucius from his horse, his eyes haunted, "No,….No Lucius I'm not alright…..I have always known Bella was a bit barmy ….But I just watched her murder a child, so did you Theo. Nothing about this …..is alright. And now we're going to hide this little boy and pretend this never happened… And I'll do it, I'll keep quiet! …..But Lucius this is not right!"
"You're right Mate, this is fucked up on so many different levels….. You don't have to help, Theo and I can do this, alright?"
Xander slid from his horse onto the damp forest floor, "I said I'd help, but why do I have this feeling that this is not the only body we ever hide."
"I hope your wrong mate." Lucius clapped his shoulder, "Help me clear away some brush?"
They waded through the shallow stream. Pulling back the thick vines. Lucius pulled out his own silver blade and began to thin some of the bramble. When they reached sand they dug deeper with their hands. The cold water from the stream leaking through the tops of their boots and soaking their breeches. The fog Lucius had conjured chilled them to the bone. Thorns torn at their hands and they dug deeper.
Satisfied with the grave. Theo waded back across the stream. Gently removed the little boy from across his saddle and carried him to the makeshift grave. "He looks so small," Theo whispered, his voice catching in his throat.
"Seems wrong to cover his face," Xander scooped a handful of sand over the little legs. "Wrong to leave him here, all alone."
Lucius rested a hand on his friends shoulder, "He's not alone, we know where he is and he'll not be forgotten."
A single silent tear streaked Theos face, while they covered the little boy. Theo placed his hand on the damp mound of earth and preformed the only piece of wandless magic he knew. Blue crocuses pushed through the soil. These were his mother's favorite flower. He was almost ashamed, knowing what his mother would think. Her boy on his knees in a muddy creek, digging in the sand to hide a body. And he was almost happy that she wasn't alive to witness it.
Once finished Lucius waded into the creek and scrubbed at the blood stains on his hands. He was covered in mud, soaked and bloody. They all were. He reached into the pocket of his cloak, pulling out the knight. Lucius stared at the little toy and then looked back at the spot where they had hidden the boy. Dipping his hand into the icy water, he let the current wash the blood away. He thought briefly of leaving it on the grave. Then quickly stuffed the toy back into its hiding spot.
Now that the body was hidden they made their way towards the Manor. The sun was setting rapidly and it would be dark before they returned. Their parents would be livid. As they approached the barns, Theo risked a few cleaning spells. The mud and wet clothes they could explain, not the blood.
They were met at the barns by the Lestrange brothers and Helen. Rodolphus approached Theo, "Narcissa will be fine. She's sleeping upstairs with Walden at her side… Bast filled me in ….Is it really true…..She really did it?"
"It's true, Bast was there when she did it." Theo loosened the girth of his saddle while they walked into the barn. "Did you get her cleaned up Bast?"
"Yeah, I told them Bella fell as well…..to explain her state… she was loopy mate, all the way back … she kept singing that fucking song, creepy as fuck."
"How about her mother, what did she say?" Lucius nudged Rabastan.
"She's too busy bouncing on my father's cock to give a damn about either of her daughters." Rodolphus snarled. "In contrast, your mother Lucius is having fits, as is yours Xander…. I can take care of the horses…. We're staying here tonight…..You head in as well Bast, Helen can help."
"Bloody hell, thanks Rod… come on Xander, before they come out here." Lucius rolled his eyes, when would his mother stop being so damned protective.
Theo stopped at the door, "I'm headed back to school tomorrow Roddy,…do you want to come along with my father and I, " Theo hoped he would say yes, "We're going to stay in Hogsmeade Saturday night!"
"I'm sure my father wouldn't mind…... yeah that sounds great…..We can hit Honeydukes! "
"See you tomorrow mate, and thanks for taking care of the horses."
Rodolphus set about caring for the weary mounts. Helen helping where she could. Rodolphus watched the other boys disappear into the darkness. "Is it wrong for me to be worried more for my friends than I am for Bella?"
"No," Helen curled her arm around him, "I'll not let her slip into the darkness without a fight though."
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Bella lay in her room staring at the canopy of the bed. The fog in her brain slowly beginning to clear. She had a tremendous headache and her heart felt cold, empty and broken inside. She could remember going for a ride with the boys. She remembered the forest and smell of the beach and then there was blood. Blood on her hands. Blood on her boots and a nursery rhyme stuck in her head. And she could remember. She turned, hearing her door creak open. Tom quietly sat on the edge of her bed. "How are you my little dove?"
Bella could feel warmth radiating from him. She felt so cold, so lonely. She scurried into his embrace, burying her face against his shoulder. "Did you do as I asked little dove?" His soft voice caressed the skin of her cheek. "Did you eat his delicate soul?" Twirling a dark curl between his fingers.
"Yes, My Lord." Bella raised her head to look into his eyes.
"Let me taste." Tom brought his lips to hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her mouth, before slipping in. She was his now.
A/N: This chapter is for a little boy, who was murdered just before Halloween. He was shot down in the streets in a drive-by shooting. Just shy of his sixth birthday. He was brought in to the trauma center where I work. I did chest compressions on this baby for fifteen minutes. I cut off his Halloween costume. No one knows who did it. Possibly a gang initiation. I like to think the Dark Lord was behind it though.