To those following I am so sorry for taking so long to update. A new baby, school, work and a death in the family it has been hard but hopefully we can finish this story this summer.
Keaira was still getting dressed as Severus and Blaise passed outside the bedroom door. Draco sat in front of the fire gazing off.
"Do you think this will work?" Blaise stopped and looked at Severus.
"I don't know, I don't know what goes through her mind." Severus sat down next to Draco.
"Is father meeting us at Aunt Bella's?"
"As far as I know" Severus sighed as he looked at the clock again, if she didn't hurry they were going to be late. The room jumped as the door opened. Severus jaw dropped as he looked at her, she looked amazing tonight. Her gown was completely black with dark red embroidery of snakes and roses running through the top. The skirt was as black as the top but when the light hit it sparkled dark red. She pulled her blond hair up in curls with a black rose stuck in the side. Keaira's earing where dark red garnets in the shape of large tears with silver trim hanging down her neck to the black chocker. The chocker had dark red rose sewn into it and small dark red garnets that looked like blood drops hanging down the left side of her neck. She raised her skirt to walk when Severus noticed her shoes were dark red with black roses on them. "You look stunning." Severus stood up and grabbed her arm. "Where did you get the dress?" He whispered into his ear as Draco and Blaise floo'd over to Bella's.
"Narcissa closet, when we went by earlier you and Lucius were talking so I invaded her closet."
"She is going to kill you."
"No, I owled her afterwards and since she has never worn this nobody will know it's hers." Keaira smiled as she kissed his cheek. "You know I really have nothing formal but that old black dress." He nodded as they apparated together to Bella' Manor.
Keaira saw the clock on the mantel said it was 7:45 if Dumbledore lived up to his end she had to find the Dark Lord and inform him close to 8:25 that gave them over 40 minutes of having to stay out of his way and out of his line of sight. Keaira sighed as she shook her head at Severus it was going to be a long 40 minutes. The ballroom was packed full of people she didn't recognized, she figured most were the vampires he had recruited. Lucius walked over to them Draco and Blaise following behind.
"My dear Mrs. Snape you are looking lovely tonight." He grabbed her and kissed her cheek. "He isn't here yet." He whispered into her ear as he let her go. Keaira knew the look on Severus face, if he could, he would have killed his friend right on the spot.
"Do we know when he will be arriving?" Keaira whispered as Lucius shook his head. She smiled past him to Blaise that looked as if he was growing to throw up. "Severus, maybe you should take Blaise to get a drink he seems to be almost passing out on us." Severus nodded as he growled once more at Lucius as he push past him. Blaise followed him along with Draco.
"He is overly protective of you." Lucius smiled at her.
"I know and I love him for that."
"You look better in that then Narcissa did." Lucius moved closer to her, his hand lightly touching her back.
"If you don't want your balls hexed off I suggest you take a step back, Severus has his wand in his hand at the table over there." Keaira nodded to the table.
Lucius waved slightly to his friend as he took a step back. "He acts like he cannot trust me."
"He can't and neither can I." Keaira looked around the room. "Has the leader of the coven shown up yet?"
"Yes he has, come Mrs. Snape, let me introduce you." Lucius held out his arm to her. Keaira smiled at Severus as she took Lucius arm.
Lucius moved her to almost the center of the room where a tall, pale man stood. His long black hair shined in the light of the room. He was dressed is dark purple robes with gold trim, his hand was wrapped around a wine glass. She could see his silver nails shining in the light. She had met only a handful of vampires but most looked as stunning as he did talking to Bella and another women. She could see for a brief moment his teeth when he laughed at something the short, stocky older women had said. Lucius brought her closer as the man turned and smiled at them.
"Lord Lucius, I had wonder where you had run off too. I had to keep these breathtakingly, beautiful women company in your absence but I see you were off to conquer your own beauty." The man laughed as he took Keaira's free hand. "Who might you be my pretty one?"
"Gervais, this is Keaira Snape."
The man's head jerked up from her hand, "The Dark Lord's child. Bella you said she was a small, weak child, this is no child standing before me."
"Child?" Keaira turned to Bella using every ounce of self-control from sending that old hag flying into the wall "Weak child?"
Lucius let go of her arm as he moved between the two witches and the short witch moved away quickly. "Bella, come with me and get a drink."
"I don't want a drink." Bellatrix screeched at the top of her lungs. "Yes, I called you a child a weak, irreverent, insolent bint of a child." Keaira took a breath to keep from punching her in the face. If Lucius wasn't standing in-between them she would have.
"Bella have you been drinking?" Lucius placed his hand on her arm and started moving her away from Keaira.
Bella jerked her arm free. "Why would you care Lucius and don't touch me. You are not fit to ever touch me. You are just as much of a disgrace as she is. You who couldn't even get something from that baby Potter, you are nothing more than His play toy now. You think because He let you have his bastard child to breed with you are back in His good graces. Ha!" Keaira felt Severus hand on her back as she looked over at Gervais. He was leaning back onto a chair smiling at the scene that was happing in front of him. The room was silent as Bell's screams grew louder. She looked up at Severus and smiled. "Disgrace!" Bella screeched. "Marrying that fucking half-blood who we all know is working for that oaf of a wizard. He has no spine." Bella spit on the ground near Severus feet. "As for you." She turned attention back to Keaira. "I am no lap dog."
"No you're a bitch in heat." Keaira smirked as Bella screamed and lunged for her. Severus wand was out before Keaira could move. A stunned Bellatrix lay on the floor had the low buzz of talking again.
"I'm going to move her upstairs." Lucius pulled out his wand and flicked it. "Severus, please give me a hand." Severus kissed Keaira cheek as he headed upstairs with Lucius.
"He loves you." Gervais held out his am for her.
Keaira smiled as she took the vampire's arm. "I hope he does I did marry him." Gervais lead her out the side doors to the gardens. The night was cold and clear, the stars were shinning bright as she shivered some. She pulled out her wand and placed a warming charm around them.
"I wasn't talking about the dark haired one my dear." Gervais leaned against a pillar. "I can see that one loves you and is protective of you. No, I was talking about Lucius."
Keaira laughed some. "Lucius loves all women." She shivered again, warming charms were not her strong point. Gervais smiled at her as he removed his jacket and wrapped it around her. "You will be cold."
"Nah, immortal. I don't feel the cold much anymore." He leaned back again. "Now little one we were talking about how much Lucius loves you."
Keaira shook he head. "Lucius loves power, he loves beautiful women and he loves money. I am a married to a man who loves me but if I was single I would only be able to give Lucius one of these things."
"Your beauty?"
"Please, I am not beautiful." She was looking inside the door, she could feel him behind her. "Are most of them part of your coven?"
"Changing the subject, fine. Yes, little one they are." She could feel his hand on her back.
"The coven's have seen before have never been this large." She turned around and found him still leaning on the pillar. This is why she could never get comfortable around vampires, she knew he was behind her.
"You have seen other covens?"
"Two other covens, I trained under Ralston." She was fidgeting with her hands as she turned to look back into the room.
"Ralston, he was a good wizard." She felt his breath on her neck. "He supported our rights. I was heartbroken to hear of his death. I hope he wasn't alone at the end."
"I was with him." Keaira gulped as she felt his hands on her shoulder. "It was sudden and quick."
She felt his mouth close to her ear as she heard him whisper to her. "Death should be sudden for the mortal, don't you agree little one?" She couldn't move his voice had her, her brain was cursing her for turning around again. "If you were his apprentice then you can perform Ritus animam digeris?"
She knew she should scream Severus was back in the room she could see him but he held her. Her voice was no more above a whisper. "That rite has been outlawed since before Merlin."
"Yes little one do you know why?"
"The rite splits open a muggles soul and lets a person feed on it. It's one thing to feed on the blood but the soul can give you power."
"That's right. Can you perform this rite for me? I have not feasted on a soul of a virgin in so long."
"I… I… I ca… I can't." His lips were on her neck and her brain was starting to fog.
"You can't or won't little one."
"I won't." She moved some as his hands held her tighter.
"I can feel your magic, I know you can do this and you will do this for me." She felt his nails digging into her skin. "You will do this to save him." Keaira opened her eyes and saw Severus looking straight at her. He was making his way to her. "Soon this all will tear you both apart and that is when you will perform Ritus animam digeris." Her fog lifted as Severus opened the door and was standing in front of her.
"Keaira, where have you been we have been looking for you." Severus wrapped his arms around her. "You are as cold as ice. You do remember you are a witch and that you can keep warm?" She threw her arms around him.
"I was getting some fresh air." She saw over Severus shoulder Gervais talking to Lucius, damn that vampire.
"You are sure you feel alright?" He looked down at her.
"Yes let's get inside He should be here soon." Severus kept her under his arm as they went inside.
Severus could tell something was wrong as soon as he had seen her through the door. Her eyes were glazed over and she looked as if she was in a trance. He could tell it took a few minutes for her to register who he was and when she did there was sadness behind them. He didn't trust that vampire but he from what Severus could see wasn't out there with her. She was still shaking from the cold when he brought her inside. At times he forgot how small she was and at times frail. The room was a soft buzz of people talking and a few laughing. Severus held her tighter he led her into the room.
The room was fuller then when Keaira left, she was sure the numbers had doubled in size. The clock on the mantel was showing 8:15, he was late but this did give them time to make the mission was a success. She was hoping at one point that maybe he wouldn't come but a minute later that thought was thrown out when the room turned deathly quiet as Nagini slithered in. Keaira scanned the room for Blaise she needed to him to tell the Dark Lord. She found him sitting near the back of the room. "Severus, I need to get Blaise." Severus nodded as he let her go. She made her to Blaise as He walked in. He was standing in the middle of the room as she and Blaise made their way forward.
"My Lord." They both kneeled in front of him. "Blaise has news about the Order."
"My Lord, Hermione informed me tonight they will be trying to free the wandmaker. They believe him to be in one of three places and will try all three tonight."
"Severus!" The Dark Lord's voice rattled the walls.
"Yes my Lord." Severus kneeled next to Blaise.
"What do you know about this?"
"My Lord I know Dumbledore was planning it but I had informed him it was foolish my Lord. The wandmaker must be dead and he agreed with me."
"My Lord, Severus speaks the truth." Blaise looked at Keaira who was holding her breath. "A few in the order believe that he is alive. They are the ones mounting the attack tonight."
"Which places are they looking?" He was pacing now in front of them.
"Malfoy Manor, Azkaban and a place in Knockturn Alley."
"Lucius, gather a few and head over to the Manor. Kill anybody trying to free the wandmaker." Keaira watched Blaise out the corner of her eye, she could tell he was worried.
The room stayed deathly silent as the clock ticked on the mantel, no word yet and it had been a few minutes. All Keaira could do was hope the mission worked. The Dark Lord was pacing, not one person dared breathe too hard in fear of his anger. A few more ticks when they heard the pop of apparition in the hall. Lucius walked in, his hair tangled and his clothes were singed in places. "My Lord, they took the wandmaker but we were able to take two prisoners." The room backed away from the anger that was forming.
"Crucio" Keaira closed her eyes as Lucius fell to the floor screaming under the Dark Lords wand. She had been under that wand and knew the pain. She looked up at Severus tears forming in her eyes. Severus never took his eyes off his friend but wrapped his arm around her and held her tighter.
"Where are they?" The Dark Lords voice shook the room as he released Lucius.
"We placed them in the dungeon, My Lord." Lucius had pulled himself to a kneeling position.
"Do we know who they are?" He was pacing, that was never a good sign.
"Yes my Lord, one is the Longbottom boy and the other is Charity Burbage."
Keaira felt Severus' arm tighten around her chest. She knew he was friends with the muggle studies teachers.
"Isn't she the muggle studies teacher?" The Dark Lord stopped pacing, Keaira felt her heart stop. She could see a slight smile on his face. Whatever he had in mind was not going to be pleasant for anyone.
"Yes my Lord." Lucius stuttered some looking at Severus.
"Bring her to me." Lucius bowed as he walked out of the room. "Everybody leave now!" The room dispersed quickly. Keaira and Severus had grabbed Draco and Blaise as they were walking out of the room. "Severus stay." Keaira and Severus both stopped at looked at each other.
"Yes my Lord?" Severus turned slowly around to face him.
"I would like you to stay and help me break Ms. Burbage."
Keaira shot Blaise and Draco a look that sent them out of the room as she turned to look at her husband. "My Lord I would love to but there is an order meeting tonight. It would be suspicious with the going on tonight's activities if I do not appear." Keaira eyes moved between her husband and the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord was pacing in front of them.
"Sev" Keaira whispered as she placed her hand on his arm. "Please."
"Severus, I agree that your service is to us in the Order is invaluable. Keaira will stay." The Dark Lord turned from them.
"My Lord, I will stay."
"Severus, we need you on the inside since we have no way of knowing how long Blaise will be able to control the Mudblood." Severus looked down at her, he could see the fear in her violet eyes. "I can see from tonight your marriage might be an inconvenient for you. I am fearful you have developed feeling for your wife, I can always remove her. I'm sure Lucius would enjoy the distraction and since we don't need him as much it would work."
They could hear the screaming of Burbage as she was bring brought up. "My Lord, I do not feel that is necessary."
"We will see, go now I am done with your services." Severus looked down at his wife, her eyes were on the floor as he stormed out of the room.
"Ah, Lucius thank you for bring our guest." Keaira looked up to see Burbage being hovered in. "Keaira I need as much information as you can get, I want her broke." Keaira nodded as the witch was lowered in front of her. Keaira took a breath as she looked over at Lucius who smiled at her and nodded. She started working on getting information but knew to hide some of what she found. This war needed to be over soon.