Chapter 8: The Butler, Socialising
Daphne descended the stairs to the ballroom, her arm linked with Sebastian's. Their target was easily identifiable. She had made no effort to blend in at all. The Nightmare Queen stood in a sparkling red gown, a champagne flute in her hand, giggling at a joke one of the men in tuxedo's had just told her. Daphne discretely looked around the room. "You see any Death Eaters, Sebastian?"
"Not one, young mistress."
"No, nor me. That's worrying."
"Indeed. It's not like her to be unguarded."
"Perhaps her arrogance has gotten the best of her."
"Indeed." Sebastian nodded. The master and butler had made an effort of disguising themselves. Daphne was wearing a black wig, and an elegant navy cocktail dress. Sebastian was wearing a grey suit, with a pink tie. Both had donned glasses in an attempt to conceal their eyes. They both wandered over to the bar. Daphne ordered them both drinks. A Gin and Tonic for her, and a Jack and Coke for Sebastian.
"This wig itches." Daphne grumbled.
"It's a necessary evil." muttered Sebastian. "In a place so full of non-magicals, a glamour would easily attract her attention."
"What's she doing?" Daphne asked, sipping her drink. She was sat on one of the bar stools, pretending to read one of the leaflets on the bar. Sebastian was leaning against the bar, looking over the ballroom.
"She's mingling at the moment." said Sebastian. "She hasn't noticed us."
"You think these disguises will work?"
"I highly doubt it." said Sebastian, resigned. "But never let it be said we didn't try."
"Yeah." Daphne chuckled. "What's the betting we get eaten alive by these blasted creatures?"
"You're rather defeatist today, young mistress." said Sebastian, glancing over at her.
"Yeah, my sister just got murdered on the orders of the goth bitch over there, sorry if I'm not all sunshine and daisies at the moment, Sebastian."
"Goth bitch? That's rather unpleasant, isn't it Daphne?"
Daphne spun round. The Nightmare Queen was stood right behind them.
"How the hell…? They should've seen-"
"They should've seen me apparate?" The Nightmare Queen giggled. "Is that what you were going to say?"
"They should've at least heard you."
"I can apparate silently." the girl shrugged.
"You knew we were here then?" Daphne asked. The Nightmare Queen sneered.
"I could smell the stench of your filthy blood a mile away."
"I am a pure blood, you know."
"A blood traitor." the Queen spat. "Oh the fun I could have with you." she said, suddenly breaking out into a grin. She began to slowly approach the girl. "Maybe I could tear every inch of skin from your body, and wear it like a suit, and get your precious servants to serve me. I could even cut out your pretty, little eye's."
"I fear I must inform you madam, that any attempts on the young mistress' life will result in my having to execute you. I do apologise." said Sebastian, with a bow. The Nightmare Queen grinned at him.
"Then again, your butler wouldn't even resist. If it meant saving you, he'd let me carve him into little chunks to save you."
"I wouldn't let you touch him, or any of my household." said Daphne, venom dripping from her voice.
"That's funny." grinned the Nightmare Queen, leaning close to Daphne, and whispering in her ear. "It was certainly easy enough to get to sweet, little Astoria.". Daphne paled considerably at this. The gall of this woman. She was going to stand there and mock her sister, right in front of her. Daphne's balled her fists. Every fibre in her body wanted to punch the girl in the face.
"Who killed her. I know it wasn't you. You had someone else do it for you. Why?" asked Daphne, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. The Nightmare Queen smirked cruelly at her.
"Wouldn't you like to know? Maybe you'll live long enough to find out. Y'know, it's a shame I didn't get to have more fun with her. I bet she would have tasted so sweet. Like candy."
"You've taken to eating your victims now?" spat Daphne.
"A girl's gotta eat." she shrugged.
"Wait." said Sebastian. "You never saw the body. It's still at the manor, being tended to by Bellatrix and Neville. We've already established that you weren't there."
"No, I wasn't. Quite clever of you, Greengrass. For a filthy blood traitor." the pale girl sneered. "But are your sure that it was Astoria's body that my friend left?". Daphne opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it. None of them had examined the body in any great detail. They had no way of knowing.
"Where is it?"
"You'll see soon enough."
On the other side of the room, looking rather out of place, Molly Weasley, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Nymphadora Tonks stood sipping from champagne flutes. "Can anyone see the little whore?" Molly sneered.
"No, she's either not shown up, or she's in disguise." said Ginny.
"She'll be here. She has to be. Her butler wouldn't let her miss this." said Tonks.
"She'd stand out though." Ron chuckled. "She's got long, platinum blonde hair, she's drop dead gorgeous. Nice arse, tit's aren't much to talk about but whatever.". Ginny hit him on the arm.
"Pig."
"He's right, she's using her beauty to entice these poor muggles, and use them for some nefarious scheme." said Molly, looking around. "Where is the damned harlot?"
"Mum, maybe we should split up. We'd cover more ground."
"Good thinking Ginny. You go over to the pool, Tonks, go to the fountain. Ron, you go-"
"I'm going over to the bar." Ron said with a predatory smirk. "Check out the goth babe.". The three women followed his gaze, and saw a beautiful pale woman, with long black hair, streaked with bright red flecks. She was wearing a flowing red gown, and talking to a couple at the bar. Ron slicked back his hair, and sauntered over to them. "Excuse me, mind if I join you."
"Go away." snapped the woman sat on the bar stool.
"Now, now, darling. That's no way to talk to a gentleman. I'm just trying to be friendly, and get to know my fellow passengers." he smirked, wrapping an arm around the Nightmare Queen, and squeezing her behind. The dark haired girl smirked at the two she had been talking to, and wrapped an arm around Ron.
"That sounds delightful." she purred, "Let's leave these two alone."
"That sounds good to me." grinned Ron. "Why don't we go check out the refreshments?"
"Mmm, wonderful. I haven't eaten all day." she giggled, as they strolled off, turning back to wink at Daphne and Sebastian.
"Young mistress, should I-"
"No." said Daphne, cutting him off. "He doesn't matter. Where's Tracey?"
"Davis? Where's your master?"
Tracey turned round. Unlike Daphne and Sebastian, she hadn't bothered donning any kind of disguise. She had been relying entirely on stealth. Apparently, this hadn't been enough, and she'd been caught. By the youngest Weasley of all people.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I don't understand the question."
"Your master. The one you bend over backwards for?"
"What do you want with the young mistress?" asked Tracey.
"My mother is the new head of the Order of the Phoenix. She believes that Daphne Greengrass is planning something."
"And, what makes you think she's here?"
"Mundungus told us that you bought tickets for this cruise from him."
"Mundungus! That two-faced scum. Remind me to kill him later."
"Where is she, Davis?" snapped Ginny, drawing her wand and holding to to Tracey's throat. Luckily, they were in a dark enough spot that no-one could see them. "God, you have no idea how much I'd love to do it. Blow your goddamn head off. Nothing's stopping me, you know. I could-". Whatever else Ginny was going to say was cut off. Ginny looked down. A knife was sticking out of her stomach. Blood was trickling from the wound. She looked back up to Tracey, who was smirking at her. Tracey wrapped the girl up in her arms.
"I understand that you're probably under some compulsion charms, and potions and God only know's what else. But you're really annoying. It does mean a lot more paperwork to fill out, but… To get rid of you, it's worth it." Tracey pushed the knife a little deeper in, and twisted it. There was a wet tearing sound, and Ginny went limp in her arms. Tracey, dragged the body further into the darkness, and stowed it in one of the cupboards. She cast a quick notice-me-not charm on the door, and rejoined the party. "This has been a good party." she muttered to herself. She wandered over to the bar. "Gimme a shot of something. I don't care what. Something strong.". The bartender nodded, without saying anything, or looking over at her.
"Tracey!". The girl looked round, and saw Daphne and Sebastian stood at the bar.
"Young mistress. The Order are here."
"We know, Ron Weasley just came over to hit on the Nightmare Queen."
"She's here? Where is she?"
"She just led Weasley away. He's probably dead by now, and his corpse is being eaten by her."
"Eww." Tracey grimaced. "She's eating him?"
"I know, it's messed up."
"No, I mean him." She said. "He'd be all tough and hairy. So, what do we do now?"
"We wait. We can't stop the attack. We just have to do our best to stop too many people from dying."
"Couldn't we find all these Vanishing Cabinets and destroy them?" asked Tracey. "Between me and Mr. Butler we could probably see through the notice-me-not charms, right?"
"True." nodded Sebastian. "However, we have no way of knowing how many there are aboard this ship. I agree with the young mistress. Traditionally, Inferi have always been simple enough to dispatch."
"But these are supposed to be improved, right? How?"
"That's what we'll find out, I guess." shrugged Daphne. "What I want to know, is who improved them."
Suddenly, a voice from behind them cackled."That'd be my doing, my young lady."
