::: Chapter 18 :::
Bella's POV…
I've never seen them so….so…..together before……they finally look like a father and son pair.
Bella thought as she watched Voldemort teaching Faustus how to use the wand. He was now shakily lifting a rabbit off the ground.
Faustus is such a natural…well a little wobbly but he'll definitely get the hang of it. Oh and my Tom….he's such a wonderful father….a wonderful leader and the greatest wizard the world has ever known…fallen so many times and yet still manage to make a comeback each time….Faustus is so lucky to have him for a father…and I am the luckiest bitch in the world to have him for a……well…for a…….hmm…….
"Come on Faustus, you can do better than that,' Voldemort said encouragingly to his son. 'Once you can lift that rabbit, I'll teach you how to stun it."
Voldemort stood behind Faustus, letting him use his Phoenix feather wand. He guided Faustus' wand movements, careful not to push him too hard. When the rabbit was finally lifted off the ground properly, Voldemort helped his son levitate it over the fountain. They all watched as the rabbit squirmed as it hovered over the water below it. Faustus had started laughing and Voldemort too smiled gleefully.
For the first time, Bella noticed that they had the exact same smile. Faustus was a perfect replica of his father.
I never noticed that…they looked so much alike. One day he too will be the greatest wizard ever lived…just like his father and forever shall our pureblood legacy be carried on.
A loud splash jolted Bella out of her thoughts as she saw the rabbit fell into the fountain. Faustus was laughing so hard that he was actually rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically at the helpless rabbit, struggling to get itself out of the fountain. Voldemort walked over to the fountain and carried the rabbit out.
He walked over to Faustus and said, "That was perfect Faustus. Very well done, I'm impressed."
"Thank you Father." Faustus replied. He grinned at Voldemort and took the rabbit into his own arms from his Father.
"Now, do you want to learn how to stun it?"
"Yes Father." Replied Faustus eagerly.
"Good. Now listen closely,' he took Faustus' hand and led him towards where Bella was sitting. 'Now, when I tell you to let go of the rabbit, you let it go and watch me."
Voldemort moved across from Faustus. Turning around, he said, 'Now."
Faustus released the rabbit from his grip, watched as it started to dash off away from them. He looked up fascinatingly at his father who held out his wand and pointed it to the rabbit and said, "Stupefy!'
A flash of red light emitted from his wand, hitting the rabbit on its back and suddenly, it was still. 'That, my son is a spell to knock out your opponent. It won't kill it, just puts them into a deep sleep."
"Wow…can I try it Father?" Faustus asked as he started to probe at the rabbit, which was still breathing but was lying very still on the ground.
"Of course, and when you get that spell right, you will get to learn one of my favorite curses of all."
"What is that Father?" Faustus asked with a look of pure admiration on his face for his elusive father.
"Avada Kedavra!' This time a flash of green light emitted from his wand.
Faustus looked from his father to the rabbit on the ground. He placed his hand over the rabbit and this time, he could no longer feel its heartbeat. The rabbit was dead.
He turned his attention back to his father.
"Are you ready to learn that spell now?"
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Later at dinner….
"Is Uncle Rod coming mother?" Faustus asked his Mother who sat across from him while he ate his meal.
Bella was slightly taken aback by his question that there was actually a pause before she answered. "He isn't coming, darling." She turned back quickly to her food.
"Why do you ask about him, Faustus?" Voldemort asked Faustus.
Oh Merlin! Faustus why must you ask this question now?
"Well he hasn't been here lately. He usually comes and visits us."
"Oh? And what exactly does he do when he's here?" Voldemort inquired further, reaching out for the wine bottle and pouring some for himself and Bella.
"He plays with me. He's a lot of fun and he said he'll give me a big present for my birthday today.'
Voldemort took a sip of his drink and so does Bella.
Oh thank heavens.
'Uncle Rod talks to Mommy a lot too." Faustus added.
"Oh? What do they talk about?" Voldemort asked with a smile on his face as he looked from Faustus to Bella.
"I don't know. Mommy was crying one time and Uncle Rod talked to her and Mommy didn't cry anymore.'
Fuck!
'Uncle Rod's really nice, isn't he Mommy?' Faustus looked at his mother for approval. Bella could only reply with a nod and a half-smile. 'Have you met him Father? If you have, you'll like him, just as much as Mommy and I do."
"I'm sure I will, Faustus."
Oh shit am I in trouble…..for sure.
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At the Living Room…
The fire roaring away in the fireplace was not the only fire that was burning. Bella still wasn't sure how Voldemort was feeling after the night's revelation brought about by her own son regarding Rodolphus' visits.
I swear nothing happened.
These are the four words that she had kept running through her mind. She was hoping that anytime he tried to go through her thoughts, these are the words that could help alleviate his suspicions. She had already experienced the fruit of his suspicions when she was 2 months pregnant with Faustus and she knows if he could do that to a pregnant woman, imagine what he would do to an 'un-pregnant' one.
He was sitting on his chair in front of the fireplace while Bella sat by his feet. Faustus was busy tearing open the presents his Mother and Father had brought him. Bella had brought him the latest broomstick "The Winged". She decided he was old enough to start practicing riding on a broom. He was now racing across the room with the broom in between his legs.
"Didn't you get him anything?" Bella asked trying to sound normal as far as possible.
"He won't be needing anything." Voldemort replied.
Bella frowned at his most unusual answer but when she looked up at him sitting in his chair with his head tilted to one side resting on his hand and that distant look in his eyes, she decided he must have been thinking about something else.
"You're upset Bella." He said without looking at her. His gaze was still at the fire in front of them.
"No. I'm not I was just wondering if you had gotten something for Faustus….I mean….it is his birthday, my Lord." Bella said as her gaze fell to the floor. Somehow, she suddenly had a foreboding that something horrible is about to happen.
"I brought him something." Voldemort said and this time, she could feel his eyes on her.
Bella got on her knees as she looked up at him. "But you just said you didn't."
"Did I say that?"
"Well not exactly,' Bella said. 'You said he won't be needing anything so…I just assumed you meant you didn't get him anything."
"Oh….I have a lot on my mind." Voldemort mumbled as his gaze turned back to the fire.
"Do you….want to unload it off on me?" Bella said with a soft smile on her face as she stared into his, resting her hands on his lap.
"No, not yet,' he said as he placed a hand on hers. 'Soon, I will tell you everything in good time."
Bella felt a tinge of disappointment. She had expected him to let her in on at least a little detail. Part of her had started missing on her old life when she had gone on raids and dangerous missions, risking her life for the only man she had ever truly believed in. She suddenly felt useless after not having done anything for him in the longest time. She also felt as if she did not fit in anymore with the Death Eaters having been kept out of all its affairs.
"My Lord, do you think….maybe…..it is time for me to get back into the Death Eaters. I feel like I haven't been doing anything, my Lord. I…I truly hope to get back with the Inner Circle. I know…..I know I have Faustus to take care of now but…surely we can work something out. I really, really missed working alongside you my Lord."
Bella was still in her kneeling position by his feet. Moments passed and still he did not say a word. Bella did not want to interrupt his thoughts knowing so well that distant look on his face and so, she waited for him.
"Patience, my sweet. The time will come very soon when I will need you back in the Inner Circle. For now, I want you to be patient.' Voldemort suddenly glanced up at the clock on the wall making Bella wonder what was so interesting about the clock on the wall so she too did the same. 'Now, I'm thirsty. Will you get me my whisky that I keep in our room?"
"Of course, my Lord." Bella got up and was about to walk out the room when he called out to her again.
Patience, patience, patience! I'm running out of that!
"Bella,' he started to walk over to where she was standing. Gently, he turned her around to face him. 'I don't want you to think that I'm pushing you away. You are in fact playing the most crucial part of my plans by giving birth to my heir. You have done enough, my Dark Lady." He finished as he gently placed a hand on her cheek, caressing it with his fingers. Then, he bent down and kissed her forehead.
Bella couldn't help but feel as though she was melting in his touch. She turned around and walked out the room.
Oh….he is so, so charming…..so….so….hey! What was I suppose to be getting for him?
Bella paused in her track trying to steady herself, lowering her spirits back down to Earth.
Oh! His whisky in our room….Yes, that's it.
She apparated herself into their room, still uncured of her euphoria. She almost fell to the floor when she reappeared in their room as she suddenly had a moment of weakness in her knees.
Ok….Got to get that whisky….he usually keeps it in that footlocker.
She thought to herself as she walked over to the foot of their bed where the chest was. She got down on her knees by the chest and opened the lock with a simple lock spell.
"Alohomora." She said as she pointed her wand to the padlock. When the chest opened, she was surprised to see that it was empty. 'How could it be empty? My Lord can't go a day without his whisky. He must have kept it elsewhere." She said to herself out loud.
Voldemort always kept his own favorite whisky in the footlocker just in case he needed a drink in the middle all of the night which he always does, which also means that it is absolutely impossible for him not to stock up when he knows that he is all out. The only other explanation that Bella could come up with is that he kept it elsewhere but still within the vicinity of their room, so she started her search all over the room trying to find her beloved his beloved whisky.
Where could he have kept it? Maybe…..maybe he kept it at the bar downstairs?
Bella was just about to apparate herself downstairs to the bar when she suddenly felt a strong invisible force shake the entire house, making her fall backwards. The invisible force felt like it came from within the house as the wave of the force pushed her backwards towards the bedroom window. The lights started flickering and Bella tried to force herself to get up but the invisible force was still strong, pushing her down on the floor.
Oh no….my Lord! Faustus!
"My Lord! Faustus?!' Bella cried out as she tried to push herself up but it was impossible to fight against whatever plague that had invaded their home. Bella had to keep her eyes shut because each time she opens them, her eyes burn with a stinging sensation.
After a while, as suddenly as it had appeared, it was suddenly gone.
"Faustus!" Bella shouted, quickly pushing herself up and apparated back into the living room.
She appeared at the doorway. Her heart was beating so fast and she couldn't remember the last time she had had an ominous feeling like the one she is feeling right now. The fire in the hearth had burnt out and the room looked as though a tornado had hit it that Bella could hardly recognize the room, but, that was the farthest thing that was on Bella's mind right now as she stared at the two unmoving bodies splayed across the floor side by side.
She stood at the door with trembling hands.
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Sorry this took a while. I've been really busy these last few days and it has nothing to do with work. Party! Party! Party! 3 nights in a row. WOaH!! Now I'm terribly in need of some sleep. But before that I just had to update while the idea is still in my head.
So tell me what you think I would really appreciate it. Thanks. =)