Chapter Twenty- Merry Christmas? Part II

Lucius swallowed heavily as he stopped feet away from an ominous looking office door. He could honestly say that it was the only door that scared him in the whole Ministry. It was made of a heavy wood that was pure black. No color, just a deep raven black with small gold lettering typed boldly across the top of the door. Abraxas Malfoy. It just screamed his father's name at him . . . cold and lifeless.

Lucius sank his perfect white teeth in the smooth inside of his cheek as he took a fateful step towards the door. With each echo of his thudding footsteps Lucius crept his way towards the menacing door.

It was odd to be so terrified of a man whom you dispelled from your life a year ago. If anything you believed that would've grown some courage, but Abraxas could still drive fear into his heart. Maybe his father would always lead Lucius into a small, hyperventilating panic attack; only time could tell.

With a shaky breath he led his stone, cold fist towards the dreary door. It landed limply on the hard wood before stammering louder due to his nervousness. Lucius cursed himself for making such a stupid noise, but his thoughts still rang in fear.

"Come in, Lucius," Abraxas called in his deep, threatening voice.

Lucius swallowed once again as he turned the cold handle. He peered cautiously inside the room before walking in at a firm and painful pace. With a deep breath he stared at the man he once called father. He looked cold and menacing as always. Abraxas eyes were formed in a low glare and occasionally turned to his left. It was then that Lucius realize that they were not alone.

He took in the figures shape and swore that he had never seen anything like him—if you could in fact call it a Him. He was talk and almost snake-like in appearance. His skin was a blotchy green and it stank like the reptile cages at most muggle zoos. The man's hair was all gone; not a single strand of any hair remained on his body. And his eyes were the most awful red color he had ever seen; it was a color he had never seen.

"Good afternoon, Lucius," the snake-like creature spoke smoothly as he moved towards Lucius's petrified position, "I am so glad that you could join us."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"It's really stupid, Cissy," Darlene stated simply as she twirled the small golden ball in her right hand. "You said that this present was incredible. That it put all other Christmas presents to shame. Well I'm sorry, I just don't see it."

"You can be so dense," Narcissa frowned as she snatched the golden Snitch away for her best friend.

"It's a Quidditch ball, Cissy!" Darlene shouted, "For crying out loud I thought you wanted a romantic gift. This is the kind of thing you give your brother or someone you hardly know!"

"Please," Narcissa snorted as she placed the ball into a small green box, "You are totally missing the importance of this tiny ball."

Darlene slouched in her cushioned chair and continued to watch Narcissa wrap the small Quidditch ball.

"Care to explain?"

"We are really getting to old for this," Narcissa frowned as she tied on a smooth red ribbon around the freshly wrapped box.

"I just don't know why you have it," Darlene complained, "I know Lucius likes Quidditch, but come on!"

"Honestly," Narcissa complained as she shook the box in front of Darlene's face, "This is the Snitch I caught the day Lucius risked his life to save mine. And the very day that he denied his birth right by leaving his father!"

"That is good."

"Of course it is, Darlene," Narcissa huffed as she wrote Lucius's name on the small box, "I did put some thought in it."

"That is romantic," Darlene pondered as she leaned back in her chair, "I feel stupid for even trying to find Jack something."

"I thought the two of you were going to dinner," Narcissa asked slowly.

"Well now I have to find something romantic now," Darlene frowned, "We are the ones getting married."

Narcissa froze, her blue eyes widening at the sound of Darlene's statement. Of course she knew it was all in jest, but it still cut her deeply. Especially because Narcissa was irrevocably in love with Lucius and it seemed that she'll never be able to justify that love into the ultimate commitment.

"Merlin, Cissy, it was only a joke," Darlene replied franticly as she clutched onto Narcissa hand.

"I know," Narcissa said in a dead voice.

"Geez, I'm sorry," Darlene replied in a hurried voice, "We all know one day he'll grow a brain and realize he wants to marry you."

"Thanks," Narcissa replied sarcastically, "You make it sound like a burden."

"No," Darlene rushed out, "Not at all!"

"He's not going to."

"Narcissa, Lucius absolutely adores you, and believe me when I say, that he'd do anything for you."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I'm sorry, I should introduce myself," the snake-like man chuckled before turning to Abraxas. As the man turned to Abraxas, Lucius's father finally opened his mother.

"Lucius, this is the Dark Lord."

Lucius opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly it was very dry and there was no sound coming up his throat. After a long minute or two he finally found his voice.

"What?"

"He wanted to meet you," Abraxas clarified as if it was some big honor.

"Yes," the Dark Lord whispered serenely, "I have heard much about you, Lucius."

The Dark Lord extended his pale green hand for a greeting, but Lucius took a step back from the gesture. His hand snapped towards his father.

"I thought we were meeting about mother's situation?!"

"Oh, yes, very unfortunate," the Dark Lord cooed as his sickly green hand fell to his side, "I heard she was getting worse?"

Lucius cleared his throat before speaking, "She was getting better."

"Very unfortunate," the Dark Lord sighed before slinking over to his father's chair and sitting in it.

"Yes, unfortunate," Abraxas agreed in a bored tone as his eyes fell on Lucius. "I don't suppose you know why?"

Lucius blinked slightly in his confusion before shifting his weight uncomfortably. He didn't know what his father was getting at, or even how to answer.

"I heard it was someone close to her," Abraxas replied smoothly as his hand reached slowly into his cloak pocket.

Lucius narrowed his gray eyes and watched as his father pulled something from deep within his cloak pocket. What soon appeared was a small clear vile that was thrown upon the desk. With a careful look Lucius noticed the clear liquid that moved as the vile rolled on top of the wooden surface.

Lucius snarled before snatching up the vile, "What is this?!"

"What does it look like, Lucius?" Abraxas replied in a slow dead tone.

"She's your wife," Lucius spat as his took a threatening step towards his father.

"And when have I ever treated her as such?" Abraxas laughed before moving closer to his son, "Besides I never said I poisoned her."

Lucius growled, "What is this then . . . a joke?"

"No joke, Lucius," Abraxas replied, "But I'm not the one poisoning her."

"Then who is?!" Lucius shouted as the vile smashed into his closed fist. He felt the glass embed itself into his open flesh and the warm, boiling liquid burn into his blood.

"Now that was stupid," Abraxas groaned, "You should know better than that."

"You know who, so let me know?" Lucius replied in a tone similar to his father's.

"Isn't it obvious?" Abraxas replied as he watched his son wipe his wounded hand on the back of his slacks.

"No," Lucius hissed.

Abraxas glared at his son before taking a menacing step forward, "With ever minute of your defiance you are killing her! The longer you refuse to obey me the closer she comes to death!"

Lucius took a stumbling step backwards before finding his footing once again. His gray eyes traveled from his father to the Dark Lord then back.

"What are the both of you doing? This isn't a game!"

"Everything in life is a game," the Dark Lord whispered as he raised himself from his seat. "I do not stop till I get what I want."

Lucius clenched his jaw at this answer. He glared angrily at the snake-like man in front of him.

"You've never seemed partial to muggles before, so what is the sudden interest?" Abraxas asked firmly.

"I am not a killer. I am not you," Lucius replied through his clenched teeth.

Abraxas laughed, "No, I don't think that's the case at all. I think it's that friend of yours—what was her name? Oh yes, Andromeda Black—excuse me, Tonks. The muggle-loving whore, right, Lucius?"

Lucius growled before watching his father move closer to him, "Did you know she was pregnant? It would be a shame if something were to happen to her unborn child."

"You wouldn't," Lucius hissed as the Dark Lord moved behind him.

"I could always talk to that beautiful woman of yours . . . Cissy," he whispered slowly.

Lucius tensed before his body broke out in small quivers, "You will not touch her! Never! The day you do is the day you regret."

The Dark Lord chuckled slowly, "Oh, no one will get hurt, Lucius, as long as you make the right choice."

"And if I don't?"

"I wouldn't count on any of your loved one's being around much longer," The Dark Lord whispered slowly.

Lucius trembled before lowering to his knees.

The Dark Lord pulled up Lucius's wounded hand, "Of course if you listen they will all be safe." The Dark Lord talked smoothly as he healed the bright red wound. Small glass pieces fell delicately towards the floor and his burning blood ceased to exist. "Your mother will be in the best of health, Andromeda will be safe from my rage, and your dear Narcissa will be yours until your dying day."

Lucius closed his eyes as his hand fell limply towards his side. He felt as the Dark Lord crouched beside him.

"Tell me what your answer is?"

"Whatever you want it to be, my Lord," Lucius gulped as a cold hand grabbed his forearm before a blinding amount of pain took over his body.

A/N: Last couple of months have been hell and I'm sorry for the wait. Let's just move on from here. I love this chapter, because it was so emotionally draining. The day I wrote it I became so distraught. It had to happen. Lucius's had to become a death eater. Much love to everyone: Extreme Psycho