::: Chapter 31 ::
He walked out of the cell, a smirk on his face. He just couldn't help himself. Seeing Bella happy made him feel….good. He could feel a tingle right down to his toes as a flash of Bella's smile ran through his mind. He could still feel the squeeze of her hand as he clenched his fist. He blinked for a moment as though trying to clear his mind of such 'thoughts'. Now as he turned to look at Rhys Ackart who immediately bowed low before him as he emerged from the cell, his smile disappeared.
"Give me your arm." Voldmort said to Ackart.
Knowing immediately the intentions of his master, Ackart fell on his knees, stretching out his left arm to the Dark Lord. Pleased with the quick, unquestioning reaction of his servant, Voldemort smirked and placed the tip of his wand over the mark that only his most loyal and elite would have been tattooed with. At once, it was like a wake up call, as the snake started to slither. Ackart continued to stare at his master in awe, ignoring completely the burning sensation on his arm. It was the first time for Ackart ever since he received his Dark Mark that the Dark Lord actually needed him directly for something.
Ackart was one of the wizards who had been responsible for the capture of Harry Potter under the direction of Avery. For his noticeable efforts, the Dark Lord had awarded him the Dark Mark, making him in league with the most respected and feared wizards of all. For Ackart, there could have been nothing else that he could ever desire more than being a part of the Death Eaters.
Once he is done, the Dark Lord turned to Ackart who still knelt before him. "Guard this cell and let no one else enter. Your Dark Lady is in serious need of some entertainment. Do not allow anything or anyone to disturb her."
"Yes, my Lord." Ackart replied obediently.
As soon as Ackart had given his word, Voldemort apparated from the dungeon.
Reappearing in his den, Voldemort was pleased to see Rodolphus and Avery already there waiting for him. They bowed to him as a sign of respect.
"You called for us, my Lord?" Rodolphus was the first to greet the Dark Lord as usual.
"Any breakthroughs in finding my safe?" Voldemort said, immediately getting to the point as he had no intentions on beating about the bush.
"Well….not yet, my Lord." Rodolphus said hesitantly.
"Not yet!?' Voldemort said angrily. '3 days and you haven't come up with anything at all?!"
"We have been working very hard on it my Lord,' Avery said suddenly, gulping down a lump in his throat when the Dark Lord's gaze met his own. 'You were right in suspecting that is an inside job so, Rod, Bella and I have been monitoring the moves of our more 'influential' faction heads as they possess more reason to disrupt our operations and of course... their close relations with their own governments leave much for us to be suspicious about."
"I don't care about all that nonsense Avery,' Voldemort said as he glared at Avery. 'I want names. Names would be of more use to me."
"Yes…..yes of course, my Lord,' Avery said, nodding vigorously at the Dark Lord. He was trying to say something but his mind was experiencing a rush of ideas that he started to stammer. 'I…I- I have suspicions on the head of our Spanish faction."
At the mention of Aurelia Flores, Rodolphus's head turned so fast that his neck cricked.
Rodolphus glared at Avery and demanded, "What prove do you have to suspect her?!"
"I happened to have seen her loitering around the corridor of this very den on the night of the party." Avery lashed out in self-defense.
"What makes you so sure it was her? You could have been mistaken!" Rodolphus shot back refusing to believe Aurelia had anything to do with the Dark Lord's stolen safe.
"Oh?' Avery stepped an inch closer to Rodolphus. 'Well up until now, I haven't heard you say anything that could help put light on this matter at all."
"Well I do if you would only stop blabbing and making baseless accusations!' he snapped at Avery and turned to the Dark Lord who now stood behind his desk, about to erupt himself at the childish scene before him. 'My Lord, I have reason to believe that Hans Dietrich might have something to do with this issue. I took the liberty of questioning some silent witnesses and I can assure you my Lord, my witnesses are trustworthy. It was from them that I found out that Dietrich had been in this very room, while everyone else was still at the party."
The Dark Lord said nothing. He merely stared on silently at his two servants, his face without expression.
"And who are these 'silent witnesses' that you are so willing to bet your life on for the truth of their words?" Avery said sarcastically.
"The houselves,' Rod said plainly. 'They are most often overlooked and yet they see everything that happens in this house without us even noticing them." Rodolphus finished, now standing in a different posture, seemingly pleased with himself.
"Houselves? You, a wizard would believe the word of a houselves?" Avery said incredulously.
"Of course! They would never lie to their masters."
"But how could you even be sure that those houselves of yours saw Dietrich? They might have been mistaken, who is to know for sure." Avery retorted.
"I would take the word of any houselves rather than yours, Avery!" Rod was fuming with rage at this point but the Dark Lord was already boiling over.
"Enough!' Voldemort roared, slamming his fist on the table. At once, peace was again restored but for Avery and Rod, it was far from restored. 'I've had enough of this bickering." He said, his voice suddenly dangerously soft.
'Neither of you can provide me with the information that I am looking for. Incompetence! Since all either of you can do is quarrel like an old married couple, both of you might as well just leave!" Voldemort bellowed as he started to work on the papers on his desk.
The two of them just stood rooted to the spot for a moment in silence. This time they were each hoping that the other would say something that would save both their skins.
"What are the both of you still doing here? Not satisfied until I punish you for your incompetence?"
Immediately, the two of them turned and walked out of the room as quickly as they could after bowing swiftly in the Dark Lord's direction.
As soon as the two blokes had left, closing the door behind them, the Dark Lord sat back in his chair seemingly satisfied.
Those two would never know it, but they have provided light on this fix that we're in. Now all I have to do is wait for Bella to confirm this.
His mind began to wonder back to Bella again; the lust in her eyes as she stared at the ragged body of Harry Potter, the way her hands unconsciously gripped his as mind began to work out the best combination spells that would provide optimum results.
Potter has no chance…..he should be out cold by now….if I know my Bella well enough which I do….I wonder if he's already spilled the beans……no matter.
Events will soon begin to work in our favor, given time…..oh Bella will love the additional surprise that I have for her….which is more than I can say for Mr. Harry Potter.
Back in the dungeon….
"I…. don't care….what you do….to me…' Harry said through gritted teeth. He was trying his hardest not to yell in pain and just give Bellatrix Lestrange the satisfaction of knowing she had won this battle on a silver platter. 'You won't be getting….any information….out of me!"
Bella's cackling subsided though the gleam still remained in her eyes. Finally, the real purpose for being here is revealed.
I knew it….I knew it. The Dark Lord wouldn't put me here for nothing. He knows I'm a champion in torturing information out of my prisoners….I hope I don't disappoint him.
Though she has no idea what she was to extract from him, Bella decided she should just play along until things begin to make sense. The pleasure was after all hers. The only thing worrying her now is that Potter may not last mush longer no matter how tempting it may be to just finish him off.
Potty doesn't look so good…..he looks like he's about to pass out at any given moment now….what a baby!
She decided to let the spells rest for a while to allow Potter a break, lest he faints and then he will be of no use to her. Slowly, she walked up to him. Her eyes observing her work of art, the wounds she had inflicted on him. She smiled to herself.
Bella, Bella….you haven't lost your touch…this really is your finest work yet.
Chained up against the wall, Potter could hardly move a muscle. He was weakened to the state of almost 'vegetable-like'. His head hung to one side and his knees bent, too weak to even stand. He was like a ragged, old marionette doll. All one needs to do is give it a yank to make it move. His face was distorted beyond recognition and his body was covered with fresh wounds, bleeding endlessly. Bella knew how it felt like to be chained up and helpless from the time she spent in Azkaban a long, long time ago. All Potter could possibly feel now is pain.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk….' She whispered into his ear as her face came up close to his. She grabbed his chin roughly, forcing him to look up at her, though she knew he could hardly keep his eyes open. 'I don't think I should be worried about that."
She slapped him hard across the face causing blood to spurt out of his mouth. She chuckled at this pathetic sight.
"Oh no….' she said in a high-pitched voice this time. She turned her back to him, placing her wand against her temple, her eyes darted to the ceiling as though she was in hard contemplation. 'I think you're the one who should be worried, Potty!"
She spat at him before continuing, 'The Dark Lord I'm sure already knows how stupidly loyal you are to your bunch of blood-traitors and how you will not breathe a word about it. So let us both think….he knows you won't talk, so, he has other plans for you,' she grinned at him now. 'I heard you have a lovely family now Potter….wife, three kids… you sure you have them safely stashed away?"
He was wide awake now as he slowly, painfully lifts his head up to glare at her. "You bitch! I don't care what you do to me! Just leave my family alone! They know nothing of this!" Potter yelled, though his voice cracked up.
Bella laughed gleefully into his face. "And let them miss out on all the fun?' Bella said animatedly as she started prancing around the dingy cell in delight. 'Why I wouldn't dream of being selfish. On the contrary, Potty, I think it would be a lot more fun if they were to join us. The more the merrier, don't you agree??"
She smiled maliciously at him, satisfied now at seeing how worked up Potter suddenly was at the mention of his family.
"You're a worthless whore who….." Potter started to say but Bella wasn't going to listen to him insult her.
"Crucio!" she yelled her favorite curse, marveling at how such a simple curse could cause so much pain.
Her shrill laughter filled the cell now as she watched Potter writhing in pain, screaming in agony. It was music to Bella's ears she wanted it to last a long, long time. When the tortured screaming suddenly stopped, she knew, he was unconscious. For a moment, she just stood there, in front of Potter, taking in the pathetic sight of him with a smile on her lips.
Suddenly, the door swung open and the Dark Lord entered.
"Enjoying yourself Bella?"
"Yes my Lord, very much." Bella said as she turned to face him, a sweet smile plastered on her face.
He walked over to her though his eyes were on Potter. "Wonderful Bella…..wonderful,' he turned to Bella now. 'I trust that by now you know why I sent you to the great Harry Potter?"
"Yes, I had a feeling you wanted me to…..extract some information from him regarding your stolen safe?"
"Yes, I knew you would catch on sooner or later that's why I didn't explain things to you. Did he mention any names?" Voldemort asked.
"No, he is a tough one my Lord. But soon, I promise you, you won't be disappointed." Bella said her voice full of zest.
"I know I won't be." Voldemort replied and for that moment, he had no idea why but it was just so difficult to keep his eyes off of her.
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