Chapter 25
Once back at Malfoy Manor Lucius said he had some business to deal with and he would organise dinner, he suggested Nichol retire to her room to ensure her new clothes had arrived and been unpacked by the elves. Lucius vanished into his study and closed the door, Nichol stared at the closed door for a while – feeling somewhat rejected – before heading up to her rooms. Placing the cage containing her owl onto the dresser she sat and looked at her new friend. 'Hello…' the owl just blinked 'so, just what do I call you?
Nichol wandered around her rooms humming happily to herself as she prepared her clothes for that evening, carefully choosing her outfit. Once everything was laid out on her bed Nichol kicked off her boots and padded on stockinged feet to the bathroom to start a bath running.
Downstairs in his study Lucius watched her through his crystal ball. He wanted to just go upstairs and take her, part of him longed to walk up there, throw her down and fuck her until she screamed his name, but he had to wait or he would scare her and she would run back into the arms of Severus. Lucius did not wait for anything, he just took what he wanted and he was not a patient man.
Leafing through book after book he finally found what he was looking for. Taking the book with him down to his potions lab, he had to work quickly if this potion was to be ready for tonight.
Up in her rooms Nichol slipped into a hot scented bath and lay letting the grime of the day wash away with her aches into the warmth of the soothing water. The scented steam and heat was making her drowsy and she was soon drifting off to sleep … then Lucius was there with her, he slipped off his robes and stood naked at the side of the tub. Reaching out her hand Nichol ran her hand down his chest, leaving a damp oily line where her fingers had traced against his skin. Lucius leant down and kissed her deeply before … 'Nichol?' a voice from outside the door startled her and she woke with a splutter of water 'is everything alright in there?' Nichol blinked shocked at her dream and embarrassed at the same time, would Lucius know what she had dreamed? How could she face him now? Shaking herself and climbing out of the tub she replied 'I am fine, really, I just drifted off for a while.'
As she left the bathroom Nichol glanced cautiously out of the door, half expecting to see Lucius still in her bedroom, but to her relief he had gone. Sitting at the dresser still wearing her towel she set about working on her makeup. Applying just a tiny amount of metallic green eye shadow, it was barely even there, just enough to catch the light and make you look again wondering if you actually saw it in the first place. Smokey eyeliner and lots of mascara completed the look and she was happy with the effect.
It was then that she spotted the box on the dresser top; it had not been there earlier. The box was covered in dark green leather with sliver tooling and engraving. Opening the box Nichol gasped, inside nestled within the deepest green velvet was a collection of jewellery, everything matched, earrings, bracelet and the other item she had no idea what it even was, a necklace maybe? Running her fingers over the jewellery she heard a pop and a small voice behind her 'mistress, I was sent to assist you…' Glancing in the mirror she saw a small face behind her 'I have come to assist with your hair mistress.' Nichol smiled at the elf and nodded. The elf took Nichol's hand and walked her to the centre of the room. The elf looked up at Nichol and wandered around her squinting, she then clicked her bony little fingers and Nichol felt nothing, but when she glanced at the mirror she gasped. 'Mistress is not happy?' the little elf looked worried. 'No, I mean yes; it is amazing, thank you!' the little elf looked shocked at being thanked 'we should get you dressed now Mistress …' Nichol was still staring at the mirror 'what? Oh yes, sorry…' standing back up the elf clicked her fingers once more and Nichol was completely dressed and wearing the jewellery. The elf bowed before her and said she would tell her master that Nichol was almost ready and then she vanished with another pop.
Nichol stood staring into the mirror, her hair was a mass of long ringlets, many of which were piled up on her head and held in place by what looked like silver spiders clinging to the sides of her hair, as she turned she saw that the back was a waterfall of waves with a fine woven cobweb of silver and diamonds clinging to it 'so it was not a necklace then…' she smiled to herself. Glancing at the matching silver web with spider around her wrist and the diamond spiders nestled onto her ears. The dress she had chosen worked well, a simple sheath of satin that looked both green and black depending on how the light caught it. Beneath this she wore only hold-up stockings as the dress she now realised would show anything else she wore beneath it. Slipping her feet into a pair of black and silver shoes she added a final quick spray of perfume and applied a deep blood red lipstick before slipping on her long matching satin opera gloves and taking a deep breath she headed for the stairs to go down and meet Lucius.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs Lucius walked out from his study and took her hand 'you look splendid my dear, but there is something missing.' Standing before a huge mirror in the hallway Lucius stood behind Nichol, she had to stop herself from gasping as her eyes met his in the mirror before she quickly looked away, blushing, as she recalled her dream earlier. Lucius leant into her and held her back against his body 'you smell divine…' he whispered into her ear. Running his hand gently over her throat and then down lower until he almost touched her breasts. Nichol opened her eyes and this time she did gasp. Around her throat there was another fine web of silver and diamonds, which opened up as it caressed her skin and ended with a single strand of diamonds, at the bottom of which sat another diamond encrusted spider.
Lifting her gloved hand and running it gently over the silver web she whispered 'Lucius, it's beautiful.'
Still holding her close and before the mirror he ran a finger down her cheek 'it was my mother's.'
'I can't wear this, it must be very valuable and old…' she exclaimed.
'Please, I want you to wear it…'
He turned and took a long black cloak from an elf standing nearby, holding this out to her he wrapped it gently around her shoulders. Turning once more to the elf he put on the leather gloves the elf held out to him, then the cloak and finally his cane. It was only as he slid the cloak around his shoulders that Nichol realised that Lucius' suit matched her dress exactly, it was a strangely old fashioned – by muggle standards – three piece suit, with a waistcoat and long frockcoat rather than a jacket. It was also the same iridescent combination of dark green and black. At his throat he wore a diamond-encrusted spider. The thought crossed her mind quickly that no one could be in any doubt tonight as to who her companion was.
Outside the door to the Manor Lucius guided her to a carriage that appeared to have no horse. The carriage looked old and bore the Malfoy crest she had seen all over inside the house, but like an old Victorian funeral coach it was black with black plumes on the top corners. 'I thought we would take a transport you are more familiar with …' Lucius said in acknowledgement to her puzzled expression. 'Sorry' she smiled, 'it's just this carriage, well, it looks like something from an old fashioned funeral …' she saw as a shadow passed over Lucius' face and wondered if she had angered him. But he just sneered 'damn muggles never did have any taste.'
The journey was short and all throughout it Nichol was aware of Lucius sitting opposite her, his leg brushing against the side of hers making her shiver involuntarily. Soon they were drawing up outside an old but unassuming little building, Nichol had no idea where they were, but she could see that they were in a small village. The carriage pulled away as Lucius rapped on the door with his cane, the building inside echoed and sounded empty. A small flap in the door opened and a grotesque little man peered out, the flap closed again sharply and the door was opened, the little man who had peered out now stood in the doorway and he was as smarmy as he was ugly. 'Ahhh Mr Malfoy, Sir, so nice to see you…' Lucius ignored the simpering little wretch and even Nichol could not help but give him a glance of distain as she followed Lucius and walked past him. Lucius saw this look and smiled to himself. 'I take it my table is ready as I ordered?' Lucius demanded. 'Yes Sir, everything is how you like it …'
Once more ignoring the little man Lucius put his arm around her shoulders and they walked towards the back of the restaurant, the few diners that were in there tried to hide the fact that they were watching him. But who could ignore a man like Lucius Malfoy as he walked by? His aristocratic demeanour and icy handsome features along with his impeccable sense of dress, he was a sight not many could compare to. Nichol did notice though that quite a few of the diners nodded towards Lucius and then looked away quickly whilst touching their forearms.
Lucius guided Nichol to a smaller room at the back of the restaurant and stopped at the door 'what is your favourite kind of food Nichol?'
Nichol smiled 'it's a little late to ask that now we are already here isn't it?'
Lucius looked mildly annoyed 'you really must stop thinking like a damn muggle, you are a witch Nichol!'
Nichol blushed 'Chinese, my favourite food is Chinese.'
Lucius opened the door to the private room and showed Nichol in. The room was decorated like a classy Chinese restaurant. Lucius took her cloak and handed it to an oriental looking waitress who was now standing by the door. 'How?' Nichol whispered.
'Nichol, with magic we can do anything we want …' Lucius went on to explain 'the restaurant is of course enchanted. Some people like to sit out in the main area but most people with any kind of standards preferred a private room. These rooms will be whatever you require them to be, had you chosen Indian food, this would have looked like an Indian Restaurant. These rooms can also be for intimate meals for couples or for larger parties.'
Once settled at the table the waitress came back into the room and asked if they were ready for their meal, Lucius nodded and the waitress clapped her hands twice. Just like Nichol had seen at Hogwarts and in Lucius' house the table before her changed and was now filled with all manner of Chinese food. The best feature of all Nichol thought was the usual carousel on the table, but with this one you only had to think of what you wanted next and the carousel turned itself bringing the dish to you.
Over the course of dinner Nichol and Lucius chatted about various innocuous topics before the subject of magic came up. 'So, this potion I took' Nichol asked, trying to appear nonchalant 'was the potion no good or have my powers been gone too long?'
Lucius was affronted that anyone would doubt one of his potions 'the potion worked fine Nichol…'
'Oh' she sighed 'so my powers are lost then?' she fought back the tears that were threatening to flow.
'When Ollivander gave you your wand, the one you bought, what did you feel?'
'I felt nothing with the other wands, but with that one – it was amazing, it felt like electricity, it ran right through me.
Lucius smiled 'that was your powers, they are connected and channelled through your wand!'
Nichol smiled 'so I have them? I have my powers?'
'Get out your wand and I will show you a few basic spells, I think we should start with some protection spells.'
Nichol bit her lip and looked sheepish 'I don't have my wand with me, it is still in my room.'
'WHAT!' Lucius bellowed 'you must NEVER leave home without your wand!'
'I'm sorry, I am just not used to all of this yet, and it is all so new…'
Lucius saw that Nichol looked nervous, reached towards her and she flinched away from him. 'It's all right' he said softly taking her hand into his 'I just worry about your safety – without your wand you are defenceless. Please, Nichol, please promise me, you will never go anywhere ever again without your wand.'
As they had finished their meal Lucius rang a little silver bell that Nichol had not even noticed sitting on the table. The waitress reappeared and asked if they wanted coffee, Lucius nodded and the waitress once again clapped her hands and the remnants of the meal vanished and the table too. Lucius took Nichol's hand and led her to a loveseat in the corner of the room, as soon as they sat down the lights dimmed and soft music started playing. On the small table in front of them a tray with cups and a pot of steaming coffee appeared.
Lucius turned to Nichol 'I really did not mean to yell at you like that, forgive me?'
'It's alright, I guess you had my personal safety sat heart.'
'Nichol, I hate to say this, but there are some very bad people out there …'
'From what I heard you are one of the bad people Lucius.'
Lucius looked at Nichol, startled for a moment that she had said this, and then he laughed…
This shocked Nichol, she had never seen Lucius laugh like this before and she liked it - his laugh was deep, rich and strangely comforting.
'See my reputation precedes me' Lucius smirked.
Nichol laughed 'really Lucius to pull of evil you need to change your laugh to more of a Muhahahaha and stroke a white cat.' Lucius looked puzzled and this set Nichol off giggling again. 'I really have to educate you don't I?'
'You are a strange one, I don't always understand you, but I like you …' Lucius said with a grin 'how come if you have heard so many bad things about me, you are not afraid of me?'
'Oh you do not scare me Mr Malfoy' Nichol said trying to sound assertive.'
Lucius moved towards her on the seat and Nichol edged away. 'I thought I did not scare you Nichol?' he grinned, moving so that Nichol found herself laying back against the loveseat with Lucius holding himself above her 'I might not scare you, but I seem to do something to you …' he whispered directly into her ear. Nichol could feel her heart racing and her breath was coming in ragged gasps, with his breath against her ear Nichol closed her eyes and sighed. Lucius took his chance while she was not looking and kissed her, Nichol gasped and pulled away shocked. Her eyes now open she looked into the icy eyes of Lucius Malfoy and smiled 'I always did have a thing for the bad guy …' raising her hands and running her fingers through Lucius' hair and pulled him back down so that she could kiss him.
When they finally parted Lucius ran his thumb down Nichol's cheek 'will you do me the honour of this next dance?' waved his hand in a slight upward motion and the music got a little louder. Lucius drew away from Nichol slightly and held his hand to her. 'I would be honoured' she replied taking his hand with a smile.
Lucius held her close as they moved to the music, Nichol relishing the feel of his body against her own, the heat of his hands on her body through the thin fabric of her gown. Her body was drinking in his every touch and aching for more, but as much as she wanted him she felt she should not submit and she needed to be stronger to resist this man.
Whilst dancing Lucius was formulating a plan in his mind, once they left the restaurant he would invite Nichol for a nightcap and then he would slip his latest potion into her drink…
'Maybe we should head back to the Manor, it is getting late' Lucius whispered into her ear before tracing his lips across her cheek and then kissing her again. 'Mmmm' she moaned 'sounds good to me.'
After they retrieved their cloaks they left the restaurant arm in arm gaining them plenty stares from the patrons in the main part of the restaurant, outside the carriage was waiting for them. During the trip home Lucius sat next to Nichol and she leant against him. At one point Nichol shivered and Lucius wrapped his own cloak around the both of them, this causing her to be held tight against his body. With the motion of the carriage and the warmth from Lucius' arms around her Nichol started to doze off to sleep. When they arrived back at the Manor Lucius kissed the top of her head and whispered 'we are home Nichol.'
Back inside the hallway of Malfoy Manor, Lucius suggested a nightcap. Nichol was extremely tempted but she decided that she should not be with Lucius right now or she might say or do something she would later regret, she wanted to be with him, her body ached for his touch. So she replied 'Sorry Lucius, I am just really sleepy now, can I take a rain check on that?' Lucius was disappointed, but he soon recovered and quickly came up with a backup plan. 'You do look somewhat tired and it has been a long day for you. Go on up and I will bring you a hot drink.' Nichol was heading up the stairs wondering why Lucius would do this and not just send an elf. She was halfway up the stairs when Lucius stopped her 'Nichol, what do muggles drink at bedtime? I thought you would prefer a drink you would know rather than something new …' Nichol smiled to herself, amazed that he would even care 'chocolate…' she replied 'hot chocolate.'
Nichol walked into her room to be greeted by the little elf that had helped her earlier to get ready. 'Would you like me assist you getting ready for bed Mistress?' Nichol was about to say she was all right without help, but changed her mind, she was so sleepy 'thank you. That would be good.' The elf simply clicked her fingers and Nichol was ready for bed, her makeup gone, hair down and wearing her nightgown. She slipped into bed and was just settling back against the pillows as Lucius arrived carrying a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
'Here you go.' Said Lucius as he put the mug of chocolate down on the bedside cabinet. Lucius sat on the end of the bed chatting with Nichol while she drank her hot chocolate. Once she had finished her drink Lucius stood 'I should let you sleep now' he leant down and kissed her on the top of her head 'sweet dreams.'
Lucius left the room gently closing the door, as Nichol was just dozing off to sleep a thought struck her 'did Lucius really say we are home?'
In his own rooms Lucius was preparing for bed 'nothing to do now but wait for the potion - he had slipped into Nichol's hot chocolate – to take effect.'