Dearest Diary,
I'm afraid I've been a very bad boy. Remember how I told you that Lilith and Bella don't get along? Well, I think I might've just made things worse. Bella was bitching about "that little slag" to Lucius, and I overheard. I took her aside and gave her a little lecture. Of sorts.
Did you know that she sounds a bit like a howler monkey when she cries?
Of course, maybe I shouldn't have said all those nasty things to her. She is a lady, after all. But she's mine, and if I decide she's obsolete, then she'd bloody well bow down to the inevitable! So I've found a younger, prettier, saner woman to serve me! So what? I don't belong to Lestrange.
I'm sure you're dying to hear what I told her, aren't you darling diary. Not that you could die of curiosity, of course... (That would be an interesting way to die. A Gryffindor way to die, though. One of these days that stupid Potter brat will die of curiosity, and I'll laugh, because I'll have seen it coming.)
Well, the conversation went something like this:
"My Lord!" (That's Bella. She was on her knees, of course. She always seems to be on her knees before me. Hmm. I'll have to ponder this phenomena a bit more later.)
"What were you saying to Lucius, Lestrange." (That's me. It wasn't a question, of course. I knew what she'd been saying, and I was ordering her to repeat it to my face. And she knew it too. Of course, she was a bit distraught about the insult of calling her Lestrange - especially when she was complaining about my new girl. Ha. I love pushing her buttons.)
"I... I was just..." (Stuttering is almost as bad as groveling - another reason I despise Wormtail. It doesn't suit women of good breeding - even the insane ones.)
"..." (I just gave her A Look. I don't think she liked it very much.)
"Ma-Master, I..." (She finally gets some guts here and pulls herself together. Arrogant little chit.) "As I was telling Lucius, your new girl, she's not one of us. You see it, right my Lord? You see she's not one of us?" (I still can't believe she presumed to lie to me, on top of claiming equality. What was this "us" business?)
"I trust Lilith more than I trust you, Lestrange." (This is where she started crying. Silly bitch. I mean, I don't trust anyone! Especially not Death Eaters.)
"M-m-my looooooorrrd" (Crying woman! Agh! I hate crying women! So I fixed it by torturing her. That made her stop crying really fast.)
I told Shay that I was considering writing a thesis on pain. He expressed interest, of course. He told me that he would send some of his notes over, if I was interested. I said yes, of course. The man is a genius. He also offered to let me watch him in his official capacity. It comes dangerously close to an offer to instruct me, but I let it slide. The man is fantastic in his wording, and the offer is genuine. And I do so love watching him work.
I sent Bella out for some Muggles. I told her I wanted them whole and completely unharmed. Of course they were a little roughed up – it's Bella, what can you do - so I told Shay he could warm up on her. The bastard was thrilled. I think he's been wanting to get his hands on her for a long time.
With Bella, we did magical torture. It was subtle, but ingenious. Intoxicating, really. Shay suggested some ideas he'd had regarding manipulation of the Dark Mark, so I Crucioed him for impertinence. I don't think he minded. By that time he was as high off the pain as I was.
Have you ever been on a pain high, beloved? It's a wonderful feeling. The blood roaring through your veins, singing to you... Seductive, welcoming. Lovely. Really lovely.
Speaking of lovely, Shay brought an assistant with him. That gorgeous niece of his. Refuses to take my Mark, but I can see in her eyes that she'd follow me. Healer or no Healer, she's a right bloodthirsty little slag. She's more vicious than Shay! The things she could do with a dagger... Well, I doubt I could recreate them in a million years.
When it comes time to torture the boy-who-just-won't-bloody-die, I think I'll call on her. It's a pity she's married. She would've made a wonderful Dark Lady.
Back to the subject of my pain dissertation. I've started to write it. It's fascinating so far - the research, especially. I'll share it with you when I'm done, love. Pinky swear.
Now I really ought to go. I've gone and called a meeting. Target practice! I need to brush up on my non-Unforgiveables. And Nagini needs to be fed.
I love you, darling diary,
Tommy
