So, guys, here's Chapter 20!

Thanks to all those who read, fav'd, alerted and especially to those who reviewed!


"A woman? Since when are you having women in your ranks?" I asked Tom as he told me about his plans for the next initiation ceremony.

"I was under the justified impression that you were a woman?"

"Charming, but whatever is concerning me is not the point – I'm not one of your little slaves."

He sighed and shrugged. "I can safely assume that this woman will be a very good servant to me – talented, she is a powerful witch; though still a rough diamond."

"You don't need power," I said matter-of-factly. "Or talent. You need someone devoted. Someone who would die for you."

"Wouldn't it be best if I could get both?"

I laughed. "Who is that charming girl who combines both?"

"Bellatrix Lestrange."

My eyebrows rose almost instantly. "Little Bellatrix Black? A powerful, talented witch? From what I heard, the only thing she's good at is spreading her legs for pureblood gentleman."

His red eyes flashed. "That's not even a little bit true."

"Why defend her? What's she to you? Or did she prove to you that she's good at it so you want to keep her close?"

"Lord Voldemort doesn't make decisions on such profane things-"

I laughed once more, this time it was bitter. "You're profane enough to murder, though..."

"There was nothing of the sort, Lorraine, I'm telling the truth."

"Truth is the one thing that never comes out of your mouth."

He got up and started pacing up and down the room. "There is nothing like that – her husband asked me to hear her and she begged me on her knees to let her join-"

"And that convinced you?"

"I do believe that she'll serve Lord Voldemort well. A very faithful servant-"

"How will her husband like that?"

"Would you please stop it? I'm not sleeping with her!"

"Yeah?" I asked calmly. "How about I ask Rodolphus how he likes that?"

"You're merely jealous!"

"Jealous?" I repeated. "Hardly – I'm delighted. Finally, I have something to hold against you when you get one of your jealousy fits – you get them regular-like... don't look at me like that! I barely have to speak to man to get you all possessive..."

He shook his head incredulously. "I don't know what's got you in such a foul mood-"

"I'm not in a foul mood. Just not in the mood to be told that you're sleeping with that-"

"I'M NOT!"

I raised an eyebrow at him. "No need to get outraged. I told you I'm rather delighted."

He sighed. "This isn't going to change anything about my decision."

"Of course not. It's not like you ever cared about my opinion."


"Oh, no, no, don't concern yourself – have a seat."

Bella nodded gracefully, an arrogant smile playing around her lips. "Thank you. Rod told me to – excuse me, I mean Rodolphus, my husband – however, he told me to come and introduce me to you. Said it was important to be friendly to the likes of you."

"What an extraordinary clever man, that Rodolphus."

She looked curiously at me. "Actually, I don't know why it matters – you may explain it to me – the Dark Lord accepted me in his ranks, therefore..."

"Ah, but the Dark Lord is well known to be moody. I wouldn't count on his liking for you to last – I don't know why talking to me should help you with that, though, because the Dark Lord usually doesn't listen to me..."

She leant forward, her breast heaving with curiosity. "You are the Dark Lord's mistress, though, am I right?"

"I – is that what people are saying? His mistress?"

Something very strict seemed to appear in her features. "It is an honour to serve the Dark Lord, in any way possible-"

"I don't serve the Dark Lord," I said as calmly as possible. "I'm not a whore."

"It is an honour-"

"Yeah, I believe that you would consider it an honour to share his bed."

"I would!"

"Why, good luck with that."

She opened her mouth slightly, but no words came out. I scanned her sceptically. She was beautiful, there was no point denying it; she had the typical Black features.

"I don't see why I shouldn't achieve my goals."

"By all means, go ahead."

"You wouldn't... wouldn't be... wouldn't it bother you?"

"Ah, that would be a thing between T- the Dark Lord and me, so don't concern yourself. Go ahead. I want to see if it works out for you."

She stared and then finally, she nodded. "Yeah. We'll see."


"I want you to get rid of her!"

He looked at me with raised eyebrows. "I won't murder my followers-"

"I didn't say murder her! Just... just make her go. She's horrible..."

Tom shook his head. "She's a very faithful servant to Lo-"

"I DON'T CARE! Don't you see? She loves you! No, that's – she adores you, really, worships the very ground you walk on! And I know that you usually like that, but it's really... please. Make her go away."

He raised an eyebrow and walked towards me. "Are you jealous?"

"And if I was?"

"Come now, Lorraine, you know me-"

"Yeah, I know you. There's nothing I think you incapable of doing..."

He looked almost amused. "Sleeping with that woman? Why would I?"

I stared at him. "Well, why wouldn't you? She's... she is... and she would..."

"She would what?"

I shook my head. "You would be jealous as well..."

"I doubt it."

I smirked at him and before I could stop myself I said, "Only two words, darling. Alphard Black."

His face fell and his expression was colder than I had seen it in a long time. "There's a difference, though. You were going to marry him..."

I scoffed. "But you were jealous."

"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I was. No one touches what's mine."

I looked up at him and rolled my eyes at his sudden display of possessiveness. "Please," I whispered. "Make her go."


Sure enough, he didn't make her go away. No. After I had talked to him, he kept her even closer to his side.

I watched from the other side of the room as she sat next to him, smiling and watching him with adoration. He was flirting. Of course he was. He only did it to anger me and I knew it – but I couldn't help myself. Whenever I saw them together, jealousy ran through my veins.

With a huge effort, I turned my head away from them to look around the room again, scanning quickly who was there. I saw the Malfoys, Abraxas and his son and I shortly thought about joining them when I found someone way better.

"Rodolphus! What a pleasure to see you!"

"Pleasure's all mine, Ma'am."

"Ah, no need for formalities."

He shifted uncomfortably. "The Dark Lord told us to treat you with the utmost respect-"

"I'd feel much more respected if you start calling me Lorraine 'stead off Ma'am. Makes me feel old, you see?"

"Of course... Lorraine."

I smiled to him. "Thank you, Rodolphus."

He smiled back at me and I felt that I had already won him over. I followed his gaze and found that he, too, was checking on Tom and Bellatrix. "Aren't you sometimes jealous?"

"She assures me that nothing happened... yet. She hopes it will."

"I understood so much."

His gaze returned to me, he frowned. "Aren't you jealous?"

"Of course I am. I can't even put it in words, when I see those two together... it's not because he likes her, you see, it's because he wants to get back at me. And she... she, of course..."

"She adores him, I know. And I," he hesitated. "It was an arranged marriage."

"Of course," I muttered.

"But I thought... always thought we could make it work. Better. But, you know, she's not the type."

"She's different."

"Special."

"A little strange."

He laughed. "And freaking mad!"

I laughed, too, as he said it. I had talked to him for the sole purpose of catching Tom's attention – he'd see right through me, of course, but I had to do it anyway – but Rodolphus seemed to be a pretty nice guy.

The second his laughter died away, I knew something was wrong. Sure enough, I felt strong hands pulling me backwards, firmly planted on my waist.

"Milord," Rodolphus muttered, bowing lightly.

"Lestrange. Having a good time?"

"I – er –"

"Actually," I said. "We were having a blast. What about you?"

"Pretty good time, let's go. Lestrange."

Rodolphus got it at once, he bowed again, deeper this time, mumbled, "Milord", and made a leave as fast as he could.

"You can let me go, you know," I told Tom. "I'm not gonna make a run for it."

"What exactly," he whispered, "Do you think you're doing?"

"I don't know. What do you think I was doing?"

"Messing with my followers."

"I wouldn't be the only one, would I?"

He spun me around quickly, fury burning in his red eyes. It was the first time since long that I felt truly frightened by him.

"You listen to me, very closely now, it doesn't matter what I do, you are not allowed to-"

"Not allowed to?" I repeated. "Not allowed – I'm an adult, Tom, I can do whatever the hell I want. I. Don't. Belong. To. You."

He somehow moved even closer and I felt that he had pulled out his wand, pressing it now tightly into my chest. "Yeah, Lorraine. You do."


So, what do you think? I wasn't completely happy with the chapter but it really was the best version of it... However, please tell me your opinion!