A/N: You know the drill. And yes, Jason said so! (:

-

She looked at the sign thoughtfully for a brief moment, then pushed the door open, and entered into the shadowy depths.

Lost Souls...

It had gone deathly quiet when she entered, all eyes turning to look at her. Not one of them moved, nor did they utter a sound.

Lost Souls...

Eliah stared around her, taking in the tavern and it's occupants, noting how frightened they looked at her presence.

Why?

She grinned faintly.

Of course, they would have known her to be a Malfoy, but they did not look at her in the fear that the name held. No, they were looking at her in an entirely different way.

"M'lady?"

She turned to see a grizzled old man standing at her elbow.

"Yes?"

He bowed quickly.

"His Lordship is waiting for you." he motioned to a black door behind the low bar, "He has been waiting for some time."

Eliah nodded.

The old man led her to the door, and opening it, he smiled a toothless smile.

"His Lordship seems angry."

Eliah turned and looked at the man. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Never speak of him in such a manner, again! What his Lordship is, or is not, is none of your concern."

She turned away and stalked into the room, leaving the old man to mutter and hiss behind her.

Eliah stood in the doorway, taking in the room and it's contents. Nothing surprised her about it. It was, after all, a tavern and an inn...

He turned slowly and smiled at her, his eyes penetrating her very being.

She smiled coldly at him.

"You do realise, M'Lord, that if any of the Governors, or even a scribe from the Council of Witches, finds that we are here, together, there will need to be answers?"

He nodded.

"Of course, but..."

She held up a small, pale hand for silence.

"There is still, only a few hours, before the Vow is to be performed. Do you really wish to jeapordise that, for but one clandestine meeting?"

He grinned slowly, but remained silent.

"Your Lordship really should think of the repercutions of his actions." she stated.

His lips curled up into a cold, cruel sneer, as he looked at her.

"Ah yes, that is all very true, " his eyes roamed over her, "However, they will not find us here, nor will they find that anyone has been here. Not in a very, very long time."

Eliah smiled and nodded at him.

"And, if they do?"

He laughed.

"They will not, my dear. You worry too much, over so little."

She nodded again.

"Yes, M'Lord."

"Why so formal? I am your husband, there is no need for it."

She stared at him silently.

"And," he moved closer, "After what you have done recently, I do not think you have a right to claim such unflattering innocence."

Eliah said nothing, though she continued to stare at him, willing herself to remain aloof.

"Why did you not tell me, Eliah?"

"Tell you...?" she stumbled over her own words.

Lucius laughed harshly.

"And why, did Tobias keep it from me? My old friend has been keeping secrets from me again...still the same secretive old man he has always been."

She grinned.

"Perhaps, he had his reasons for doing so?"

Lucius smirked.

"Clearly, you both seem to think I would be better off not knowing, though I think, you might find me more accepting of you, if you spoke the truth"

Eliah's expression was stony and cold as she looked at him.

"And what, my dear husband, do you know about truth?"

Lucius' smirk froze upon his face. He glared cruelly at his wife.

"I know that it is best left unsaid at times. But, my dear, now is not one of them."

Eliah smiled slowly.

"What is it you wish to know?"

He moved a bit closer to her. In his left hand, the ever present walking stick...when he was close enough, he raised it to her cheek, and ran the snake's head along her skin.

She shivered.

It came to rest under her chin. He tilted her head up with it, and looked into her eyes.

"Start with what you are, my dear..."

Eliah tried to look away, but his gaze held her fast.

"And do not lie to me."

Her mouth suddenly went dry, and no words would come to her. Lucius obviously knew something. He wanted her to tell him, and he would play with her until she did.

"I..." she stammered, her mouth drier then ever.

"Cat got your tongue, my dear?"

Her mouth came open, and once again, she could not speak.

Lucius tilted her head up a bit more and studied her face.

"I told you once, I could kill you...and now, here we are..."

Eliah stared blankly at her husband.

"I..Lucius..."

He laughed coldly.

"Ah, not a good enough answer. Try again."

Again, she found herself at a loss for words...what was he doing to her? He couldn't have this much power over her? She was a...

She threw the veil over her thoughts quickly, concealing them from him...

But, he had seen them, and he knew...oh he knew...

"The first to ever hold this title...in what...?" he looked at her for a moment, "Oh yes, in about three hundred years..."

Eliah's face held no expression at this.

He continued quickly.

"In fact, you are the only female to ever hold it. Fascinating really, and yet, you thought to hide this from me...from your husband..."

Eliah glared at Lucius. How dare he act as if he were more important!

But, the little voice inside her countered, he is more important. You should have told him...before now.

She found her voice finally.

"You know?" she hissed.

He smiled slightly, and tilted his head towards her, so that the long, blonde hair fell forward.

"You, my beloved wife, are a Magus. A member of the Illuminati...darkiest of the Dark Witches...possibly the most vile and evil there is..."

Eliah smiled coldly.

"Yes, Lucius...I am more powerful then even, dare I say it? Voldemort..."

Lucius shuddered at the mention of the name.

"Never say you are more powerful then the Dark Lord!" he growled at her, "That could earn you a death sentence..."

Eliah laughed.

"Oh no, I highly doubt that, Lucius...I am a Magus, which puts me above, even the Dark Lord. Or, " she laughed again, "The much deceased Dark Lord."

Lucius glared at her.

"There is a new Dark Lord...I stand before him now..." she smiled.

He said nothing.

"And," Eliah sneered at him, "In a few short hours, he will take me to his bed...and the Vow will be complete."

The expression on his face changed from coldness, to a slight warmth. He seemed flustered by this, but did not allow himself to be had in this way. He was a Malfoy, and being flustered by anyone, was not part of the game.

He reached out a black, leather gloved hand, and catching her chin with it, he pulled her close to him. He allowed his lips to trail along her cheek, and to her ear, and whispered softly.

"Magus or not...wife or not...I can kill you easily...very easily..."

His voice died away.

She shuddered and cringed at this.

"Lucius..." she whimpered, as his hand snaked around to the back of her neck. He entwined his fingers in her long, black hair, and yanked head back.

He brushed his lips against her ear. She could feel his warm breathe as he spoke...her body pressed into his, his hand in her hair...his icy grey eyes penetrating her very soul...the delicious tingling thrill he sent through her...

Lost Souls...

"I could kill you, my love..."

Lost...

She whimpered as he tightened his grip in her hair.

"Lucius, please.."

He sneered at her, and then pulling her closer, crushing her body to his, he whispered coldly.

"Never...lie...to...me...again."

She cringed at the severity of his voice, and as his mouth sought and found hers, their lips bearly touching, he growled as he kissed her feverishly...

"Or, I will kill you."