Title: Savages!
Characters: Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy
Forum/Challenge: The Golden Snitch 'Light It Up Like the Fourth' challenge (Mahoutokoro, House Mizu)
Prompt: (era) 1776-ish
World: Colonial!AU
Warnings: Mentions of torture, death
Word Count: 492

Buckingham Palace, Britain, January 1774

King Voldemort sat with his consort, Madame Bellatrix Black, and sipped tea. Running and empire was difficult, but with the right woman by his side he was sure to succeed. Bellatrix was the perfect companion: sychophantic, quite insane, and quick with a Crucio. Given her penchant for violence, he'd thought about making her the captain of his army, especially now that the American colonies were causing so much trouble. However, he couldn't bring himself to part with her special kind of crazy.

Instead, he'd sent Walden McNair, who was equally bloodthirsty but preferred beheading rebels to wand work. He said he liked to get his hands dirty, and Avada was too clean and quick.

King Voldemort understood that lust for blood and pain. And given how much the American colonists, particularly Reverend Dumbledore and the Sons and Daughters of the Phoenix, were causing, he felt no compunction about sending in his army to quash the unrest.

In fact, it was over afternoon tea that he and Bellatrix were reviewing McNair's reports on the army's movements.

"McNair captured my cousin!" Bellatrix squealed, elated. "He chopped off his head!"

"The sympathizer, or the one who stole from me?" drawled King Voldemort.

"The sympathizer, your Highness. He'd fled the island once his true leanings were revealed. I'm only sorry I couldn't capture him first and Crucio him for you until there was nothing left."

King Voldemort smiled. "Yes, my dear, you are quiet handy with that spell. Speaking of, how are the Longbottoms?"

She grinned. "Resting comfortably at their ancestral manor. My sources tell me they haven't spoken two coherent words since they responded to your summons, your Highness. Apparently, Madam Longbottom is most upset, especially as her only grandson has gone into hiding with the rebels."

King Voldemort smiled indulgently. "Have no fear, Bella. When we find him, I'll bring him to you and let you play. Perhaps we'll make Augusta watch before she takes him home to join his parents. After all, family should stick together."

This led to a brief theoretical discussion as to whether the Crucio was the best spell for inflecting long term mental damage, or if another might be more effective. This conversation was interrupted by a clearly-upset Lord Malfoy.

"Lucius? To what do I owe this… interruption?" King Voldemort glared at the man, indicating whatever his news was better be good.

"Your Highness," trembled Lucius, "the rebels have attacked!"

"What?" cried Bella. "How dare they!"

"Our losses?" Inquired Voldemort. He'd be most displeased to hear McNair died. Finding good minions was hard work.

Lucius, who had no problem torturing at his King's behest and who, over tea and crumpets, had no problem discussing Dark Arts and the most effective ways of killing a victim, was visibly shaken.

"They… they… they dumped all the East India tea in Boston Harbor!"

Bellatrix gasped, and King Voldemort crushed his teacup in his hand.

"The savages!"