AN: Sorry, people, no dinner yet. Bit it will be in the next chapter, I promise.
miss quirky bookworm, Draco is not completely sure about his choice, but he is hooked. And yes, there will be some wooing. Ryan got the copies of the books, yes. How, I left to the imagination of the readers.
NelliGirl, thank you. All that you are waiting for will be there. I just don't know when.
disgrunteledfairy, thank you, I'm glad you liked the dialogue.
cyiusblack, thanks.
RRW, sorry, you have to suffer the suspense, but it will be only in the next chapter.
Chapter 14
The sun was setting down with progressing speed somewhere behind the forest line. Ryan was waiting.
Now all depended on the level of insanity and naivety of the renowned Dark Lord. Will he come with a portkey made by someone else than one of his trusted or beaten into submission followers to an undisclosed location? Of course, he swore an oath to he would meet him at the location and act in the best interests of one Lord Voldemort during the Apprenticeship as guarantee of his good intentions. Funnily enough, the man didn't catch onto the aspect, that the Master usually decides what those best interests are.
The mage flashed back to the time when Voldemort asked him to test for abilities one other person, namely Bellatrix Lestrange. He wanted to scream on top of his lungs "no deal!", but managed to keep himself in check. He wouldn't let his personal feelings interfere in this endeavor. iHisAfter all, what was the chance of her having some kind of Calling? Slim.
But she did. It was a shock to find out that the maniac hateful dark witch had the potential to become a Light Mistress. Oh, the irony of life. Ryan couldn't help but feel some pity for the screwed up woman. From birth she was preconditioned by her family to follow the darker path and so she did. And while a Light Master can occasionally employ Dark Arts, the overexposure will twist his or her view of reality usually making them dangerously insane.
The mage felt obligated to correct the wrong. He couldn't hate the witch anymore. She was not responsible for her actions. One couldn't blame the mentally deficient, you either put them down, detained or cured. Ryan chose the last option.
And dear Tom had the Calling of, surprise-surprise, Dark Master. Ryan was now amused that these two were in relationship. Well, they say that opposites attract.
When his dark mark flared with pain, Lucius hesitated. He didn't want to answer the call. He just began to recuperate after his exposure to the joy-sucking monsters. Not that his life was full of it anyhow. While he came out of the imprisonment with his sanity intact, it has driven several harsh truths home. For one, he regretted joining the Dark Lord. What was he thinking?! Well, actually he was following his father's footsteps, who was rumored to be the buddy of the Dark Lord since the school days. Not that it was ever confirmed. Abraxas died on the raid when his son was only nine years. Continuing the path his father had chosen seemed like an honourable thing to do. Besides, the dark mark tattoo in the house of Slytherin was a fad.
Now though… He had the money (or rather had had), looks, beautiful wife, devious (that little brat!) heir, and pureblood lineage. He didn't really care about the fate of Mudbloods and Half-Bloods. How they integrated into the wizarding world was not his problem, and the Malfoys did have the fair share of businesses earning wealth in the muggle world.
Now he didn't feel like following the insane maniac.
Lucius suppressed a sigh. He didn't have much choice. The Dark Lord was an insane and dangerous maniac and din't favour traitors.
So despite his feelings Lucius adorned his DE garments and hurried to the apparation room passing on the way Draco who spared him a disapproving glance. That..! Oh, whatever.
The blonde was surprised to discover that he wasn't the only one called. It seemed all the minions were there including the Inner Circle and some of their creature allies.
Ten minutes passed with some more people arriving. Finally the movement stopped and the crowd waited.
The Dark Lord just appeared in front of his followers and coldly observed them from the height of his tall form for a minute.
"Welcome, my followers and the supporters of the Dark. You have been called today to hear an important announcement. Since this day I, with accompanying me madam Lestrange, will embark on an important mission that in the end will help to forward the attainment of our common goals. I will be gone for the undisclosed amount of time and my orders are the following: stand still and do not go on any raids. Do not attract attention with your actions. The fugitives and others in need are welcome to stay here, in the Fortress. Train and be ready for my return."
Lucius was impressed with the speech. That was different from the usual ask-for-report-and-crucio routine.
"Bella, come forward."
The witch eagerly skipped to the Dark Lord and latched on his extended arm.
"Crucio."
Lucius wouldn't willingly admit it, but he did participate in the collective crowd flinch at hearing the word, when it actually proved to be the activation code of a portkey. When some of the "braver" people decided to open their eyes, both Lord Voldemort and the witch were gone.
Not the one to look the gifted horse in the mouth, Lucius apparated back to the Manor.
Ryan was contemplating the possibility of Tom deciding against his generous offer (and yes, he was generous), when the pair portkeyed to the lawn in front of the house. The mage smiled and stood up from his seat on the porch to greet the guests.
"Welcome to my abode."
The Dark Lord with his wand drawn darted his eyes across the landscape and zeroed on him.
"Flhoyer. Is this your family's Manor then?" he asked suspiciously.
"No, it is the family's training facility. Come in."
Only after reminding the Dark Lord about the oath he managed to herd the pair with a strangely silent Bellatrix inside.
Halting in front of the stairs to the second floor Ryan looked back to the entrance hall at Voldemort and Bellatrix and smiled charmingly.
"Well, from now on, you are stripped from your names both born and self-proclaimed and will be called Appentice Alpha and Apprentice Beta. Your past memories will be blocked till such a time that you earn your Callling…"
"Just what do you think…"
The mage calmly ignored two wands pointing at him and followed the progress of the golden mist creeping on the pair from behind. Bellatrix was the first to notice it and issued a silent scream (Silencio at work), which being silent was not heard by Tom who concentrated his attention on Ryan. Well, that is what you get for silencing your followers. Though, in case of Bellatrix it was understandable. The woman had such a foul mouth.
The mist attacked, snapping connections and erasing obligations. The dark blue and red eyes closed, wands clattered to the floor and the bodies were gently lowered down.
Flhoyer looked at the two still forms. He was now the Master of two absolutely insane, as in medical case insane, Apprentices. The task of molding them into decent and sane people would prove challenging.
Dumbledore would be so proud, he was always so keen on second chances. No that he would ever know…
Draco decided to go to bed early. He wanted to look his best at the dinner with Flhoyer. But it seemed too early for him to fall asleep. Maybe, some relaxation was in order. He was just getting ready for the nice wanking session with a scenario in his mind involving the green-eyed beauty, this very bed and silk ties when a blood-curdling scream broke through the silence of the Manor and effectively killed the mood.
The wizard hurriedly dressed and rushed to his father's office where the scream originated from. Both he and his mother reached the destination at the same time.
His father was lying on the floor, convulsing in pain, screaming hoarser with a second, his throat raw, and clutching his left forearm.
The dark mark under his fingers was melting, the black ugly liquid turning immediately into vapor and disappearing into the air.
Not knowing what to do, they just held Lucius and prevented him from harming himself.
Finally, after ten minutes it was over. The skin in the place of the dark mark was red but otherwise unblemished. The house-elf, answering a silent call, popped in and handed Lucius a glass of water.
The tortured man sat up.
"What just happened?" Draco asked.
"I… I don't know. He is gone? He… died."
The sheer disbelief on his father's face was astounding. Well, to be frank the event was rather anticlimactic.
"I do hope you are not grieving…" drawled Draco who was quite happy with the news.
"No, I don't. Not at all."
For the first time in a long time a small sincere smile graced the elder Malfoy's features. He was free.