Chapter Thirty-three: Penance

Rose shivered miserably, steadily losing both her patience and her nerve, as she listened to Lucius bathing languidly in the adjoining room. Her memory painted a vivid image of flawless skin glistening with sweat, pale hair clinging to his face and neck. He had been in there for what seemed like an eternity, teasing her with moans of pleasure and sighs of absolute contentment. With every passing minute, she found it more difficult to recall why this was so damned important.

Meanwhile, every muscle in her body ached. Each moment was the absolute last that she could hold this position without their seizing altogether. Between exposure to the cold and to his roving gaze, she had no doubt that this was the most wretched she'd ever felt, physically anyway- and she'd suffered the Cruciatus under Malfoy's wand. But, after he finished teasing her, finished testing her resolve, he would allow her to do what she came here to do and this would all be worth it.

Hopefully.

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The muscle in her thigh tightened again, then shivered beneath the skin and Lucius licked his lips hungrily. It must have seemed like an eternity for her, stretched on the cold stone, muscles burning from the strain, listening to him bathe languidly while she suffered. The dungeon chains and his whip were likely looking like paradise to her, and the temptation to take advantage of that was almost intolerable. Presently, though, it seemed more advantageous to just let her endure, and more enjoyable to watch her fight the urge to bolt every time he circled her prostrate form.

He smiled wickedly. This promised to be fun.

Ah, it was beautiful, this surrender, the submission he'd wanted so desperately from Alexandria. Why couldn't she have been more like this one? He pushed the often-reoccurring thought aside. No time to dwell on that now. Not with this delightful young woman kneeling so sweetly before him, finally giving him what he'd wanted from the moment he'd seen her struggling and helpless in the cruel clutches of his associates. Great Merlin, there was no aphrodisiac to match a display such as that, and he'd thought about it more often than he cared to admit... even to himself.

He stopped circling, crouched down, and slid his wand under her chin, lifting it carefully. Her eyes skimmed his body uncertainly, then rested on his face. A moment of feral panic flashed in their depths and his body responded. It was obvious from the uncertainty in her expression that she had no idea what she was doing to him. Good. The advantage was his, as it should be. Her eyes were misting over even as he stared at her. She honestly looked as though she might cry.

Oh, this wouldn't do at all. He didn't want her to be maudlin. He wanted her defiant and angry. He wanted to break her. He allowed his eyes to go ice cold and drew his wand from under her chin, pushing her head back down until it touched the stone again. She whimpered just a bit and he smirked.

Perhaps a drink might be in order.

Several minutes later he returned, having taken the long route to the sitting room and an even longer time selecting a drink from the bar. Once back, he moved his favorite chair beside his steadfast servant, sat down, and sipped his brandy carefully, eyes never leaving her lithe form.

After a few more minutes of silence she gave him what he'd been waiting for, a petulant sigh followed by a quickening of breath. Oh, yes. She was getting really angry now. Her joints ached and her muscles burned. She was beginning to wonder if this was worth it, if she shouldn't just try to escape instead of playing by his rules. But playing by his rules was the only option, and the faster she learned that, the better.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" he asked. She jumped at the sound of his voice, and he found it to be a most agreeable response. Still, she managed to give him an audible answer.

"I know exactly what I'm doing, my lord," she answered, her voice respectful, but heated.

Good. Much better. Much more satisfying.

He forced his voice to a hard edge, despite his good humor. "You have something you wish to ask of me?"

"Yes, my lord. I do."

"Speak, then," he ordered softly.

"I came to request... to beg you to punish me," she answered, fumbling for the right words.

"Punish you?" he repeated, unable to keep the eagerness from his voice. "For what transgression?"

"I offended you, my lord," she answered. "You've been so good to me. You protected me when I was in danger, you took care of me when I was hurt, and you pleased me more than any man I've ever known."

The corners of his mouth lifted just a bit. There was that glimpse of ulterior motive he'd been looking for. He knew the girl was here under false pretenses, feigning her submission, hoping to be whipped then taken to his bed and thereby regain his approval. What she didn't realize was that she wanted to submit. She wanted him to hurt her, to break her, so badly that she could hardly stand it. He'd seen it in her eyes every time she'd looked at him. And tonight, she would be granted her desire, much to his delight. He allowed himself a grin she'd never see as she continued.

"I repaid you with an insult, and that shouldn't be allowed to stand. Please, my lord, if you can possibly find me worthy, let me pay my penance to you and see favor in your eyes again. Please." She was begging in earnest now and that note of supplication in her voice was almost more than he could take.

"I suppose," he replied quietly, "that you imagine yourself suffering a few merciful lashes of the whip, then spending a blissful evening in my bed."

She lifted her head slightly and he saw that her face had gone red, though whether from anger or from the strain he couldn't tell. "Please tell me that you don't think I'm that stupid, my lord."

He allowed his voice to soften, to wrap around her like a serpent. "That's two requests you've made of me tonight, pet. You're becoming brazenly demanding, but I believe that I can accommodate you. Get up," he ordered callously.

She slid her hands across the floor, drawing herself up to her knees, adjusting to a change in position gradually, then finally she rose to her feet with a sharp hiss of pain.

"Not accustomed to being on your knees, are you, my pet? We'll soon remedy that," he sneered. "For now, I want you on the bed. Lie on your back and remain still," he ordered casually, knowing the cold tone would make her even more angry.

She followed his instructions immediately, and her breath hitched beautifully when he straddled her thighs and brought his wand to bear, leisurely tracing a menacingly suggestive line from her throat to her navel. He rested the black tip there, watching it rise and fall ever more rapidly with her accelerated breath, then smiled kindly. The servant's eyes widened, anticipating deception and Lucius felt a stirring within.

With a nonchalant gesture, he summoned a red silk scarf from his wardrobe and used it to damn her to complete darkness. Her fingers twitched. He chuckled lightly. She was deliciously frightened now, but it wasn't until he bound her hands and feet to the four corners that she truly began to panic. Tentatively, unable to help herself, she tugged at the rope binding her left wrist and was rewarded with a sharp rap of polished wood against her cheek.

"Have you no self restraint?" he snapped. "Need I remind you that you asked me to do this?" he continued softly. "You've needed a lesson for some time, but you specifically asked for punishment. I believe we can effectively combine the two, and since you felt the need to deprive me of a much-needed rest to fulfill your request, you will thank me for each step along the journey to understanding. That's reasonable, is it not?"

"Yes, my lord," she answered quietly, calming a bit at his level tone... until she felt the sharp sting of his wand against her face again, harder this time than the last.

"Don't force me to damage that lovely face, pet. I believe the word you're searching for is 'master.'"

She hesitated and he poised his wand for another strike, but her good sense overrode her pride. "Yes, master."

There was a moment of expectant silence, then another sharp crack of his wand against her cheek, one that would certainly leave a bruise if not tended to properly.

He saw her anger rise, then pass as her mind worked out the reason for the blow. "Thank you, master," she added through clenched teeth.

That was what he'd wanted, that proud ferocity. She'd fight her desire with all of her will now, and the struggle would bring him pleasure beyond description. It had been far too long since he had done this.

"You learn too slowly, Rose," he scolded coolly. "You're a stubborn girl. You'll never survive the night at this rate. Can you see at all?"

"No, master."

"Then you'll have to pay very close attention, I'm afraid, no mentally wandering off while I'm instructing you. You can do that, can't you?"

"Yes, master," she answered calmly, putting a brave front of composure. Lucius silently applauded her efforts, then whispered an incantation that caused the end of his wand to glow a wicked red. He placed the tip against tender flesh just under her right breast and began to move.

The burning tore a startled cry from her throat, one she quickly stifled, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. She couldn't help the whimper of pain, though, nor the shudder of relief when he lifted his wand. It burned still, he knew, having been subjected to just such a lesson himself... lifetimes ago.

"Well?" he asked lightly.

"Master?" was all she managed before he released an exasperated sigh, placed a hand on the burned skin and spoke a healing charm. The skin immediately paled, leaving no trace of the mark he'd left, and she sighed in relief.

"Better, pet?" he asked sweetly.

"Yes, master. Thank you, master," she replied, appreciative, but obviously suspicious.

"Each time you falter or fail me outright, we will begin again," he instructed lightly as if he were just a professor reciting a lesson to a bored class. "Now, do try and pay attention, for your own sake."

Her brow furrowed as she tried to discern what he wanted from her, then shot up as the pain returned in the same place. The delicate mouth opened in a silent cry, one she refused to release, and her body pulled instinctively away from the awful sting of his wand. He raised it once more and looked down expectantly as a single tear slid down her cheek and was lost.

"'M,' master. Th-Thank you, master," she managed to sputter.

Well, that was swift. She was more astute than he assumed. Most of his Death Eaters would still be too busy cursing him to have worked out what he expected of them.

He swallowed the compliment he had been tempted to give her, though, and brought his wand back to her flesh. This time, he was rewarded with a cry of pain as she writhed beneath him. So entranced was he with her suffering, that he had to force himself to stop after the letter was formed.

"'A,' master. Thank you, master," she gasped.

He smiled, brought his wand back down mercilessly, and closed his eyes in ecstasy when she screamed.

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It continued endlessly, Rose quickly reduced to howling the letters he burned into her skin, no longer bothering to hold back the nearly hysterical crying as she begged him to stop. But, soon, just as she feared it would, the pleading ceased. Her mind fell in upon itself, and her world disappeared in a haze of the same unwelcome pleasure she'd felt with him before. Finally his wand lifted for what she was fairly certain was the last time, and she squeezed her eyes tight against the knowledge that she was positively dripping with need.

She choked back her tears just long enough to speak the last letter and her thanks.

"Now, my pet," he began softly, a curious hitch in his voice, "Have you kept an account?"

"Yes, master," she sniffed, wincing as he ran a feather-light touch over the letters in her skin.

"Tell me what this reads, pet, and I'll release you... if you want me to."

Don't let me go.

"Master Lucius Malfoy," she recited, struggling to keep her voice steady, though to what end at this point, she couldn't fathom. "Thank you, master."

"You are quite welcome, my pet. I've wanted to impress that upon you for quite some time. You're forgiven your impudence, and I know you'll remember your place in the future," he said, stroking her face tenderly.

"Yes, master."

"Would you like for me to unbind you?" he asked kindly.

"Your pleasure is mine, master. I'm yours to keep or release as you see fit," she purred, knowing instinctively that it was what he wanted to hear and hating how much she wanted to please him.

"Oh, my little pet, you have learned." She felt his weight shift and the mattress sunk in on either side of her head. With a soft command, the blindfold fell away and she opened her eyes to see Lucius staring down at her hungrily. "Now, we will find a much more pleasing use for that wicked mouth of yours."

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Lady Jenilyn: I'm kind of relieved to know that Severus is now completely in Alex's camp, as well. It's nice to know that she's not alone in the world anymore. Lucius is being mean to Rose, that's true, but only because he's sure she wants him to be. Well, okay, that and the fact that he's a sadistic bastard who loves to find out just how far he can push someone. I agree with you about the writer's block. It's difficult to write those two characters when they're not at each other's throats, but having a sweet Sev was worth it.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens now that Miriel is at Hogwarts, but I'll miss having Lucius around all the time. Severus is there, though, so that's a pretty good trade. I understand the feeling like a pedophile when you look at Harry. He's definitely a pre-hottie, and his character was so much better in POA.

Rycca Wolfbane: Hey, hey, hey! Lucius is not a slimeball. He's just... difficult... and sadistic... and well, the bad guy, but something more than two-dimensional meanie. I often wondered whether Draco would take the bracelet off of her if he knew that his father was keeping her against her will, but the fact that she won't tell him what's happening makes the question moot. If I were to hazard a guess, though, I'd say that he wouldn't risk his father's wrath, particularly knowing that Rose is treated fairly well moat of the time. I hope that you have a fantastic time in LA and come back full of inspiration for Rougarre. Sorry I couldn't post this chapter in time for you to read it before you left.

Mary: I can't blame you for loving Lucius more. He is so almost perfect, and Alex will have to make a tough decision between love and lust at this point. I think she's beginning to enjoy being Lucius' little love-slave, much to her own discomfort.

Zariva: I know that I answered your e-mail privately, but I wanted to thank you here for the review as well. It was fascinating to see how much thought you'd put into the little indiosychrosies of the story, and I was flattered that you wanted to discuss them with me.