"My wand!" Isabel jumps up and takes the piece of wood from the Death Eater's hands. "Oh, thank you!"

"The Dark Lord sent me to tell you he had to leave abruptly this morning to deal with important matters. He said that this would entertain you until his return."

She smiles while doing a simple spell, making her wand tip glow. "How long will he be gone?" she asks, her eyes never leaving her wand.

"He doesn't know yet, but he will send you an owl when he finds out." She nods her head at the older man. "He also wanted me to inform you that your wand is a special gift that he was so kind to bestow upon you and stresses not to abuse the privilege."

She frowns at the warning laced in his words but smiles when she looks at him. "Thank you, Avery."

The Death Eater bows his head and retreats from the room. After a few more simple spells Isabel stands up and looks around the room. No Tom? What will she do with herself now without him here?

She leaves the room and starts walking down the twisted hallways of the castle, whistling an old song from her time. She notices an old man walking down the opposite side of the hallway, wearing a dark green cloak.

"Octavian." She greets him as he walks by her.

The man stops and bows his head. "My Lady." He says and then straightens up. "What brings you to this end of the castle?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "I was just walking." She looks him over. "What are you doing?"

"The same as you, I'm afraid." He says and smiles kindly at her. He was always nice to her. "I've been sitting for too long and needed to stretch my legs.

She smiles at him. "Do you care if I join you?"

"Not at all." He answers and they begin walking together.

Octavian Mulciber is one of the only Death Eater's that Isabel knows personally. He went to Hogwarts with her and Tom and was one of his first followers. He's very old but regal looking in his appearance. He has pure white hair that he wears in a short, clean cut. He always stands tall and his dark eyes are still as fierce as they were when he was younger. When she was with Tom in school he was the only one of his 'followers' that she could stand. He was never mean to her like the others and whenever he was ordered to follow her he actually talked to her, instead of scowling at her from the shadows. He was a sort of friend. Now he stays in the castle as Tom's strategist most of the time.

"Do you know where Tom had to go?" she asks him as they walk out side in the sun.

"You shouldn't call him that." He says nervously as he looks around, acting as though the Dark Lord will jump out and hex them for saying that. It's strange seeing him act this way since he is so old…

Isabel looks at her shoes. "I know. I just forget some times… but do you know where he went?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that. I'm sorry."

She nods and they walk in a comfortable silence for a while. They're making their way around the garden wall when she breaks the silence.

"Did you know?" she asks him, looking a head of her.

"Did I know what?" he asks with his hands behind his back.

"Did you know what he was going to do to me that night?" she says.

He cocks his head to the side. "What night?"

"That night at Hogwarts… the dance… "

"Oh," he says and he is quiet for a long time. "The Dark Lord never fully discusses his personal plans with anyone." He says as he picks a flower from the garden.

She frowns, knowing he's telling the truth. As she looks up to the sky she wonders why he took so long to get her in the first place. What was he doing all of those years with out her? She decides to voice her question out loud to one of the only people who can answer her.

"Octavian?" she says sweetly.

"Hmm?"

"I don't understand why he had to keep me away for so long." She says looking into his dark eyes earnestly. "Why didn't he want me with him earlier?"

He watches her for a few moments. "I don't know…" he says truthfully. He smiles warmly at her. "But I'm glad you're here now. I like you much better then his other women."

Her face drops immediately. "What other women?" she asks suspiciously, feeling angry and oddly betrayed.

"I need to be getting back." He says, looking back to the castle. "I have much more work to do." He hands her the flower and she narrows her eyes at him.

With that he leaves her, not waiting for her to speak. She watches him retreat, which is much faster then a man of eighty should be able to, with narrowed eyes. What other women was he talking about? Women, as in plural, as in more then one? She feels a scowl on her face as she stomps back to the castle.

X

"You're on time. I'm surprised." Smirks Tom from his chair.

Isabel sinks to the seat beside him. "I've only been late twice." She says tightly. She hasn't seen him in a week, so she has been left to fume about the "women" comment Octavian made. She can't figure out why she cares so much.

"What? No kiss?" he asks, amused. "Didn't you miss me?"

She chooses to not answer his questions. "Where did you go?" she asks instead.

He begins eating. "I was in France."

"Why were you in France?"

He smiles. "One nation at a time." Is all he says.

They eat in silence. When both are finished Tom stands up to leave. "Wait." She says and he looks down at her.

"Yes?"

She starts to chew on her bottom lip nervously and when Tom sees that he raises an eyebrow. She lowers her head to look at her empty plate, her courage now gone. "Never mind." She says quietly.

She feels his hand on her shoulder and she looks up to him. "Come with me."

She follows him to his study. She's confused by this, thinking he was going to take her to their bedroom… because usually that's all they do when he's around. He walks up to his desk where there's a map laid out showing most of Europe. He pulls her in front of him, with her back pressing into his chest so they can look down at his desk.

"This is were my armies are right now." He says as he brings his hand around her body and points to France and Germany. "I expect for them to surrender in the following months."

She looks down at the map curiously. "Do you still have much opposition?" she asks.

"Not really," he answers. He rests his chin on her shoulder and places an arm around her stomach. "Mostly I have to deal with small rebellions… Russia, Sweden, Poland, and all of these countries." He makes a movement with his hand that covers most of Europe. "Have already aligned themselves with me."

"Wow," she says generally impressed. He really does control a lot of people.

She can feel him smile against her neck. "I will own the world soon." He says seriously.

"And what will you do with it?"

He smirks. "Whatever I want."

"Are you only reaching for the wizarding world? When will you reveal yourself to the muggles?"

"When the time is right." He says as he tightens an arm around her waist, pulling her back closer to his chest.

"What will happen to them?" she asks concerned as she looks down at the map. All those countries hold so many people who will soon be at his mercy.

"My followers and I will put them where they belong." His voice is close to her ear and it makes her shiver. "Underneath wizards and witches."

She doesn't ask him about muggle-borns or others of a different blood status. She fears what his answer will be. He turns her around and lifts her so she's sitting on the desk.

"Aren't you going to thank me for allowing you to have your wand?" he asks with his hands on her thighs.

She smiles at him. "Yes, thank you. I almost forgot how good it felt to do magic."

He smiles back. "We can't have the Dark Lady acting like a squib, now can we?"

She screws her face up in disgust. "Dark Lady? That sounds a little pretentious."

"I will admit it doesn't suit you… but that's what people refer to you as." She frowns and he laughs. He brings his right hand up and threads it through her hair. The look on his face is almost affectionate as he smiles at her. "You can come with me on my next campaign if you would like."

She doesn't know if she'd like to do that, she doesn't want to see people get hurt or anything, but she hasn't left the stupid castle in such a long time…. So she smiles at him. "I'd like that."

He smiles at her and then kisses her lips. They're interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," he says irritated.

Bellatrix comes into the room and Isabel glares at her. The older woman bows her head and greets them respectably; Isabel notices her right hand is shaking uncontrollably with a tremor. It must have been from that curse they cast on her not too long ago… she's disgusted with herself when she realizes she doesn't care.

"Well, what did you want?" snaps Tom as he steps away from Isabel who is still propped up on the desk.

"Forgive me, My Lord, but I need to speak with you about the rebels in Spain." Her dark eyes flick to Isabel's and they narrow slightly in jealousy and bitterness.

"Start talking then." He says, obviously annoyed.

Bella glares at Isabel for a few more moments before turning back to Tom. She looks at him with undying devotion and… Love? Isabel watches closely as she addressed him again.

"It would be best if we talked alone, My Lord." She says stressing the alone part.

"Bellatrix, do you think I'm an idiot?"

Fear flickers in her eyes. "Of course not!"

"Then why are you dragging this out like I am a child?"

"Forgive me, Master. I didn't mean…"

"I think she wants me to leave." Says Isabel as she hops off the desk. "I believe that's what she's hinting to."

Tom looks to her. "I'm the one who has control over who leaves and who stays." He says dangerously and both woman shudder at his tone.

Not wanting to hear about the Spanish rebels, Isabel walks close to Tom. "It's okay… I'll be in your room." She says and kisses him for good measure. She can tell he's surprised by that, he doesn't show affection in front of his followers but she felt the need to do that in front of this other woman. "I'll be there when your finished." She says suggestively, loud enough for Bella to hear.

She can almost hear the other woman growl as she walks past her.

X

She's laying down on the bed, reading a book when he enters. He watches her as he stands at the foot of the bed and unbuttons his shirt. He sits down beside her on the bed and starts untying his shoes. Isabel snaps the book shut, unable to keep silent any longer.

"Is she one of your other women?"

He stops what he's doing to look at her. "What?"

"Is Bellatrix Lestrange one of your women?"

He furrows his brow at her. "What are you talking about?" he asks her, confusion clear in his voice.

"Have you slept with her?" she asks as she sits up straighter on the bed.

"Why do you ask me such a thing?"

"Have you had sex with her?"

"Yes." He says casually and raises an eyebrow to the frown on her face. She didn't expect that to hurt so much. "Why are you asking me these questions?"

"How many others are there?" she says trying to keep the tears from coming to her eyes.

"Why do you want to know this all of a sudden?"

"I think I have the right to know!" she yells as she stands from the bed.

"I've had many women in my lifetime, Isabel, but what I do with them is none of your business." He hisses at her as he stands up as well.

She turns away from him so he won't see her cry. This is a painful conversation. "Why did you give me that potion? Why did you keep me away if you were going to carry on with others?" she says quietly.

"I don't have to explain my motives to you." He says snidely.

She feels the tears coming down her face. How can he be so mean? "If you can be with other people, why can't I?" she knows he'd never agree to that. She's just mad at him and wants to test his patience.

"Because you belong to me." He states while staring at her back.

She turns around to face him and wipes some tears with the back of her hands. "And you don't belong to me?"

He studies her face. "I don't belong to anyone… I never have and I never will."

They stare at each other for a few moments, then she nods her head. "Okay…. I'm going for a walk." She says and is surprised when he doesn't stop her.

She shuts the door and storms down the hallway. Her sadness soon turns to anger and her footsteps become louder and more persistent. What a bastard! She's not allowed to do anything, she can't go anywhere, she can't see anyone, because of him. He ruins everything! Her blind rage takes her into the dark library were she sees a figure standing by the fire place.

"Who are you?" she demands heatedly. She too upset to be nice.

The figure jumps in surprise and turns towards her, bowing low. "I'm Rabastan Lestrange."

"Lestrange." She huffs, thinking of Bellatrix. Her eyes travel over the older man in front of her. He's tall and broad with wide shoulders and a trim waist. His shaggy brown hair falls around his face and green eyes. He has a beard and mustache, he's very rugged looking.

"Can I help you with something?" he asks in a deep manly voice.

"Are you related to Bellatrix Lestrange?" she asks.

He looks uncomfortable for a few moments. "She's my sister in law."

She studies him a few moments. If Tom can have other woman she should be allowed to have other men. She doesn't really want any one else but it's the principal of the matter. She takes slow step towards him and he watches her with unreadable eyes as she brings her hands up to his chest.

"What are you doing?" he asks nervously.

She smiles at him and stands on her tippy toes to kiss him. His body automatically tenses and he grabs her wrists. "What are you doing?" he says more fiercely. "The Dark Lord will kill me if he sees this."

Again she smiles and presses her smaller body into his. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Don't you think I'm pretty?" she asks against his skin as she kisses his neck. She's rebelling now, against everything that Tom had told her.

He gulps loudly. "Yes, yes you're very pretty." He says as his hands circle her waist.

She smirks against his neck then she pulls back to kiss his lips again. This time he doesn't pull back and responds with enthusiasm. He tastes like whiskey and he smells like a man who had been working hard all day. So unlike Tom, who always smells and tastes so nice and clean. She's only ever kissed two men in her life, Tom and Samual from Hogwarts. It's interesting kissing an older man like this. One of his callused hands comes up to her face as he groans in the back of his throat.

They both pull back to catch their breath for a moment. His green eyes stare down at her and she can see the lust pouring out of them. "You are going to get me in so much trouble." He says breathlessly. She smiles and falls back on one of the couches, pulling him on top of her. "We should stop." He says between kisses.

"Do you want me?" she asks as she arches her back into him. He closes his eyes to collect himself.

"You have no idea." He says as he grounds his hips into her making her gasp. "I've had my eye on you for a while now, you know."

They begin kissing again and he breaks away to trail kisses down her neck. His hands come up to the front of her blouse and begin to undo the buttons with a desperate kind of haste. Once her bra is reveled to him he sighs and brings his hand up to play with her breasts. She closes her eyes and pretends he's Tom. She's only doing this to get back at him. Suddenly Rabastan stops touching her and she opens her eyes.

He's clutching his left fore arm with a grimace on his face. "I have to go." He tells her. She watches him as he stands up and adjusts his pants to hide his arousal. "You can't tell any one about this." He says worriedly as he rights his clothes.

"I won't."

He looks down at her and smiles. "I'm glad I met you today, my lady." He says and kisses her lips before he bows and leaves the room.

She falls against the cushions and buttons her shirt. She begins chewing on her fingernails nervously. Luckily it didn't go any farther, she thinks to herself. Her anger has ebbed away and is slowly being replaced with guilt… but if Tom doesn't feel guilty then she shouldn't either.

X

She's woken up by a presence by her side. She slowly opens her eyes and finds Tom towering over her with his hands in his pockets. He's looking down at her intently.

"Since you've been here I've haven't been with any other woman and I will never be again." He says seriously. She sits up and looks down at her lap. "That's all I'm going to tell you."

She nods her head. "Alright." She says, unable to look him in the eyes.

He grabs her chin and forces her to looks at him. "You will no longer feel angry or hurt in any way." He says and she almost snorts at the demand… like that's something a person can control.

He smirks at her and brings his head down to kiss her. She scoots over to the side so he can sit down beside her. He deepens the kiss with his hands on her legs, then he pulls back sharply.

"What?" she questions at the glare he's sending her.

"You taste of another." Her face reddens and her heart beat quickens as he looks her over. "What have you been doing?" he hisses as he stands up.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He scowls. "Don't lie to me. Who have you let touch you?" she looks at his shoes. "Tell me!" he yells.

"I-I' don't know what your talking about." She repeats again, her body has started to shake.

Her head goes flying to the side when he smacks her and she whimpers. "Do not lie to me anymore. Now tell me, who have you been fooling around with."

She brings her hand up to her face to hold her hurt cheek. "It was only kissing." She says quietly.

"Kissing? You let another man kiss you!" she's not looking at him but she's sure his eyes are flaming scarlet. She's never heard him this angry before.

"I did it because of you!" she yells, finally getting enough courage to look at him. "because you treat me so badly and I was angry. I give you everything I have and you won't even pretend to be decent towards me."

He watches her cry for a few moments. "Have you forgotten who I am?" he asks in a calm voice.

She shakes her head. "No."

He yanks her hair back so she's forced to look him in his eyes. "Who am I?" he asks meanly.

She knows what she should answer. She knows she should say her master or her lord… but she can't bring herself to admit that so instead she says….

"Tom Riddle."

Fury shadows his face and she blacks out.