:::: Chapter 26 ::::

Tongues waging a war, bodies aching to be touched, hands grasping at each other longing for closeness, moans escape from lips as the pleasure mounts. The atmosphere of the room intensified.

When he finally entered her deliciously warm core, they both sighed. His right hand moved up to cup her cheek, forcing her to look at him. Their bodies moved in rhythm as they both relished the familiar feeling taking over them. He started moving faster, pushing up harder into her causing her to moan even louder. His left hand moved up to pull down her bra, revealing her erect nipple which he started to lap on.

She came first as she threw her head back and arched her body as she screamed his name.

She kept her body moving in sync with his to help him come next and when he did, he gave one last sporadic thrust and everything suddenly went peaceful. They both lay there holding each other, wanting to linger over the moment a while more. She gazed up at him and kissed him hard which he returned just as passionately. Then, he turned over and lay next to her.

She looked over at him and smiled as she moved closer to him. Much to her surprise, he responded by putting an arm around her shoulders and letting her rest her head on his chest. He has never done that before. Bella felt like she had never been as happy as she was feeling right now. Faustus' death had somehow caused them to drift apart what with her suspecting that he had something to do with his death. All of that did not seem to matter anymore. She was happy to be lying here by his side again after so long.

"My Lord?" she whispered as she glanced sideways at him.

"Yes Bella?" he answered, looking back at her.

"You said I could come back with the Death Eaters."

"Yes."

"But you haven't told me what to do yet."

"Do you really want to discuss that now?" Voldemort asked her with knitted eyebrows.

"Yes." She replied simply.

"Well alright if you really want to. I suppose it doesn't really matter when I give you your first task now that you're back,' he said. 'The Death Eaters are planning a party here in three days. All the Death Eater heads from the various countries that we have conquered are coming. I want you to attend the party with me as my Dark Lady.' From the corner of his eye he could see her face lit up when he had said this.

'During this party, I will introduce you to the rest of our new faction heads and I will reveal our new movement."

"New movement? What's that?" she asked.

"Plans for our next phase. Over these few years we have been able to secure supporters not just here but also in other nations as well. We have never been this big before. Our new priority will no longer be to recruit supporters but to test how loyal our supporters are in face of adversity. You know how I am. The Death Eaters are an elite group and only the most loyal can be with us. I made the mistake of not testing the loyalty of my supporters before and I am not going to make that mistake again."

Bella who had been nodding her head so gravely at his words asked, "So…what is my role in this my Lord?"

"You will be my eyes. I need you to keep an eye on the faction heads. Rodolphus tells me that there had been frequent failures in the tasks that he has assigned to these heads and he feels that there are spies within our circle. I know you hate to mingle around but this time you have to put your anti-social behavior aside just for this new task."

"So I assume that these faction heads must hold some high position within the governments of their own countries?" Bella said with a frown as she took in every word that Voldemort had said.

"Yes and that is the only reason why they are very useful to our cause. However, some of them may have a change of heart and I want you to weed out these few thorns."

"Consider it done my Lord." Bella said with a gleam in her eyes that always appears whenever she feels charged up for a new assignment.

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"And Bella, I want this affair to be kept diplomatic. I know how much you love using your wand but for now, carefully strung words are sufficient. Do you get my meaning?" Voldemort asked her as he looked down at her whose gaze was now elsewhere.

"Yes my Lord." She said, laying her head back on his chest.

"Good." He said and smiled quietly to himself. This was the old Bella that he had trained, that he has always been intrigued with.

She's back.

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An Hour before the Party…..

Looking into the mirror, Bella started checking herself. She wanted to look impeccable, nothing should be out of place; not a hair, not even a piece of thread. Tonight was the night that she had been looking forward to for the past 3 days ever since Voldemort had told her about it. She was going to make an entrance in the arms of the Dark Lord to officially make her known as the Dark Lady.

Nothing will spoil this moment.

She turned around just to make sure that she has checked every detail of her stunningly beautiful black-green gown. The neckline was sensational and the gown shows off her creamy white skin and curves in just the right places.

"Hmm….maybe that other dress would look better.' Bella said as she walked over to her closet to take out another dress for her to try on.

Just as she took out another dress, Voldemort walked into the room. "Are you still trying to decide on what dress to wear? Come on now Bella, the party is in 45 minutes. You've been trying out dresses since 4 o'clock this afternoon."

"Well….I just wanted to make sure I look….presentable enough when you introduce me to all those people." Bella said.

"Let me see.' Voldemort said with a sigh. Women.

'Let me see how you look with the dress you're wearing right now.' He said as he sat down on the bed. She came up to him and placed the dress she just took out of the closet next to him. 'Turn around.' He said which she did.

'You look wonderful to me. You want to change from that dress to this?" Voldemort said as he indicated at the dress Bella had just laid out next to him.

"Yes…I thought I look kind of….well…..this dress makes me look….well…."

"I don't see anything wrong with it. You look perfect to me. I've always liked seeing you in that dress." Voldemort said.

Upon hearing his comment, Bella actually felt herself blush. "You….you really think I look…..perfect?"

"Yes." He said in his usual calm voice and expressionless face.

Bella turned around to look at the mirror again. This time, it wasn't to examine herself but just to avoid letting him see her giggle girlishly. He's giving me fashion advice. He really has changed somewhat…..

"What?" he demanded when he noticed her reflection on the mirror. She was smiling.

"Nothing,' Bella replied as she turned around to face him. 'Nothing, my Lord. I just think you're absolutely right. This dress is just perfect for tonight." She smiled at him while he just stared at her.

"I'm going to check on the…..I'll see you later." Voldemort said as he left the room leaving Bella smiling after him.

Out in the hallway, Voldemort was cursing himself:

You look perfect?

I've always liked seeing you in that dress?

What the fuck was I thinking?!

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