Chapter Eighteen

"Madam Borgin, I am honored to have you in my home."

Lucius Malfoy. Ridiculously powerful, supremely sexy, and dressed to kill. Alex sucked in her breath at the sight of him, casually wrapped in a stormy gray, silk shirt tucked neatly into flowing black trousers. The effect was at once simple and elegant, accentuating his fine build while leaving plenty to the imagination. Presently she was fighting to bring that imagination under her control while smiling in what she hoped to be an engaging manor.

"Lord Malfoy. I'm pleased to be invited." She took his hand in her own and felt a tingle in her fingertips. His skin was cool and surprisingly soft.

Gently, he released her, his fingers sliding slowly from hers, looking her up and down in admiration. "You look absolutely ravishing, this evening."

"I'm sure you know that flattery will get you everywhere, Mister Malfoy."

The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly for a moment as he indicated a plush chair by the fire, Severus' customary chair, thought Malfoy, another subordinate. "Please have a seat."

Alex perched lightly on the edge, seemingly ready to run. "Thank you."

"I believe I promised you a drink."

"Yes, you did, and I should have indicated in my letter that I don't drink, but it slipped my mind." His smile faded as he tilted his head slightly to the side. "I'm sorry, Lucius. I have no head for wine, and you'll forgive me if I'm not entirely comfortable with you, as yet." Alex smiled up at the tall wizard, hoping that she hadn't offended him, but the stern look she was receiving indicated otherwise. Feeling the first stirrings of panic, she began checking for exits.

Lucius merely seated himself in the chair opposite her and flashed a stunning smile. "You don't trust me? Good. You should not. I quite understand, Miss Borgin. I must seem a monster to you." He lightly pressed his fingers together and placed them on his lips, a penitent gesture, and Alex smiled sweetly. She wasn't fooled in the slightest. No more playing your game, Lucius.

"You are a monster, Mister Malfoy," she responded flatly. "But, I'm more interested in your alliance than your character. What is it that I can do for you?"

"You do come right to the point, don't you?"

"There's really nothing else to say," she answered stiffly.

Lucius clenched his teeth, seething silently. Alex noticed this and ran a hand down her leg just to reassure herself that she had her wand, for what good it would do her. What the hell had she been thinking, coming here?

"I will answer your question in time. For now, I wish to show you the collection you asked to see."

Alex's spirits soared. She really had looked forward to this. If the pieces were half as amazing as the one he had given her, it would be worth the coming over. He rose with his usual grace and offered his arm gallantly to Alex. "Shall we?" She complied with as much composure as possible. Stop finding excuses to touch me, damn it!

The corridor he led her into was amazingly beautiful, lovely in it's ancient simplicity, and she told him as much.

"Thank you, Miss Borgin. This estate has belonged to my family for many generations, and is one of my most beloved treasures." He spoke with a sincerity that touched her, though such sentiment coming from him was unnerving. It painted him in a far too human light. She glided along on his arm, contemplating this new facet of her associate's personality.

Lucius cleared his throat sternly as they approached a huge set of oaken doors, and at the sound they opened to allow them passage. "Do excuse my home's eccentricity, Miss Borgin. It occasionally needs reminding of it's duties."

Alex laughed aloud at this. "Well, I'm deeply offended, Mister Malfoy. My doors obey me without fail."

"Do they?"

"Yes. When I push them, they open, and when I pull them, they close."

She glanced to the side and was relieved to see that he was smiling ever so slightly. He seemed so much more at ease walking around his manor than he did outside his home or even in his own parlor. He hadn't even brought the walking stick which sheathed his wand. Home turf advantage, she surmised, and locked the knowledge away for future reference.

The room that they had entered was fairly small, and Alex's claustrophobic tendencies began to set off alarms in her head when the doors closed behind them, but these were easily forgotten as she surveyed the display of fine antiquities and curiosities before her. It was everything she had imagined and more; weapons, poisons (some of Severus' making, no doubt), wands, staves, gems, tomes---the items in one case were worth a small fortune in and of themselves. She lightly fingered a book of dark magic bearing symbols so obscure that she had no mental reference for them.

"What do you think?" came the soft question behind her, causing her to start. His hand was immediately on her shoulder. "Calm yourself, Alexandria."

She answered the query honestly, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm overwhelmed. I never would have imagined---" she broke off in mid-sentence and turned to face him. "Are these all your own acquisitions or are they heirlooms?"

"A bit of both, actually," he answered, absently running his hands over a book cover. "Some of the books were penned by my ancestors, and were naturally passed down from father to son. Most of the other items were acquired over the years. All of them are pieces of the Malfoy family history, each one a treasured reminder of our noble heritage."

Alex smiled gently up at him, observing the look of complete adoration on his face as his eyes took in the items in the room. This was fascinating, this profound attachment to his family, it was a feeling she had never known.

Her smile was met with a quizzical gaze from Lucius. "Miss Borgin?"

"It's really beautiful to hear you express those feelings. Honestly, I didn't know you were capable."

"Of honoring my bloodline?" he asked incredulously.

"No, Lucius. Of loving your family."

"Ah," he responded quietly. "I do not love my family. I honor them. Love is too great a hindrance to be taken seriously. It is a liability which cannot be allowed."

Bullshit, thought Alex. His actions toward her proved that he didn't love his wife, but his only son and heir was likely a different matter entirely. "I assume your son knows how to care for these treasures properly."

His face shadowed. "He is only a boy, and doesn't yet understand their profound value. He will learn to care for them in time."

"What's his name?" she asked casually, fingering a serpent pendant which was marred with what appeared to be blood.

"Draco."

"Draco," she echoed. "That's a fitting name for a child of yours. How old is he?"

"Why the sudden interest in my son, Miss Borgin?"

Before she could answer, her hand was wrenched away from the blade she was about to touch. It looked awfully familiar.

"You want to be careful with that, Madam. It's quite sharp." He picked it up delicately and presented it for her inspection. "Do you recognize it?"

Alex shook her head.

"Well, it was dark. This the dagger that nearly took your life," he remarked casually. "The poison never fades from the blade." He smiled as he twirled it in dexterous fingers. "I would hate for you to have an accident."

Alex's temper rose a degree. "I didn't come here to listen to idle threats." Malfoy's eyes narrowed dangerously, and she plunged on. "I appreciate your showing me your collection. I see now that you would never barter any of these, and of course I understand why." She turned to look him in the eye. "Now, please answer my question. What can I do for you? And why are you so interested in procuring my assistance? Surely a man of your influence can align himself with better than a shop owner from Knockturn Alley. Is it my connections that you want? Another item from my shop? Let's settle this and get out of one another's lives."

"I'm afraid that things are a bit more complicated than that." He presented his arm to her yet again. "We can talk in the sitting room where it is more comfortable."

Placing her hand lightly on his arm, she proceeded with him down the hallway. "May I ask where your wife is, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Again, why the interest?"

"In this case, because I'd hate for her to see us arm in arm, get the wrong idea and hex us both."

At this, he chuckled lightly. "Narcissa, wield a wand for something other than cosmetic purposes? I fear she would break a sweat, and that would never do. You're perfectly safe, my dear." Upon reentering the sitting room, Alex fairly collapsed into her chair. The constant focus she had to maintain was extremely draining. Lucius took his seat opposite her and sat forward, quickly closing the distance between them.

"And, to answer your question, my darling wife is in Paris for the summer and Draco is visiting some friends, so we're all alone."

Alex promptly sat back in her chair. She wasn't going to have to do this again, surely?

"Are you certain you won't reconsider that glass of wine?"

"Yes, I am, but don't let that stop you from indulging."

He smiled engagingly and sat back in his chair, allowing her to breathe freely again.. "Tea, then?"

She sighed in relief. "A cup of tea would be heavenly."

With a wave of his wand, there appeared a steaming pot of tea, a glass and bottle filled with wine so deep that it looked disturbingly like blood.

"Now, Miss Borgin," Lucius began, draining half his glass in one long draft, "to business."

Finally. "I wholeheartedly agree."

Lucius refilled his glass a moment later and began to explain. "I have something that I feel would interest you, Alexandria."

Alex nearly sprayed him with tea from the laughter that suddenly bubbled up within her.

"Miss Borgin?"

She swallowed quickly. "Sorry," she continued to chuckle. Lucius had a great many things which interested her, most of them were under his clothes. "I just---never mind."

"No, I must insist."

"And I must disappoint you."

He looked away in disgust. Soon, after she had been properly indoctrinated, his master would allow him to educate her in the matter of her role as his inferior. But, for now---

"Very well, may I continue?"

"Please do."

"I have connections with many other powerful wizards and witches, one in particular whose attention you've caught."

"And, what could I have done that would be of any interest to these people?"

"We know about your father, Alexandria. We know what you did to his murderer, and we approve, I assure you."

"I'm sure you would," she began angrily. "Did Severus tell you this?"

Lucius silenced her with a raised hand. "I personally collected the story of your remarkable escape from Annwn. I have also researched the other, much less troublesome work you've done. We applaud your gifts, and want only to allow you to improve upon them." He leaned forward again and she shrank into the back of her chair. "Think of it, Alexandria, the freedom to practice your skills until they are perfected. We can give you that."

She steadied her breathing and met his gaze with much more surety than she felt. Practice at thieving was the last thing she wanted. She wanted out. Why in the hell had she trusted Severus to keep her secrets? Allowing herself no show of outward emotion, a monumental task for her, she asked the essential question. "And, what do you want in return?"

He smiled kindly. "Indeed, we would ask you to perform a few minor tasks, one in particular as soon as possible. But, those tasks as well would assist you in improving your skills."

Alex closed her eyes to shut out Lucius and focus on her intuition. She didn't need to, really. She knew what this man was, knew the mark he no doubt had branded onto his forearm. She had seen Severus' often enough. Concentrating on her thoughts, she hadn't noticed that her eyes had opened and sought out the place on Lucius' arm where she knew the mark to be.

He didn't miss the implication. "Ah, so Severus has let you in our secret, has he? How much has he told you, I wonder?"

"Nothing I hadn't figured out on my own." Why she felt the need to cover for the backstabbing bastard was beyond her. She knew that her next words would condemn her to immediate action, but she was sick to death of responding to them. It was time to take initiative and put them on the defensive for a change. Of course, she hadn't decided exactly what she was going to do, she'd have to do so---quickly. "I know that you're a Death Eater."

Never releasing her eyes, Lucius slowly pulled back the layer of cloth on his arm almost daring her to look down. Never one to back down from a challenge, she dropped her gaze. Alex had heard that the Dark Mark was considered to be repulsive in the extreme, an insult to decency, but as she stared down at it, she realized that it had never affected her in that way. In fact, she thought it to be quite beautiful, if a bit macabre. Maybe because she had first seen it glistening in the sweat on Severus' arm as they lay panting from their first passionate encounter. Quickly, she pushed aside the thought. This was no time for sentimentality.

Lucius interrupted her meditations. "It is a mark of great power."

"It's the brand of a slave," she returned steadily. "And you're asking me to enter into servitude with you."

"If your vision is truly that limited, then you are a waste of my time."

Alex panicked when she saw him reach for his wand. "No!" He halted, arm outstretched, a question in his eyes. "That's not necessary. " She buried her face in her hands, willing herself to awaken from this nightmare. "This is just a lot to assimilate. I need a little time."

"To consider your options?"

"What option have you given me?" she retorted, head snapping back up to fix him with a heated glare.

"You are rather in checkmate," he responded easily. "However, I am not an unreasonable man. I will give you a few days."

"Could you please clarify what you're asking me to do?" she asked humbly, still shaken by Malfoy's inclination to resort to violence at the slightest provocation.

"Ah, yes. We never reached that point, did we? I'm sure you have noticed that there are people in the world who do not possess your passion for self-preservation. One of these unwise creatures has chosen to be a nuisance to us."

More power to him, thought Alex.

"He has," Lucius continued, unaware of her defiant deliberations, "by his very actions, deprived himself of life. One of our number was to be chosen to eliminate him, but it would seem that the honor has been passed to you. A trial, if you will, to see if your reputation does you justice."

Alex stared at him blankly, frozen from the inside out. A robbery she had expected, a transport of illegal goods, maybe, but murder? That was way out of her league and, truth be told, completely against the few ethics that she possessed. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

"So, you want me to---"

"Kill him, Alexandria. End his life and take your place among the most powerful people in the world. We will rid the planet of muggles and rule those who remain. We, the strong, will preside over the weak, as it should be."

He spoke with such passion that, for just a moment, she wavered. The power he wielded was enthralling and his proximity was beginning to affect her rationale. It was her disgust at being enslaved that won out, and in the end she had only one question worth asking.

"And, if I refuse?" she asked, trying not to sound as shaken as she felt.

"My dear lady," he answered with his sweetest smile. "We would never take you against your will. It would be my great pleasure to repay you for all the trouble you've put me through. If you refuse, I have been assured that I will be free to do so."

Alex's eyes actually watered at the thought. Severus had told her that, according to her descriptions of the pain, Malfoy had not put much of his power behind the cruciatus curse the night he accosted her. With the full force of his considerable might, she wasn't sure she could maintain her sanity. No. She had no intention of allowing Malfoy to use her as target practice. She would have to concede the game, for now.

"I think you've given me enough to consider for tonight, Lucius. If you don't mind, I'll be going. It's getting late."

"Of course. I understand." They rose in unison, and turned toward the hearth. Alex hesitated a moment, then turned back, drawing so close that she could feel his breath on her face.

"Lucius," she began, placing a hand lightly on his arm.

He raised an elegant brow. "Alexandria?"

"I feel I owe you an apology for insulting you and your chosen alliance. It's not my habit to be impolite. Truly, your interest flatters me, as does your willingness to be completely honest. I truly appreciate it."

"That's a lovely speech, Alexandria. But, your appreciation does nothing to alleviate my reservations about your loyalty," he purred, unsheathing his wand.

Alex backed away. "Lucius, I swear---"

"Unnecessarily often, yes." He closed in when her back hit the wall. "No need to demonstrate. This won't hurt a bit." Softly, he pressed the tip of his wand against her bottom lip and followed its lead, stopping only a breath from her face. "Your lips are sealed, Alexandria Borgin," he whispered. The wand flared to life, searing her lip like an ember, but only a moment before he brushed his own against the injury, the faintest whisper of a kiss, erasing the pain as if it had never been. She breathed a sigh a relief. She hadn't planned on telling anyone of their conversation anyway. There was no need for the spell which would, if she assumed correctly, kill her if she began to betrayed him to anyone. No problem.

Her relief was short-lived, however, as he claimed another kiss with a gentleness that was both frustrating and tantalizing. Again and again, he kissed her, barely allowing her a taste of him before briefly retreating. She assessed her options at first, trying to find an excuse to push him away. Of course, that would only invite his anger, and she needed him feeling as generous toward her as possible when she left. It was a good bet that the more convinced he was of her willingness to submit to him, the longer he would give her to decide on her course of action. Besides, the man was intoxicating, and it seemed she had been fighting her hunger for an eternity. Perhaps she could forgive herself this one night, in the interest of self-preservation, of course.

As she deliberated, he continued the soft, methodical kisses, wand resting lightly on her throat, not as a threat, it seemed, just a reminder. Alex was rapidly running out of patience with this game. It wasn't long before she began wondering how much leverage she'd need to throw him to the floor and take him her way. Shaking hands began clawing at his sides, and with a hiss of pain, he removed them firmly and placed them on his waist where they unwillingly behaved themselves.

Supple fingertips traced the curve of her neck and his tongue followed suit as she whispered his name in supplication. An instant later, she was scooped into his arms and deposited on the sofa. Straddling her thighs and effectively pinning her to the back, his body covered her own, and she was lost. Unhurried fingers worked loose the fastenings of her blouse as he explored her shoulders and throat with his mouth, and soon the fabric was lost somewhere behind her. For an agonizing moment, he sat back and contemplated her naked upper body as if it were on display at a museum. Finally, he returned to her, still just barely touching his lips to her own, and now delicately teasing her nipples with his fingertips, driving her mad with anticipation. Several times more, he pulled her hands, which had a mind of their own, away from his body, and stubbornly brought them to his waist. When she began unbuttoning his shirt, he drew her hands away in an unyielding grip and fixed her with an icy glare. "I see that subtlety is lost on you, Alexandria. You are a willful woman, and I can respect that, but in my home, and especially in my bed, I am the master."

Alex stopped struggling against his immovable hands and allowed herself to melt under his gaze. She contemplated reminding him that they were not yet in his bed, but it seemed terribly unwise, and the will to fight him had vanished long ago. Besides, this could be fun. Dropping her eyes in submission, she murmured, "Yes, Lucius," and returned her hands to his trim waist.

"Don't move," he ordered softly.

"Yes, Lucius."

More tiny kisses and gentle caresses followed for a very, very long time. Her mind was reeling with desire and her body aching for him, but she dared not move her hands. Somehow, she found herself beneath him, writhing from the searing heat of his mouth on her breast before she even realized what had happened. It took all of her will not to entangle her fingers in his hair and anchor him in place. The torment was quickly losing it's novelty.

"Lucius, please, please let me touch you."

"Finally," he whispered in triumph. Lifting his noble head, he locked her in a fiery gaze. "I only wanted to hear you beg." He furrowed his brow a moment before adding, " I am rarely sated with a single glass of wine, or one of any other delicacy. Stay with me, tonight, Alexandria."

She was barely able to gather enough thoughts into words to agree. "Yes, Lucius. Anything."

He kissed her again, more eagerly this time, tongue pushing past her lips as she moaned into his mouth, finally able to taste him fully. Still, he broke away after only a few seconds, nuzzling her neck. "Anything I ask, Alexandria?" He subtly pressed his arousal against her thigh. "Is that your promise to me?"

Alex froze, she could tell by the sudden energy in the air that he was attempting to bait her into a binding contract. Her thoughts raced for a moment before Lucius hissed in pain. She mentally checked her hands which occasionally acted on their own, but they were innocent. Sitting upright, he grabbed his forearm with a grimace.

"What is it?"

"I have to leave."

Alex's amber eyes widened in shock. "You what?!"

"I have to go now." Without another word, he rose from the sofa and grabbed his walking stick, already as cold as ice. "Go home, Alexandria. I will call for you soon. Have an answer ready when I do."

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Fleur K: "The story still holds my interest." My happiness hangs on words like those. Thank you.

Slate One: Good Lord, that review was a novel in and of itself. Wow! I suspect that the reason Alex offered her services was to buy herself a bit of time, but I could be wrong. And, you're right. He would probably find her if she ran. Severus? Just plain old act-on-impulse-when-you're-pissed, Severus, I guess. Hurt them before they hurt you. Everyone underestimates Dumbledore. It's part of his charm, I think. Will Alex ever meet the Dark Lord? I'm not gonna tell you that!!!! Concerning Annwn of Salem, as it has never been specified that Gringott's is the only wizarding bank, but it has been specified that wizards from different countries are extremely different, even competitive, I see no reason to believe that there is only one worldwide bank. A great deal of the way the wizarding world is run seems to mirror the muggle world, and in the muggle world there are many different banks, so I figured I'd take a little creative license. Hope it didn't upset you. I'll try to update as fast as I can to keep you reading.

Rycca: I was so excited to see your review. I understand that you hadn't much to say. That's ok. You're right about the confidence thing, though. I've just made a mental note to check out "Connected." You hate Lucius?! But he's---ok, he's mean, nasty, and unforgivably self-serving, but he's so pretty!!! Snape is a jealous "couillon"---love that word! I've even incorporated it into my daily vocab. It feels nice and spiteful rolling off the tongue.

Kytora Crysta: Oops! Again, sorry about the cliffhanger, it's not intentional. I personally think that she's wearing a dress to keep Lucius' mind on the carnal and off her real motives. I still suspect she's trying to buy some time, but who knows? Of course, she's also looking for the first opportunity to leap into bed with him, whether she admits it to herself or not. By the way, (sticks out bottom lip pitifully), where did you get a Sevvie plushie?! I want one!!!