i apologize, my 'i' key is dead, so if you notice the fact that all of my 'i's are lowercase , it's because i paste them in, and don't have the patience to copy an uppercase 'i', use it once, then re-copy a small one again.

Part 3 Voices of Anger ~ Cloaks of Black

The Deatheaters turned.

Elizabeth's mouth was set, her eyes trained on Lucius' face. Her hands hung by her sides, and her softly shaking body was held proud and erect.

Bellatrix was the first to laugh. She was also the first to stop.

"You can't be serious." She stared down at Ellie, suddenly sober, her eyes wide with disbelief. "A mud-blooded wretch like you?!" Her voice rose to a shriek, and her hand flew towards the girl, wand extended.

How, or why Lucius stopped her from killing the child he did not know. Perhaps - and he had feared this for some time - his wife's pregnancy was weakening him, taking away his willingness to be strong. Were this the case he would have to take the child firmly in hand the moment it was born. Or, perhaps, his mounting dislike for Bellatrix' selfish, thoughtless actions had reached a climax. A million reasons came to mind, but whatever the actual reason, he found himself creating his excuse for his fellow death eaters before he had finished sorting through the possibilities.

"If the child wishes to speak to The Dark Lord..." he gave the offending creature an amused smirk, "then perhaps we should let it."

The Mask next to him let out a low hiss.

"What?!" Bellatrix was positively spitting. "Allow this little minx, this bitch, this mudblood," she let the foul phrase roll off her tongue like a curse, "this THiNG you would allow to view He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Through the lidless eyes of her mask, her glare pierced through him almost tangibly.

"Unless," Lucius answered, curtly, forcing his voice under strictest control, "you would like to keep the amusement you seem to crave so desperately, all to your self."

For a moment she looked struck, then her posture resumed composure. "Low, Malfoy. Quite low, even for one of your-"

"And now you resort to name-calling? Bellatrix?" He laughed incredulously, and a few soft chuckles joined his.
"You who are favored by The Dark Lord," he sounded doubtful, as though he had misunderstood, "for a small child..." He shook his head. "Would you deny him that?"
Towards the end his voice had grown dangerous, his eyes cold.

"I wasn't going to kill it," snapped Bellatrix, "...just take her dancing." Her Malicious eyes lit up behind the mask.

"Won't it escape... While we're talking?"

Malfoy looked at the rather thick-headed man to his left, in disgust. "Yes, thank you Goyle." He heard the man to his right, Severus, inhale with a sharp hiss.

Turning his attention back to the child, and seeing no opposition, he smiled, cruelly. "Well then, little one: it appears your wish has been granted. You will see His Dark Majesty."

The child turned her face up to him. His blood ran cold.
WHY?

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Ellie looked up at the man, her eyes wide, her mouth open, slightly. The masked man she had smiled at, the one to the blonde man's left, was standing so still that she could hardly believe he was alive. She gave him another, tiny smile, just for good measure.

The Blonde man looked back at her. "Well then, little one..." His blue eyes were deep, and pale. They had drowned things - sights, that Ellie could never have imagined. The eyes were evil. "It appears your wish has been granted."

Ellie looked up at him, fearfully, hopefully. She held her breath.

"You will see His Dark Majesty."

His tone sounded cruel and frozen, but it was wasted on Ellie. She had done it. She would meet He Who Must Not Be Loved. She could look at his face and see why he was so scary. Maybe...

Elizabeth tilted her face up to the ice eyed man... and smiled, truly happy for the first time that evening. Somehow, she thought the man looked surprised. Her smile merely grew bigger, her heart lighter. The masked people stared at her.

"Let's go now, okay?"

The Woman was the first to regain her composure. Her laugh was high, and cruel. The eyes behind the metal were vicious and wild.

Ellie smiled, coldly. The woman laughed all the louder, but the silver haired man's face quivered, and Ellie was sure he smiled for an instant.

"Very well," the man said, with a patronizing smile. "Would you follow us?" His voice was mocking, and sacharine. "Ladies first."

She had taken a step forward before she remembered. "Oh."

They turned to look at her again, incredulous, could she have known it, behind their masks.

"Is there a.." the greasy haired man to her left drawled, "problem... princess?" Some of the others growled - more laughed. Two drew their wands.

Ellie had known they were evil, and murderous... but these were very impractical people, and they weren't nice enough to make up for it.

"Igor, Mulciber..." It was the woman who spoke this time. "Be polite. Now, now, little angel..." Her voice sounded almost nice. Many grown ups would have thought it was... But only the really stupid ones. "What is it that's got you all upsetted? Hmm?" She stroked Ellie's cheek gently with her nails. "Don't you want to meet The Dark Lord?"

Ellie blinked. "I'm not upsetted at all," she explained, earnestly, turning to the tall man. She rather liked him. "I just want to die in my pink jumper."

The man blanched, and she gave him a radiant smile. "Will you fetch it for me?"

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i think Lucius was caught off gaurd...

Please comment. i have the next chapter ready, but i'm not properly satisfied with it, so i'll most likely post it then edit it later. thank you for reading, and God bless. ^_^