Even after she'd repeated it a second time Tom still couldn't believe his ears. Clearly Nagini had to be mistaken, a rare but entirely possible scenario. The DeathEaters had known he was coming for them, they had known! Therefore there would have been absolutely no reason for them to break out.

"Come again?" he demanded again with a forced calmness, fingertip to his earlobe.

Narcissa exchanged a glance with Alecto without moving her head, nothing but her eyes betraying her emotions, something she had carefully practiced. The younger witch's eyes mirrored the fear she felt at their lord's darkening mood. Each time the serpent repeated the same answer his face clouded over that much more, eyes narrowed in ire. What could possibly have happened that the men would take such drastic measures? Lucius was always precise and calculated in his moves, there had to be a good reason. Narcissa's thoughts had immediately gone to her husband and son, where were they and were they safe? Her heart had leapt for joy when the dark lord had revealed his plan to rescue them but now she was afraid for them to return. If there wasn't sufficient reason in his eyes the punishments could be severe, perhaps even death.

"I am sssssorry my lord but the men are gone." Nagini had almost dreaded bringing such news home to her lord, even she was not above his wrath.

"When?" Tom growled, his scowl deepening. His long, dexterous fingers drummed out an insistent, angry rhythm on the arm of his throne-like chair.

"Yessssssterday morning from the talk of it." the serpent purposefully gave as little details as possible, not that she had found terribly much information anyway. The prison halls had been overrun with horrified aurors demanding answers, making it difficult for Nagini to remain there long.

What was in the hell was going on? These were his best men, the most loyal he had. If they were trying to evade or undermine him in some way there would be hell to pay.

"And my witch?" this demand made through clenched teeth.

Nagini averted her eyes for the first time. It wasn't wise to display her fear openly, it wouldn't go unnoticed, it would be filed away to be used at a later date. She knew how much this witch meant to the dark lord, though to her it didn't seem wise, one should never place their faith on the unknown. It was quite unlike her lord, a man who normally believed only in what he could see and control.

"Sssshe wassss ssssaid to have aided them."

Riddle's normally cool body flushed hot and the blood pounded in his ears making it difficult to hear. Had they decided to try and keep her power all to themselves? A very dangerous game, one that they wouldn't win. Tom Riddle was not a man to be trifled with. Did he want to lose his to date most faithful followers? No, but treachery could not be allowed in his ranks.

"Two days, they have two days." lord Voldemort growled, a dark shadow settling on his face and sending shivers down Narcissa's spine. "If they do not come to me in that time I will personally hunt them down like dogs."

He found himself observing the unconscious witch, one of his favorite books falling by the wayside. Guilt was a new experience for him, forty years worth of indifference having settled itself in his heart. She was perhaps all of twenty-five but looked even younger in sleep, especially with her face twisted by whatever nightmare was consuming it. Despite the power and endurance she'd displayed, Lilith looked very innocent in slumber. His little one groaned softly as her body shifted restlessly on the lumpy old couch, her face now hidden. So kind and yet all he'd done thus far was plot and plan as to how he was going to use her power for his gain. Dolohov had killed witches and wizards younger than herself and hadn't blinked an eye, never even spared them a second thought. So why now? Why was the guilt eating at him now?

Lilith took in a sharp breath and tossed again, bringing her pallid face back into view. His sharp eye narrowed in on one lone tear as it trickled down her cheek and a small whimper escaped her parted lips. Splaying his book over the arm of the recliner, Antonin slowly crossed the the room with a heavy sigh and knelt by her side. It was their fault, he knew, that the witch was crying in her sleep and again his chest ached with the guilt.

"Shhhh." he soothed, hand gingerly petting her upper arm.

It was an awkward gesture, comfort something he'd rarely received and had never given. As a child it had been only he and his mum, who had turned cold after the abandonment of his father. He'd been young when that happened, too young to understand why but old enough to recall it quite distinctly.

"It's ok little one." Antonin whispered when she flipped again in distress and began rubbing her back in slow, tentative circles.

At first he'd thought the witch was weak for her soft spoken ways and undue kindness but he wasn't so sure about that assumption anymore. He'd half expected Lilith to fall out when they'd broken the news about the escape and her being charmed but she hadn't even shed a tear. She'd put up a bloody fit to be sure and cursed quite colorfully but that was the extent of the hysterics. So, was she weak or had he grown as cold as a dementor?

He wasn't even sure if he was doing it right but finally Lilith's breathing began to even out and her body relaxed beneath his ministrations. Antonin let out another deep sigh, hand still slowly working circles, feeling a bit more comfortable in its work. When had things become so complicated? Next to Fenrir he considered himself the most hardened DeathEater of the lot and had sort of prided himself on that. But he suddenly felt like an ogre as he looked down at the vulnerable witch. He'd planned to start "grooming" her in the morning, pulling her close and aligning Lilith with what he needed to further his aspirations. Inexplicably he found himself wondering if he could actually go through with it.

Dolohov had been so lost in his thoughts, he hardly noticed when the witch drew in a sharp breath and stiffened. Lilith caught him by surprise when she suddenly bolted upright and turned to face him, staring at the hand he'd abruptly pulled back accusatorily.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, looking between his hand and his widened eyes. Though he'd done nothing wrong Antonin was sure he looked as guilty as sin, as guilty as he felt on the inside.

It took Lilith a long moment to remember where she was and that Antonin wasn't in her bedroom. Nope, it was worse. She was in their lair. He hastily rose to his feet, hands fumbling for a moment before being stuffed into his pants pockets.

"You were having a nightmare." Dolohov mumbled, eyes scanning the floor uncomfortably.

That was probably the last thing the medi-witch had expected to hear. For all his 'little one's' and trying to draw her into conversations, or his offers to help with her magic, Lilith would never have suspected him to offer real comfort for nothing in return. It sounded mean when she thought about it like that but Antonin was smart and shrewd, and held an air of self serving about him.

"Oh...oh, thank you." Lilith smiled awkwardly, tucking a few errant curls behind her ear. She averted her eyes and mumbled, "I can't seem to stop making a spectacle of myself."

Dolohov smiled wryly in return. She was more akin to a firework with a wide array of fallout effects, some of which forced the men out of their comfort zones, which was not necessarily bad. In varying degrees and ways the witch had touched them all. Voicing that however just felt too personal so he kept it to himself.

"Well I'm right over here if you need anything little one." he gave her another awkward nod before retreating to his seat.

She's not the only one making a spectacle out of herself, he thought with disdain, as he re-took up his book. For a man known for his quick thinking and sharp tongue the DeathEater felt woefully lacking for the first time in a very long time. He shook his head to himself as Lilith laid back down with her back to him. He doubted she'd fall back to sleep though, judging by the look on her face the situation had made her self conscious. Antonin tried to go back to reading but his mind just reeled back and forth between his aspirations and the heavy guilt. He felt the strong urge to pace but refrained as it would only have disturbed Lilith, who would then probably ask him what was wrong. He couldn't leave the room either as he was supposed to be watching over her, or rather thwarting her escape. It was going to be a long night.