Bellatrix had been summoned. Again. Rodolphous knew why she went. Whether or not he cared mattered little to Bella. She went because he called, and she would answer. Bella threw a contemptuous look over her shoulder as she reached the door, looking back at Rodolphous. He stood, one arm resting against the mantle of the fire which roared in front of him, though whether its heat touched him she knew not. His face was cloaked in shadow as he turned to look at her, a mere silhouette in front of the roaring flames. She turned towards the door, opening it and stepping out into the hall beyond. As the door closed with the slightest creak behind her, she thought she heard, so softly it may have been her imagination, Rodolphous whisper her name.
She stood for a moment in the dark hall, her mind drifting. She supposed at one time she had thought she loved Rodolphous, been as susceptible to that flight of fancy as any foolish child might have been. But she had discovered so much more since then. Never would she go back to being that woman, she had tasted power and knew he would continue to teach, to guide, she was as he had told her many times his favorite and most devoted servant. She now knew love, a darker, deeper, more turbulent love than any she had ever known. She longed for it, for it was his to dole out at will, every taste merely slacking an ever present thirst. At his fountain she would drink forevermore, and would stand proudly at his right side for all time. He kept hinting at ways he knew, of extending life, becoming immortal even. Of course he knew, for who was more powerful than the Dark Lord. If anyone knew how it would be him. Rodolphous, well he was a fair wizard but no more. His time would come soon she knew, whether by the order of her master or being bested in a dual against one of the worthless rabble calling themselves the Order of The Phoenix. She laughed softly, contemptuously at the mere thought. Fools every one of them. Either way once Rodolphous was gone, then she would truly be able to rise up and assume her rightful place. Until then, and as slow smile teased at the corner of her lips her pale face flushed, this would be enough. This was everything.
She began making her way down the hallway. Malfoy manner was large but she knew it well. After all these years she had not forgotten the steps she had so often trod alongside Cissy, but those days were long past. Cissy, along with herself, had chosen weak ineffectual wizards for husbands. Though in their defense, who could compare to the Dark Lord. She made a left and there it stood at the end of the hall. A tall dark door, the master suite of Malfoy manor, once occupied by its owners though of course given up to the Dark Lord. She moved, slowly, restraining herself. She knew to appear too eager would displease him. Yet she ached, yearned, for the pleasure and pain that lay behind those doors. She knew what would be expected of her. No less than total and complete submission, and she would submit. Over and over again. She reached the door at last a slight ache settling in just below her abdomen, as the pangs of desire began to stir within her. She knocked and heard a cold, high, soft voice like velvet covering a steel chest in which an adder lay coiled. "Enter". She opened the door and stepped into the blazing gaze of Lord Voldermort.
