Chapter 5 – Meeting the Dark Lord
The chamber that Lucius and Serena appeared in was dark. Serena couldn't tell how big it was. Dark jade green tiles covered the floor, candles floated far above, feebly throwing speckles of light around. A large throne, carved of ebony wood, sat in the middle of the space. The seat was covered in emerald velvet, the arms were held up by carvings of two hooded cobra, their hoods flared. Emeralds were set into the eye sockets, and they glowed with an inner light. The bodies of the cobras made the legs of the chair, and their tails curled up and over, meeting overhead surrounding the ebony and green velvet back. Sat on a dais, the chair was the only thing that Serena could see in the room.
Lucius pulled Serena to the foot of the dais. Dropping to his knees, he pulled her down into what could only be described as a geisha bow. Serena was confused. There had been no one on the seat, why were they bowing to an empty throne? Air around her pulsated with a power she had never before felt. Suddenly, there in front of her, were robes. Black as pitch, rustling, almost alive. She trembled, and was afraid to look up, afraid of what would be looking down at her.
"So, Lucius, this is the one that was found...hmmmm? Well, my child," Serena felt a long cold wand under her chin, lifting her face to meet the bringer of the voice, "seems he picked well."
Serena gasped at what she saw. Red eyes, and a snake like face, Voldemort was nothing like she had ever seen before. She had heard of his looks from Harry, but had never expected this. Cold and sinister were his eyes, and no hint of mercy was in his face.
"I do believe she is scared of me Lucius." The Dark Lord lowered his wand and took her chin in his hand. Serena jumped at the touch, his hand being cold. Turning her face left and right, he appraised her as a cattle rancher would a cow.
"I can see that what you told me is true, she is the lost child of my loyal Bellatrix. Won't she be surprised to find out and proud that I have chosen her daughter for this special position."
Lucius agreed with the Dark Lord. "My lord, when you are finished with this woman, what do you intend on doing with her?"
Voldemort chuckled, "IF I finish with her, what would YOU like me to do with her?"
Lucius seemed surprised at the question. It was very rare for the Dark Lord to ask for an opinion on anything. He looked up at his Lord and thought.
"I would wish for you to do what you will with her. If I had my way, I would let the Death Eaters break her, have their pieces of her, and then offer her to the Death Eater that is most worthy of a woman of her caliber."
Voldemort looked at Lucius for what seemed like forever, then a chuckle started forming in his chest. It bubbled up, and for what was the first time in many years, Voldemort laughed.
"That was the perfect answer Lucius Malfoy. I do believe that I will take your advice on this one. Ah, Bellatrix, just the Death Eater I wanted to see, Lucius, take this prize to my personal chamber. Secure her well, I will be there shortly." Voldemort dismissed Lucius and Serena with a nod and turned to the returning Death Eaters.
Bellatrix was astonished to see Lucius standing there with his servant girl kneeling at the feet of Voldemort. She was almost jealous. Her love for Rodolphus Lestrange not withstanding, her obsession with the Dark Lord had wiped out most of those feelings. She fancied herself being the Dark Lord's love interest; even though she knew that he would never have relations with his own minions. In fact, she thought he would be below such acts of primal behaviors. Voldemort startled Bellatrix out of her thoughts.
"Bellatrix, I have some interesting news for you, however, please inform me as to how the battle went." Voldemort looked his head Death Eater in the eyes.
"Very well my lord, Dumbledore is dead, as is most of their blasted Order. Potter is in the dungeons awaiting your arrival there. The Weasly boy and Granger girl are also in holding cells. There are few survivors of the massacre. People are now surrendering; it will just be a little while before you will be able to emerge." Bellatrix giggled like a school girl. The destruction that had been heaped on the wizarding world in that last battle was something that was never likely to be forgotten.
"Well done, my most loyal servant. I have news for you as well, come closer." The Dark Lord gestured for Bellatrix to come forward, to be next to him. Excitedly she came forward, eager to do her masters bidding. The Dark Lord looked down at Bella.
"Do you remember, about 25 years ago, when you were in school?" he questioned her. Bellatrix thought for a moment.
"Yes, my lord. I was in Slytherin, which is where you told me that I had much potential in the dark arts. My first encounter with you Master. A memorable experience, one that I will never forget, and will cherish forever." Bellatrix looked at the Dark Lord with adoration in her eyes.
Dismissing the flattery, Voldemort looked her deep in the eyes.
"You had a child back then, did you not? One that the ministry took from you, saying you were too young and naive to raise one."
Bellatrix took a step back.
"Yes, my Lord. I had a little too much to drink at a house party the end of my 6th year. Had slept with some boy, got pregnant. I was showing by the time school started, and when I had the baby, they told me it was a girl, and took her from me." She wondered what significance this was to her Dark Lord.
"And you never pursued finding this child? Do not know what her name was, nor what she looked like?" Voldemort was thoughtful. How would this woman react to the news that he had chosen her daughter to be the one to resurrect him in a more perfect form? Would he have to curse her, or would she be grateful?
Bella looked at him. "No, sir. A child would have just hindered my work for you, my Lord. I only wished, as I still do, to serve you and you alone."
"Very good. I have news for you Bellatrix. I have found your daughter." He grinned as he saw the realization sink into her mind. The look of shock, then denial, then acceptance crossed her features.
"May I inquire as to where she is, and who she is?" Bellatrix was hopeful. Maybe her daughter could be persuaded to join the Dark Lord, to become a Death Eater. There was a slim possibility of the girl even being betrothed to one of the Males in this very room.
"She is in my Chambers, safe. I have decided to bestow upon her only the finest of honours. She is to become mine, in body, soul, and mind. As to who she is, you know her as Lucius' servant, Serena." Voldemort stood. Gracefully decending the dais, he bent down and grasped Bellatrix's arms. Lifting her up, he looked deeply in her eyes.
"I know what you have always wanted Bellatrix, but it shall not happen. I could not have your mind cluttered by what would happen if we ever had relations. Be proud that your daughter is going to have the privelege of your master." Leaning down, he gently kissed Bellatrix on the forehead, the cheeks, and finally, a gentle kiss was placed on her lips.
Voldemort suddenly let her go. Not being ready for the absence of his body, Bellatrix stumbled to the floor.
"My Lord, the girl is in your chambers", Lucius sneered down at Bellatrix,"should I escort her 'mother' to see her, or would you like to visit her first?"
The Dark Lord regarded Malfoy with a gleam in his eye.
"If you will excuse me Bellatrix, Lucius, I need to go take care of some business with our dear Serena." He turned, and with a swish of his robes, strode silently out of the chamber.