"You do know why we are all here, don't you dear cousin?" Bellatrix asked, flashing Regulus a mad sort of grin.
"I do," Regulus said shakily. He'd been expecting this of course, but nothing could have prepared him for the ruthless tactics that were saved only for teaching their own a lesson.
"Good..." said Bellatrix, in an almost bored sort of way. "That certainly does save me a lot of tedious explaining, doesn't it? I'd much rather get started... What say you, dear Regulus?"
Hollow laughs echoed from all around him. The Death Eaters had surrounded the pair and were watching with interest. Not all of them were there. The Dark Lord himself was absent; otherwise he'd have certainly been in the center, taunting Regulus himself. Nevertheless, many had come to witness such a fine occasion. It was always amusing to watch a traitor die at the hands of one of their own.
"Do what you will." Regulus stated. He flung his wand aside into the dirt. He wasn't going to fight back. They'd only have enjoyed watching that. He should know. He glanced sadly after the wand for a moment, remembering the day he'd received it, ever so long ago. Unicorn hair core, just like Sirius' wand, he thought bitterly.
Bellatrix laughed and brandished her own wand. "Tonight-" she paused, enjoying the melodramatics of the situation. "Tonight, you will die. But first..." She smiled cruelly and pointed the long, thin wand at his breast. The Death Eaters held their breaths in anticipation. Everyone knew what came next.
Only one Death Eater wasn't laughing as the young man shrieked and writhed in the dirt. Only one didn't take his turn in performing the curse. His lone cry of sympathy was lost amid the sick laughter, the screaming, and the pounding within his own head.
When Regulus had been stripped of all strength and dignity, Bellatrix herself finished the job. Perhaps the Dark Lord had wanted to test her loyalty by instructing her to do so, but Severus doubted it. Bellatrix didn't need to prove anything to anyone. She was ruthless, cold, and sadistic. A true Death Eater. She gave orders for everyone to leave and let the body be. She herself stayed to make sure that her orders were followed, until she was satisfied that no one would return. She left.
All stayed away, for none wished to anger Bellatrix. No one thought it worth it. No one-- except for one. Only one returned to the site of the murder that night, after he was sure that it was safe. Only one knelt beside the sprawled, desecrated corpse, staring into the lifeless dark eyes for what seemed like hours. And only one wept openly, feeling the true bitterness of the situation. He'd just lost the only true friend he'd ever had for the one who had assured that things had been that way.
Passing his hand over the young man's bruised face to close his eyes, only one stood, wiping tears from his sallow skinned face. Only one disapparated into the night, his heart completely broken, not only over the death of the young man, but over the sorrow of his own regret, twisting into him like a knife into its victim. Only one man made up his mind that lonely night.
He needed to speak to Dumbledore.
FIN