A/N:I am SO sorry for the delay :(( Gah I don't know what happened to keep me from updating! I am so sorry!

Twelve.

Pulling her daughter after her, Bellatrix entered the sitting room of Riddle Manor. She hoped silently that the girl was able to please her Lord's expectations, not willing to think about what she would do if he wouldn't approve of their daughter. What if he would make her chose? Chose between him and the daughter she always had wanted? Shaking her head, she cleared her mind of all doubtful thoughts. He would approve of their daughter, he would ask her to join his ranks. He would see her potential and he wouldn't waste it. – At least, so she kept telling herself.

"Bellatrix" his low voice cut though her thoughts. "I see you are in company today?" he asked, eyeing the girl curiously. She was the spitting of his most faithful, she looked just as curious and interested as his Bella had, all those years ago. "My Lord. This is Saiph, my daughter" Bellatrix finally managed to say. He remained silent, his eyes still resting upon the young witch. The only difference, between Saiph and Bella – all those years ago, was the thick cloud wrapped around the girls mind. Occlumency. She already had mastered it, preventing Voldemort from seeing her thoughts. "What do you wish to know?" Saiph asked, cutting through the silence. "First of all, I would like to know why you hide your thoughts from me?" he asked calmly. "You just pointed it out, those thoughts are my thoughts" she responded coolly. "I hated, how my mother was able to read me like an open book. After all, my thoughts, memories, hopes and wishes belong to me and shouldn't be anyone's concern." She explained further, not showing a hint of fear in her voice. "So, I am asking again. What do you wish to know?" she repeated her question. "How can I be sure to trust you, if I can't see your thoughts? Your secrets?" the Dark Lord asked. A hint of a smile moved across her features as she opened her mouth to respond "Who tells me, that I can trust you?" her voice was emotionless. "You know exactly who I am, where I come from and how I grew up. You don't need to see my thoughts, my secrets. You already decided if I am worth your trust or not" the Dark Lord remained silent for a moment, fighting the raising anger. No one ever had dared to address him in the disrespectful manner, the young witch in front of him just had claimed.

"Bellatrix?" he addressed his most faithful, his voice dangerously low "You are dismissed" his eyes resting again on Saiph's features, searching for any hint of emotion he continued "The girl, however, will stay", nothing. Her expression had stayed blank, it was Bellatrix' who lost her usually controlled features for a moment. He wanted her to stay? Would he punish her for her rudeness without her mother watching? Or worse? "LEAVE!" cruel words cut through her thoughts. "Yes, my Lord" Bellatrix managed to respond, bowing slightly. "I'll take care personally that the young Miss Black will find her way back home" he added, his voice as thick and sweet as honey. Bowing again, the older witch turned on her heals and left the sitting room, knowing only too well that the moment the door fell into it's lock behind her a silencing charm was upon it.

..::::..

Restless she paced along portraits ignoring their comments, it had been three hours since she had left Riddle Manor without her daughter, not knowing if she would see her ever again.

Of course Saiph wouldn't behave any different, not if challenged, but why would he want to be alone with her? Not to kill. No, if he would kill Saiph he'd make Bellatrix watch her daughters dead. Especially since Bellatrix was to blame for the lack of behavior, he would want to punish her too. So she wasn't dead, at least not yet. But, would he really go that far, to kill his own daughter? His respectful heir?

Narcissa had tried to calm her sister, till she found out what had caused the restlessness. Fear, anger, shock, disappointment, blame, one emotion after another moved across her sister's usually calm features. Bellatrix knew her sister loved Saiph and Saiph loved her in return. As much as she had wanted, the raven haired hadn't had another choice. To disobey her Lord's orders would have caused only more damage.

Hope, that her daughter would return home unharmed was all, she had left now. There was nothing she could do but to hope. Something, she hadn't done since the days she had carried a still growing Saiph under her heart.

The crack of an opening door cut through the silence, surrounding the Manor, followed by quick steps flying over the marble stare case. Curious she followed her sister who hadn't left her chambers since Bellatrix had told her about what had happened at Riddle Manor.

She found her sister starring at the wooden double doors. "Cissa?" she asked carefully "She is here" was all her sister responded. Puzzled the dark witch watched how the doors burst open and how her daughter stumbled over the threshold right into Narcissa's waiting arms. Stunned, unable to move or speak she watched how her daughter disappeared together with her sister behind the doors to her chambers, knowing Saiph hadn't spared a single glance at her.

Feeling her daughter slipping away further from her she slowly made her way downstairs towards the sitting room, knowing somewhere there was a bottle of fire whisky, something which would take her mind of the unknown feelings raising deep inside her.

"Why did you leave her?" icy words cut through the silence. "He told me to leave" was all she responded, knowing very well that her sister would not accept that answer. "She is your daughter Bella, and you…you left her, alone with this…monster" – "This monster, Cissa, is her father" Bellatrix responded "Further, he is the Dark Lord and nobody is to disobey his orders" Narcissa stayed quiet. "When he orders to leave, I leave. No matter if I leave him alone with my daughter or not" she continues. "But Bella…?" – "Nothing, but Bella! You would have done the same!" she bit back.

How dare she? Disobeying the Dark Lord? Her Lord?

And if it would cause her to lose her daughter for a second time, never would she disobey him.

Never.

Flying angrily around the corner, she felt the familiar sensation of burning in her left arm. He called for her.

Would he tell her what had happened with Saiph? Would he tell her anything? Would he be mad? Proud?

Questions upon questions shot through Bellatrix mind as she was approaching the front door. With her next step, she was gone.

Whatcha say? :]

A/N:Up next, Bellamort :]