Draco was pacing outside his father's den, wanting courage to ask him. He knew the answer he would most like get, but he had to try. Finally, his hand knocked on the door, "Father?"
"Yes, Draco?" Lucius was actually in a calm mood tonight, most likely because Azadeh's meditations.
"I need to talk with you about something important...I'd like to take someone to the wizard's ball."
Lucius was confused, "why do you need my permission?"
"Because I'd like to take Azadeh." Silence. Lucius looked at him as if he'd gone insane, but then looked amused.
"Draco, does it occur to you who bought her?"
"Yes, but I thought you were going to take the pure-blood, 'Andrea' or something, I overheard it, so I thought that I'd like to take Azadeh."
"I'm not taking Andrea, I'm taking Azadeh."
"Do you love Azadeh?" Draco asked him honestly.
"Love?"
"Yes, do you love her...because if not, I would like to marry her," Draco stood still when his father broke his quill in half, Draco couldn't believe he just blurted it out like that.
"WHAT did you say?"
"I asked if...I WANT to marry Azadeh," Draco stood his ground, though he wasn't exactly sure if he should run for his life or not.
"Get out of my den," Lucius hissed.
"Father...do you love her? If not, I want to marry her."
"GET. OUT. OF. MY. DEN!"
Draco left, saddened...but he wondered if he should go to 'the chosen' now? No, his father was calm now, Azadeh didn't seem to be in any danger.
...
Lucius took shot after shot of fire whiskey, thinking about his son's request, his question of whether or not he loved Azadeh. She was stubborn, hard to train, unrefined, undsicaplined, but some would inturpret that as being kind, considerate, loving, willing to stand up for others...even at the cost of herself, talented, spiritually powerful, and above all...beautiful. One time he had asked her as to why she never bought anything for herself when she went out to do errands for him, she simply said, "I'm already provided for, I don't need all these material possessions to make me happy, but thank you for the consideration." Dammit! Who talks like that...who acts like that! A centered person...a person who has helped him sleep for the past few weeks to where everyone is telling him how much better he looks, a woman he has not even bothered to take for some reason, why would he care if she is used to him or not? It could be the meditation, but he could take her any time before that. Lucius turned off the light in his den and sat there in the dark, thinking to himself.
...
Azadeh was glad to be in her own bed, but it was too early for her again, she had gotten used to Lucius's sleeping patters of going to bed fairly late, but tonight before the ball, he wanted her to get some rest and he hadn't told her to stay in his bedroom. She figured he was asleep and so she snuck downstairs, there was no light on in his den. It was safe, she could play the piano and she did...Chopin this time.
...
There was the music again, he told her to stay in her room and get some rest...he wanted her fresh and have her hair and other beauty treatments done, not that she needed them. The music she played haunted him, the fire whisky completely kicking in now...he was drunk...very drunk.
Azadeh played on with no knowledge that she was being watched until he slammed his hand down on the piano keys, which made her jump about five feet in the air. She looked at him and immediately knew he was drunk, the glassy eyes and breath. Putting her hand to her nose, "you're drunk!"
"Very good, and may I ask WHY you're up?"
"Couldn't sleep, but I will go now," she tried to get up, only he pushed her back down.
"Oh, no, no...no, we're having a little talk." She sat still, not wanting to provoke him. "Did you know my SON asked for your hand in marriage?" Azadeh shook her head. "No? Tonight he asked me...ME! Then he asked me if I loved you, personally, love makes you weak! Don't you think so?" She shook her head. "NO? Then you are a FOOL! But aren't you always? You stand up for those who are weak, you are just SO considerate of everyone else...and what has it gotten you? NOTHING!" She jumped. "Do they come to your aid when you're in trouble, when you stand up for them? I believe NOT! So why do you do it then?"
"Because it's the right thing to do," Azadeh said softly. "You shouldn't do the right thing just because you think you'll be rewarded for it, whether it be spiritually or material gain, you should do it because it is what you believe in."
"Well isn't that sweet," Lucius hissed. "Always sweet, always considerate...someone like me will crush you! Is that what you want?" She didn't answer. He put his hands through her hair, "I could break you in half, you're pretty delicate frame!" Lucius took the sides of her robe and the straps of her nightgown and pulled them down, nearly exposing her chest. Tears started for in Azadeh's eyes, 'not again...please, not again!' She put her face in her hands, this wasn't fair, she couldn't fight back because of the damned bracelet! Lucius started feel remorse for what he was doing and the shook himself out of it, "YOU make me weak! Everything about you...and do you know what I do with my weaknesses, I conquer them." He practically picked her up by her shoulders, twirling her around...
"Please Lucius, not like this...not while you're drunk," she sobbed.
"Yes...did you actually think I'd be gentle? Even if I were sober, you would be yielding to me."
"Please stop," Azadeh looked at him with her big brown eyes, he started to let go and placing her head on his chest, she could hear his heartbeat rapidly going. Lucius petted her hair, then tilted her head, forcing his mouth on her's, she could taste the liquor and it was disgusting...she tried to pull away but couldn't. So this was how it was going to happen? Losing her virginity to a drunken man, a good looking drunken man who had a body like a God, and who was appearently endowed like a horse from what she could tell...but the situation was wrong, it was horrifying.
Finally, she started fighting him, "I'm not ready!" Azadeh started sobbing.
"STUPIFY!" Lucius fell to the ground, it was Draco who ran to her side. "Are you alright?" She nodded, then shook her head, then shrugged her shoulders. "I couldn't let him do that to you...practically rape you while was...DRUNK," he spat.
"Draco...you'll be in trouble," she whispered.
"No. He won't remember, let's get you to bed..," he took her hand and put her in her room.
Before Draco shut the door, Azadeh asked him, "did you really ask to marry me, Draco?"
He paused, "yes." She came up to him and touched his face, then kissed him gently on the lips, it suprised him, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her, putting one large hand through her hair and lifted her off her feet. He was kissing her deeply and then set her down, "is it alright if I sleep next to you tonight?" Azadeh nodded, she knew Draco wouldn't take advantage of her,then he went back and levitated his father's body to the den and placed in on the couch. "Sleep tight, FATHER."
Draco came into Azadeh's room and laid down next to her, holding her tightly...but he was gone early the next morning, knowing his father would kill them both if they were found like that.
...
When Lucius woke up, his head was pounding...he remembered something about Azadeh and being forceful with her, but she wasn't there. Panic set in, had he hurt her...or worse? He got up and headed up the stair, opened her door to find her soundly sleeping. "Azadeh?" She roused from her sleep, but when she saw, her response was to back up against the headboard. He noticed bruises on her arms... "What happened last night?"
Azadeh was scared to answer him, but she knew she had to, "you got drunk and I came downstairs because I couldn't sleep...you lost your temper and.." She caressed her arms, Lucius eyed them. "well, you started shaking me...but I talked to you, you seemed to calm down...then passed out on the couch." Azadeh left Draco competely out of the picture, who was incidentally standing by the door listening, he grinned, she was protecting him.
"Let me see your arm please," Lucius took her arm and squeezed, then tutted when she winced. He grabbed some of the ointment that was left and rubbed it on her arms. "Today you get your dress for the ball, it's ready for you along with your shoes. Then, you will go get your hair done along with facial treatments, I've arranged it, they'll be waiting for you when you're ready." She nodded.
He left for work and she went to the dress shop. Again, the dress maker scrambled to get her dress and she saw it...it was so beautiful, Lucius picked it out for her. A wonderful cream colored dress with an empire waist, billowing sleeves with bands on them, looking like something from the 15th century. "It's very beautiful, thank you." The clerk beamed, if the the Death Eater's women were happy, they were happy...plain and simple. Then, she got her hair done and makeup; the shopkeepers had grown to like Azadeh, unlike some of the women, she was kind and didn't boss them around or threaten to 'tell their husbands if they didn't do what they said'. She told the hairdresser to do what she thought looked best, and showed the makeup artist what her dress looked like.
She was in there most of the day, mainly talking inbetween and laughing with them. Azadeh loved how she looked and gave them a big fat tip out of her own pocket money, Lucius was issuing her an allowance since she wasn't buying anything from his accounts, figuring she would feel better about it, but she still didn't spend anything and saved it instead. Walking out, Azadeh smiled, it always made her feel good to do something for someone else.
In the shadows, HE was watching her, finding it amusing that other men practically ran into each other looking at her, but dared not speak to her because of the cloak. Some women scowled because their boyfriends were turning thier heads a little too far. He, himself had taken to stalking her, partly for her safety and partly because he wanted to see her. He would kidnap Azadeh if he knew he could get away with it, he probably could...but no, he wanted to humiliate the Malfoys...still not being able to stand them. He wanted to be there and see the looks on their faces when he took her and that would be very soon.
...
Lucius was ready and waiting for her. Finally, she came down..Lucius let out a husky sigh as he saw her decsend the stairs, the dress flattered her greatly. Azadeh's hair was up in curly tendrils, which she thought to be impossible considering her hair never wanted to hold a curl her entire life. The makeup only enhanced her exotic features and she had a choker, It consisted of a large cut ribbon with a thin piece of lace at the bottom and a tear drop shaped pearl in the middle. Her slippers were slightly high heeled but she walked fine in them. Azadeh walked towards him and looked up, "do I look alright?" She squeaked when Lucius immediately thrusted her into his arms and began kissing her fiercely, he didn't worry about the makeup, it was magic and would stay on perfectly until she wiped it off. Then he pulled away..
"Does that answer your question?" he purred. It was then he decided, tonight, after the ball, he would take Azadeh. Draco led his date to the front of the stairs, but he stopped and couldn't help but admire Azadeh, then looked at his father with annoyance, Lucius only grinned. In the carriage, he held Azadeh close, intertwining her fingers in his and placing it on his crossed knee, while the other hand was wrapped around her waist.
Draco knew what his father was doing, ironically the bastard believed in romancing a woman the whole night before getting her into the bed, some of them, the rest threw themselves at him. That's what he was doing, seducing her, never break contact and then, she was open to you, to take you as a lover. Azadeh was trying to be nice to Draco's date...he ended up taking the pure-blood, Andrea, who did nothing but scowl at Azadeh. Andrea wanted to go with Lucius, but he flat out refused her and told her to go with his son instead if she wanted a Malfoy so badly. She had a thing for Lucius and wanted to get him in the sack so badly she could taste it, but settled for his son, hoping to get him jealous...which was not working since the little TART sitting in front of her was getting all of Lucius's attention...as WELL as his son's.
"That's a very nice dress," Azadeh said smiling. "Don't you think so, Draco?"
Draco snapped out of it, the truth was, Andrea was extremely boring...spoiled, selfish, and even though she wasn't bad looking, her temper tantrums were enough to send any man running. Azadeh never wanted anything, and in fact, bought things for other people..she did it before. One time, she bought food for a homeless man and he thanked her, another time she bought a little girl some candy because she didn't have enough pocket change and her parents were poor. People spoke of her as though she was the best thing that ever happened to his family and perhaps, they were right.
"Oh...uh, yes, very nice," Draco said flatly.
"Not as nice as yours, dear," Andrea said with slight distain. At first, Azadeh smiled but that immediately went away when she said. "So it does pay to be one of Lucius's whores."
Lucius's eyes widened in rage, "ANDREA! HOLD YOUR TONGUE!" Azadeh looked away hurt.
Draco couldn't take the comment, "REALLY, ANDREA? Is THAT why you're so KEEN on becoming one?" Andrea's jaw dropped and she turned bright red. Azadeh's face showed a bit of suprise, followed by a need to laugh but supressed it, Lucius grinned and refrained from agreeing..his son had already done him justice by insulting her enough for both of them. It was at this point, Lucius was grateful that Azadeh was quiet and only spoke when she thought about what she was saying, never wanted anything for herself...she was what his son called 'low-maintainance'. ...
Every Death Eater couple was announced, soon Lucius and Azadeh were too, everyone turned, Lucius heard some of them.."oh..she's so beautiful," and "I WONDER how much he payed for HER!" He puffed up his chest. Azadeh looked around the ball room, she had never been to ball and was like a child looking at all the pretty people and decorations. Then Azadeh felt someone staring at her and looked up to find the masked man, almost glaring in her direction. He was standing in dress robes on top of some stairs where there was a chair, with a dark cloaked figure sitting in it...she knew who the man was..Voldemort, his aura reaked of death and dismay, greed and hate. They leaned in to talk to one another...in a language no one else seemed to understand but them...she recognized it, her people called it 'snake-speak', but they called it 'parcel mouth.
Voldemort turned to his right hand and spoke in parcel tongue, "Is that the girl you are so interested in, my dear boy?"
"More than just interested...I want her. I asked Lucius not to bid against me, but he did anyway."
He chuckled, "you and Lucius have always been very competitive against each other, ever since you took his position. But in all fairness...he did capture the girl...and, she will be useful." The masked one frowned. "However, she does reak of power, untapped...as you did, she will have powerful offspring, useful additions to my Death Eaters. Coupled with Lucius, they will be powerful enough, but coupled with YOU...well, no one could challenge them and they would be in my good graces. So, what is it do you exactly want...?"
"I want your official permission to take her"
Lucius danced away with Azadeh, he was content...meanwhile, the man in the masked scowled, he was left alone since Voldemort had left early for some reason. Finally, the music stopped and Lucius took her over to where the other women were to rest while he talked with friends of his. There were some girls that were there from Lucius's party and they greeted her with enthusiasm, they talked and giggled. Then someone noticed that 'the chosen' was headed their way to pick a dance partner...