So a little poll just for fun, who do you want to see Lilith end up with?
"You absolute dumbfuck." Rod shook his head, hovering over Thorfinn's bound form with the other DeathEaters.
When the pair hadn't returned after a full half hour he'd known something was wrong, so they'd gone looking. He'd expected to find the doe eyed witch putting up a fuss, giving the reluctantly soft hearted wizard a hard time, this was the very last thing he'd expected. But fuck, if it wasn't going to be the death of them it would have been hilarious.
"Just unhex me." he growled back, giving Rod the bird from where his hands were bound at his waist.
It was Antonin who raised his wand instead, wearing a disapproving look and wondering if his friend could survive a crucio, because he wanted to give it to him badly. He wouldn't, of course, but Finn had good and fucked them over, he deserved it.
"What did you say to her?" Rabastan demanded as Thor pushed himself to his feet with a groan.
Rab was furious, absolutely fit to be tied and he just barely stopped himself from blurting out his intention to find Lilith and leave them all behind forever.
"Me?!" he demanded incredulously, bulged eyes falling on each man in turn. "I was sent out here to calm her down because some bloody moron bit her." His eyes narrowed as they landed accusingly on Fenrir.
"Good point." Rab's eyes, laced with anger and malice, also landed on the wolf.
Greyback grizzled in reply, arms crossed over his chest. If Dolohov hadn't butted in Lilith would have been safe with him. Instead she was gods knew where and alone. If she'd gone back to her own place she was in hot water, the aurors were probably crawling all over it. But where else could she go? As far as he knew Lilith hadn't had any family or friends in Great Britain when she moved.
"You blokes only lost your key to moving up in the ranks," he growled, fangs lengthening slightly. His wolf was fighting tooth and nail to be unleashed. "I lost my bloody mate!"
"For the last time, she's not your mate!" Rabastan yelled, face red with ire, hands fisted. Unless his angel accepted him, which she hadn't, the bite meant nothing.
"As much as I'd love to see you two arses settle this once and for all," Lucius drawled with an exaggerated eye roll, "we have bigger things to worry about than your egos. The dark lord knows we're out and he's wroth." the elder Malfoy thrust his arm out into their circle. One by one each man's eyes fell to the dark mark on his pale arm, the skin around it red and raw, as a sharp reminder. The mark had been growing steadily worse since his awakening in the night. It was no longer a subtle hint, it was a demand.
"If you hadn't told that vile serpent about Lilith we could go back right now and worry about Lilith later." Dolohov bit out. "The fuck are we supposed to do now?" he threw his hands up into the air, then ran them through his dark hair, before beginning to pace. For the first time ever he was at a complete loss. Even if they went back now they didn't have what Malfoy had promised. It was almost enough to make a man wish for prison.
Lucius averted his eyes, lips pursed. Clearly he'd been reckless giving Nagini such information but he'd rather die than admit fault.
"I say you guys start heading back one by one, with long intervals between. Claim that we're being overly cautious to avoid suspicion."
"You guys." Rodolphus repeated, eyes combing his brother's face. His priority was the witch of course. Though disappointed, he'd expected no less.
"I assume neither of you are lining up to go back." Antonin looked to Rabastan and Fenrir in turn.
Both men nodded, faces equally grim.
"I'll go back first." Malfoy senior quietly announced, eyes scouring the leaf and seed pod covered ground. "Perhaps I can distract him enough to give us some time."
No one was inclined to dispute Lucius' offer to return first. Admitted or not, they all knew he'd put their heads on the chopping block. It was only fair that his pompous ass should face the music first.
"We'll follow up with someone else every twenty four hours." Antonin nodded, feeling slightly calmer as his more analytical side took over. They'd have less than a week to find their wayward medi-witch but it could be done.
"I suppose we'll have to work together." Fenrir's voice dripped with animosity as he turned his attention to Rabastan. Working with his rival was the last thing on earth he wanted to do but he'd need to set that aside in order to find his mate.
Rabastan nodded even as a sneer transformed his face.
"When we find her our truce will be over."
"Gladly." How the man thought he'd win out over a mate bond Fenrir couldn't fathom but he had to give Lestrange some credit for being tenacious.
Narcissa couldn't stop the pathetic stream of tears staining her cheeks on their way to drip down over her chin. She was normally so composed and strong but having her husband ripped from her arms, having held him for only a moment after five long years, was crushing. Lucius had burst from the fireplace calling her name like a man on fire and despite the impropriety of it she'd come running out in her nightgown to meet him. The dark lord however was awake and as ever lurking and immediately on her husband's heels. Without laying a hand he ripped Lucius from her arms and hurled him across the room, dragging Narcissa to her knees. Nagini, beastly thing that she was, was not far behind her master, thwacking the crying woman with her tail on the way by.
Tom stalked over to where his DeathEater lay, muscles coiled and tense, poised to strike. How dare Malfoy just waltz in like nothing had happened after they'd betrayed him? He badly wanted to squeeze the life from his traitorous body with his bare hands but for now he restrained, for the time being Malfoy was needed.
"My lord, please let me explain." Lucius huffed, back spasming slightly from where it had met the hard wood of the stair railing.
He sneered down at Malfoy for a long moment before shaking his head, he wasn't ready to hear any pitiful excuses.
Not dropping his servants gaze for a moment, the dark lord raised his palm and hissed, "Crucio."
Narcissa screamed as her husband began writhing and moaning in pain, green lightning snaking from the dark lord's hand. Alecto swept in from behind and squeezed her shoulder in an uncharacteristically tender display.
"Look away." she whispered. "But do not move." No one ever looked or walked away from a punishment without receiving one of their own.
Narcissa couldn't pry her eyes away however, not with the love of her life twitching and groaning in agony. He'd been through so much pain and strife, all because of his allegiance to the man who was currently torturing him. Minutes went by before the dark lord closed his palm putting an end to the torture and folded his arms over his chest. Lucius' body continued to shudder for a time, eyes rolled back into his head as Voldemort looked on coldly.
"An explanation you say?" he asked with a sadistic little grin when the body before him had stilled.
"Yes." Malfoy whispered in a gravelly voice after several false starts. He tried to make eye contact but everything was hazy. "We," he paused for a deep breath and winced as pain arced across his ribs "are as committed as ever my lord."
Voldemort made a curt noise in reply.
"Then pray tell, where is everyone else?"
"One by one my lord." Lucius breathed. "So as not to attract attention."
The dark lord put a finger to his lips, looking deep in thought and began to pace. Nagini slithered closer to Malfoy, staring into his eyes as if searching for an answer.
"He liessss my lord."
Voldemort nodded without looking at her.
"Why didn't you wait as instructed?" he demanded a moment later, magic tingling his finger tips.
"We were eager to impress you my lord and an opportune time presented itself." he insisted desperately.
Lucius had thought hard about what he was going to say before returning. Say as little as possible to hopefully avoid legilimency and try not to sound like you're saying exactly what he wants to hear while saying exactly that. Voldemort squinted down at the DeathEater who still lay partially curled in on himself.
"No." he announced at last in a soft, calm voice, "I don't think that's what happened." and unleashed another vicious round of the crucio curse.
Malfoy screamed in agony, feeling as if his limbs were being torn from his body. It seemed to go on forever, the pain never dulling, heart beating so hard he felt like it was going to burst. In the distance he could hear his wife crying and begging the dark lord to stop but he couldn't see her through the fog of pain. If he was going to die he wanted to see her just one final time. Then finally it ceased and his body went completely limp, eyelids fluttering closed. The dark lord knelt down at his side, watching him dispassionately.
"Now, I want the truth. Your life depends on this answer." he breathed into the hollow of Lucius' mind. "Where is my witch?"