"What is... this?"
Elodie glanced back from her position in front of the stove and grinned, "It's soup... You said you wanted to eat healthier."
"Meat is still healthy!" Voldemort argued, pushing his spoon daintily around the bowl, "This is..."
"Mushroom soup," she snapped, planting her hands on her hips, "If you don't like it; starve."
If he was going to fuss about her cooking, he did not actually have to eat it. However, he had asked her to cook all of his meals, and in that case, he would eat what she made him.
Elodie quite liked their kitchen. It was small, a massive screen door near the rear of the room exiting out onto a set of wooden stairs, which led down to a small indent in the cliff. She had discovered it was great for swimming.

There were common Muggle items, much to her surprise, including a fridge and a stove, along with an island in the centre of the kitchen, instead of a table. A few bar stools were lined up along the outside, which she thought gave it a classic touch for a family without children.
"You know... I can cook," Voldemort grumbled, sipping the liquid off of his spoon, "And if you don't start making me a steak every once and a while, I may just have to start."
Elodie snorted and fixed herself a bowl of soup, then settled onto her own bar stool across from him, "So how is this Ministry heist going? Any progress?"

"I've gotten several men into the departments, looking for jobs," he sighed, rolling his eyes, "It would be foolish to do a full-on attack at this point... They seem to be their strongest."
"I told you," she chided, wagging her spoon in his direction, "Don't underestimate them."
"Oh? And since when have you been on their side?" he demanded sourly, his eyes narrowing. She rolled her eyes, still smiling, "I'm not siding with them... I'm thinking logically."
He grinned and a foot suddenly slid up her leg, causing her to gasp, "It's always sexy when you think."
Elodie felt her cheeks colour and she looked down at her soup, smiling to herself.
"My Lord?"

Elodie looked up quickly and spotted Julian and Adrian making their way towards the kitchen, somewhat more relaxed then they had been a day before, during the rally. They were always more tense when others were around, as was Voldemort.
"What?" Voldemort snapped gruffly, taking another sip of his soup, "I'm in the middle of a meal."
"Our pardons, Lord," Julian stated, nodding to Elodie, "My Lady, how are you this evening?"
"Fine, thank you," she replied as politely as she could. There had always been something slightly off about Julian Nott and Adrian Malfoy. Something told her she had seen them before... But where? They were about her age; school maybe?

"We wanted to give you an update," Adrian explained, turning his attention to Voldemort, "We've gotten several members into some low status jobs at the Ministry. We figured it would be best, since they won't get much attention that way."
"Excellent," Voldemort praised, stirring his soup absentmindedly as he looked at his servants, "I want them to send me weekly reports, understood?"
"Yes, my Lord," they replied in unison.
There was a sudden blast from the front door, and Elodie jumped, nearly tumbling off her seat. Adrian and Julian whipped around, and Voldemort was instantly off his seat, his wand drawn and eyes wide, alert.

Voldemort had taken away her wand, stating even though she was a witch, there was no need to use it, since she would always have someone to defend her. But what was the point in even being a witch when she wasn't allowed to hand her wand. He removed it from her after she tortured Nott. Had she frightened him into not trusting her with a wand?
She watched the three men hastily move into the main entrance of the house, leaving her alone in the kitchen. Well, she was not just going to sit there! She wanted to see who or what was attacking her home!

Swallowing thickly, she inched closer to the door, peeking around it. There was a man.
A man with black hair, slightly messy, and green eyes, from what she could see. He was tall, perhaps the same as Voldemort. He was lean, in shape...
And his name...
His name was Edward.
Elodie stumbled back, her mind suddenly exploding with images.

Tom Riddle.
Pain. Hurt.
Edward Potter.
Love. Comfort.
Marriage.
Paris.
James.
Son.
First steps. First word! Mum.
Voldemort.
Evil, cruel!

She placed a weak hand on her forehead, suddenly regaining a clear picture of what had happened...
He... He had erased her memories! He had taken her from her family!
That foul... heartless man had erased her from existence!
She'd kissed him! She'd said she was thankful that she had him!
What was happening with James?! If Edward was here, was he safe? With Gill or Hirman?
No! Gill was the one she saw the other night, making his way through the streets of Dover...
And he dragged her away!
That miserable...
And now she was wandless.
It didn't matter... There were more then one way to kill a man.

"Edward!" she shrieked, propelling herself out of the kitchen, hurrying toward the man she loved. Adrian reached out swiftly, however, and caught her around the waist, causing her to scream in frustration and beat him with her fists, "Let me go!"
"Ah, it seems dear Elodie has regained her memories," Voldemort chuckled, "Pity... We were getting along so nicely. Put her up in our room... I'll deal with her later."
"Release her, scum, or I swear-"
"What are you going to do?" Adrian sneered, "Stun a man when he isn't ready?"
Elodie's eyes found Julian on the floor, and she grinned; a small victory for her Edward.
"Let me go!" she repeated, this time a little more fiercely, kicking him in the shins, "Edward!"
Adrian caught a look from the Dark Lord and placed his wand under Elodie's chin, pressing it against her skin, "Take another step, Potter, and I'll do it again. Her memories and everything!"
Elodie elbowed him as hard as she could in the chest, and he winced, but only tightened his hold on her.

"Put her upstairs," the Dark Lord snarled, "And I'll finish him."
"I eagerly await the challenge," Edward spat, raising his wand at Voldemort's chest as Adrian dragged her toward the staircase, grunting at how much trouble she was causing him. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, demanding he release her, only silencing when he shoved his wand harshly against her throat.

"Come on..." Edward jeered, "First we bow, in a proper duel."
He dipped down dramatically, "Come, come, you piece of filth... I'm waiting!"
Voldemort raised his wand, a smile on his lips, "Avada Kedavra."
"NO!"