A/N: I'm on a ROLL!

Thanks for the review again, NightlyRowenTree! It's so much fun getting input, and that people are picking up on clues. You rock!

And, by the way. I do hope people 'like' the way I depict Voldemort? I kinda think that he's a shifty character that would act quite different around different people – he is definitely a psychopath, and I have A LOT of experience with people with different variations of anti-social disorders, so I base things around that. There is not a lot of description of the different ways he could be in the books, so I'm freeballing a lot. If you have any questions or issues, please write it down! I would love to clarify things.

She looked up at him, red glowing eyes and everything. Her brows were furrowed and she had heard every word he had spoken.

"Fine, I'll take it." Her voice steady, she put her left arm on the table, staring up at him with a challenge in her eyes. He smiled, accepting it.

He stared into her eyes as she wouldn't back down – and the impression that he seemed to revel in it. It hit her as unusual – seeing that anyone else would've been dead long ago if they ever showed this kind of insolence. In Mina's case, her cheek seemed to fire up that fire within The Dark Lord. As if he saw more and more potential, believing that he could control it – control her.

Her left arm laid on the table, palm up – waiting for that great snake to make his move.

This was it, the point of no return. At this moment she had chosen her alignment, she would never again be accepted by those who fought against The Dark Lord. And the issue? She wasn't even sure if she wanted him to be victorious.

But at least she'd granted her own wish – she could protect her boys. And now also Bella.

"You do realize that your former life will be no more?" If he had had eyebrows, they were raised in mockery. Pushing her limit, exploring and digging until she might falter. How much of this could Mina take? Oh, The Dark Lord would revel in pushing her.

"It's just another chapter in my life, Lord. I will surely survive." It was probably avoiding the subject entirely, but if he wished to probe further, he would just have to enter her mind – like he had done to summon her.

"The Malfoy's will surely still provide you with a home, you are to marry into their family – after all. But I will require of you to visit me on a regular basis."

"Visit you, Master?" She raised her eyebrow, puzzled by this awfully chummy approach. Surely he did not wish for a tea companion.

"Yes, Mina. You will need sufficient training from someone more… Competent." The overbearing smirk on his face was enough to make her shut up.

Finally, he turned his attention to the arm she had been offering him for several minutes now. He seemed to scrutinize the pale flesh, as if he didn't know where to put his mark. Yet she knew exactly where is was going, exactly how it should look. Had she not seen it countless times on the arms of her boys?

As he finally pulled his wand she drew a slight breath, knowing that this was going to hurt. He placed the tip of it at the center of her lower arm, the dark wand a contrast to her skin.

For a slight second, there was nothing. Just the stillness of the dark room; the dancing flames on the wall, the rustic table between them, the rather uncomfortable chairs and the daunting frame that would surely be her downfall.

This was stupid; he was evil. He wanted to kill and rule – she was not of that caliber. But what to do? She had made her choice, a choice that would not be popular. But she stood by it, she would make this work.

And then – fire. The fire that lit the room seemed to have spread to her arm. She tensed, knowing all too well that her lower arm was not on fire. She made no noise, her pride would not bear to cower before his wand.

As she watched her own arm a shadow seemed to spread from the tip of his wand. It wandered in circles, showering particular areas of her skin. As she watched it uncoil she recognized the dooming shape of a snake and skull.

I will surely die for this.

She felt faint, as if she had downed large amounts of vodka and then decided to stand up all too sudden. Staring down at the Black Mark on her arm, she couldn't help but to despise herself a little. This wasn't where she was supposed to go… The path was so wrong – but just right.

No, - She had to control herself. As Mina stood up from her chair and took the arm that was offered to her, she knew that this today was a statement that would surely change the dynamics in her life. What did this mean for her?

She was allowed to live with the Malfoys, they were to be her family. Yet the words he had spoken resonated within her with an entirely different meaning. Some pure, ancient instinct within her belly told her that this man would play her like a chess piece. If he deemed it unfitting for her to marry – goodbye Lucius.

She needed to push those thoughts away.

The door opened for them and they entered the living room – where everyone already was staring at them. She contorted her face into absolute serene nothingness.

Breathe – don't feel.

She barely held his arm, just enough for it to look authentic enough. She didn't meet one eye on the crowd, but she made sure not too look like a shy child. She kept her chin up, an impenetrable expression plastered.

As they entered the middle of the room, something pricked at the side of her consciousness – and she let go of his arm. Without sparing him another look she took a few steps away towards her friends. She did not walk all the way over to them, still keeping slightly in the middle of the room.

She flashed a slight smile in their direction, not yet feeling like connecting to the real world. Her decision still a sinking stone in her gut.

She never even noticed as their Lord spoke, as he praised their company in that false manner he always did. Empty words and flattery, a speech of what's to come – our grand new world. He said nothing of Mina or her joining their ranks; everyone knew.

The Dark Mark on her arm like a beacon in the nigh, the darkness so vivid on her pale flesh.

Her face was turned towards him, not willing to show any disrespect to him – or weakness to any other.

She barely even noticed that he had taken his seat at the end of the table – a seat like a throne. None dared to even seat themselves before he had given the all clear. Once again, as if someone was pricking at her consciousness she looked straight at him as her smirked.

"Sit, Mina." She walked over him, almost mechanically. She seated herself in the chair he had offered her; at his right side.

This was it, if someone didn't kill her for this – then she didn't know.

For the first time in what seemed like a century, but had probably only been ten minutes – she actually looked.

She looked at the room her eyes had been on this entire time, the people she had refused to acknowledge. They stood there, scattered around the room in the groups they had already formed in conversation.

The faces of her allies – her enemies – and everyone in between stared at her in awe, horror and utter perplex. Some here and there were smiling, as if they had bet on the right horse.

As he waved his hand once – extravagantly, everyone else seemed to take the queue and sat down at what would be considered their respective places. Mina noticed that Abraxas sat next to her, bathing in the glory that that his future daughter in law was valued like this. Lucius sat next to his father, and Mina could see the soft look he sent her. She answered him with a small smile.

The food in front of them hadn't dropped a degree since it was put on the table, the roast still fuming deliciously. As Mina watched a few things, it suddenly appeared on her plate. The tender meat, potatoes and greens were enough for her – her goblet filling with thick, rich red wine.

He also got a small amount of food on his plate, which probably meant that everyone else was allowed to eat – without seeming rude.

He lifted his dark, silver goblet to his lips. You know those old goblets, the ones that seemed to be rusted, but it ended up black. It was such a contrast to his parchment skin, yet it fitted him oh so well. Dark and decayed. From where she sat, she saw the charade in his actions. He didn't drink – he did not intend to eat.

Didn't he ever eat?

She cut a small piece of the meat, hoping that the taste hadn't been corrupted by the mere presence of everyone in this room.

Yes. It tasted fine, just… Dead – she guessed. She chose to instead focus on her greens, finding them a tad better than a roast right now. She felt like the damned roast.

The silence commenced for several uncomfortable minutes, everyone around the table pretending to enjoy the last night of 1972. It was 8 o'clock in the evening, and everyone just wished this night to be over – to get away from it.

As she pretended to enjoy the food, to savor the wine – she had time to inspect the dining room they had been confined to.

The room was dark, the wallpaper that never ending baroque green that seemed to resonate within the soul of too many decorators of Pureblood homes. It could've been a decent room, really. But the cobwebs in the corners and the true neglect of it all seemed to contrast with the man that held everyone's tongue.

Honestly, this was the most awkward New Year's party she'd ever attended.

She had exited the dining room as soon as it seemed okay for the Master.

The word had a foul taste on her lips, like poison. No, she shook her head as she walked alone out into the hallways, blessed peace.

It wasn't that anyone had engaged her in conversation or anything, but it was good to get away from the damned tension. Things did not get better for her when she was placed in the freaking right hand seat… That was the statement of a century, placing this girl right there. She was so fucked.

The hallways were narrow, only fitting maximum two people alongside each other, but it seemed to be only her.

That silly baroque wallpaper was everywhere – when she ran a mansion… There would be no French chairs, no baroque and certainly no oversized ballrooms. She was so done with this so-called lush lifestyle, so done.

It was dimly lit in here, just enough for her to see a few meters forward. Green, black, green.

She shook her head and just stopped, leaning against the wall while crossing her arms as soon as she was out of reach from the other guests. And the Master.

She was quite sure that he knew exactly how she felt about all of this, how she addressed him in the silence of her own head – but by some damned reason he didn't kill her.

He read her mind, she knew it. He was constantly in there, analyzing her very being. She was crass, sarcastic and downright disrespectful – but still she breathed air and not her own blood. He was probably in there right now, or not. She had no idea.

Shaking her head slowly she didn't even notice the lurking shadow that was approaching her, not until he stood a few feet away.

His dark shoulder length hair was slicked backwards in that style Lucius always wore it, yet the slightly disheveled state of it was nothing against her pristine man.

This man had a slightly unsanitary three-day old beard, it made him look even more or a bad boy than he probably was – probably. She saw trouble in his nutmeg eyes, the way he dragged them up and down her body like he was appraising some purebred dog.

"Pull your eyes up, creep." She cut his inspection off with her curt tongue. He answered her with a lopsided, wicked grin.

"It's as if you knew I'd follow you, babe." He almost slurred, it occurred to her that he'd probably had more than his fill of alcohol tonight.

An hour to midnight.

"Honestly, Travers – No." She spoke to him like a disobedient dog. Putting him down like this didn't seem to take his edge off, it only sent him at her; pushing her body against the wall. His body on hers, so warm and unwelcome.

"Don't you deny it, you minx." His breath hot on her face, and she saw black.

She stomped her high heeled foot down on his, hard. The initial shock and pain of her action sent him backwards, and she continued to push him with her wand pressed against his throat.

"I've had it with you fucking men!" She hissed, pushing her wand so hard up, his eyes bulged at her sudden change. Her hair laid around her like the halo of an avenging god, she was finally done with their crap. "You keep stomping all over us women, thinking we're your property. But listen up, you stupid creature. I'm not an object, and you will not talk to me like that. I will cut out your tongue and feed it to you if you dare to even touch me again." Her eyes squinted until they were slits, staring up at the man that wasn't much taller than her now that she wore heels. His eyes were bulging, not believing it.

"Please – "she cut him off with just one look.

"Don't you get the phrase pecking order? Because guess what, idiot – I'm the beta bitch." And with that she waved her want, cutting his vocal cords temporarily. And then, "sectumsempra." She said softly, flicking her wand.

Several deep cuts appeared on the bloody weasel, and she just smiled. She wasn't going to let him bleed out; she was going to humiliate him.

She conjured her Patronus, a large snow leopard and told the trusty animal to pick him up by the scruff of his coat, together they walked back to the dining room.

It didn't take them long to get back, and as the doors magically opened for her, once again she was the center attention; shared with her little companions. There was a soft smile on her lips as she nodded to the animal, making it drop Travers a little in front of her.

So there she stood, in her cream dress; a splatter of blood reaching from the top of her skirt, all the way up her bodice in a thin line and up to drip over her breasts and clavicles. With her loose hair she must look like a warrior princess.

"Ah, I wondered how long it would take." Purred the unmistakable voice of her Master. "I see, he offended – did he?" Voldemort sounded amused, actually.

"Yes. I'm just not taking shit from anyone – ever again." She raised one eyebrow as she raked her gaze from Travers; whom she had allowed to stop bleeding – to the people around in the room. Her friends seemed a bit taken aback, but others seemed scared and impressed.

The Dark Lord looked like he had won the lottery.

What do you think? I think Mina's had enough of everyone's bullshit.