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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 12, 2008 1:05:42 GMT -5
Bellatrix was sitting in the study of her flat, studying yet another book on the Dark Arts. These sorts of books were not the easiest to come by and it was a wonder she was able to get her hands on so many without being found out. Of course, very few were from her own library. Most were borrowed from Lucius Malfoy or other Death Eaters, generally the older, less foolish ones. As Bella turned the page to the next chapter; Outwitting Your Opponent: Untraceable Curses, she heard a sharp tap tap tap on her window. When she looked up she found a black raven sitting on her window sill, a letter tied to it's leg. Bellatrix quickly jumped up to let the bird in, and not wanting to waste a single moment she untied the letter and unrolled it. The raven took off out the window almost as quickly as Bella had let it in. As she had expected, the letter was from her master. He was summoning her. Bellatrix quickly grabbed a light cloak from her closet and then apparated to the headquarters where she was to meet the Dark Lord.
When she arrived outside the house, Bella disarmed the wards that had been set up to keep unwanted guests out, and entered the building with an increasingly rapid heartbeat. The last time Bella had been given a task it had failed, and while it had been the traitor Charles Mortensen's fault, Bellatrix couldn't help but wonder if her master had held her somewhat accountable. On the other hand, her part of the kidnapping had gone smoothly, and at the time her master had been pleased with her. Perhaps he was still.
Whatever the case, Bellatrix was nervous and breathing heavily when she appeared in front of the Dark Lord. She bowed low to the ground, her brown eyes fixed on the floor before his feet. "My Lord, I came as quickly as possible." Her dark curls fell forward as she bowed and cast scattered shadows across her face. Her cloak had fanned itself out as she sunk toward the floor, giving the illusion that she was wearing a sort of hoop skirt under her robes.
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 13:41:09 GMT -5
The Dark Lord stood, tall and imposing, his dark shape a stark contrast from the dingy white walls of the old room. When Bella entered the room, he had his back to her, as he stood contemplating the window that overlooked the dead, withered garden. He felt her presence long before he heard her light footsteps crossing the threshold, but he continued to face the window, even after she knelt at his feet.
She spoke, and he could hear the nervousness in her voice. Her breath caught in her throat and her voice shook ever so slightly. It gave him a thrill to know that she feared him just as much as she worshipped him. He remained still as a statue for a long moment, not reacting. He knew that the delay in response would only increase her fear.
Finally, a full minute after she spoke, he replied in a voice of deadly calm. "Do you know why I summoned you here, my dear Bella?" he asked.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 21, 2008 13:53:05 GMT -5
The momentary silence was intensely frightening. Her voice caught in her throat as she attempted to answer him. "No, my Lord." Slowly she lifted her head, hoping to find a clue to his emotions from his face. She should have known better by now. She prayed silently that he was not angry with her. She had rushed over so quickly once she received the summons that she didn't really stop to think what was going on. For all she knew this was completely separate from the Rothschild baby.
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 14:03:31 GMT -5
The way her voice caught in her throat and came out as a small, frightened peep pleased him greatly. He began to laugh. First a light, joyless chuckle, then it built up into a loud, ice-cold cackle that echoed through the building. Slowly he turned to face her, looking down at her impassively. "When the traitor Mortensen stole the Rothschild baby from me, I lost my chance to get revenge on the child's parents. I don't like losing. You know that, don't you, Bella?"
He did not give her a chance to answer, however, as he bent down and took her face in his hands. "You know what they did to me, don't you? Thinking that they could just leave my services and join forces with Dumbledore and his ilk? That kind of treachery can not be permitted. I must have my revenge. And you...." he paused for a very long second, staring at her beautiful face.
"You are going to help me," he said at last.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 21, 2008 14:14:57 GMT -5
She was so relieved when he finally faced her that she couldn't help but let a soft sigh escape her lips. She listened closely as he spoke, taking her face in his hands. She rose to a standing position, but still had to look up to meet his cold, dead eyes. She started to answer his first question but was only able to open her mouth slightly before he continued. Bella shut her mouth and listened still. Grateful, she bowed once more. "Whatever my master commands," she said happily, "I shall do." A smile appeared on her face, for multiple reasons. She was pleased that he was not upset with her. And she was ecstatic that she was going to be gien another chance to prove her loyalty.
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 16:21:50 GMT -5
Voldemort smiled his mirthless smile as he gazed down at Bellatrix. "You did your job well last time, my Bella. You are one of the very few in my ranks that I know I can trust to do my bidding. That is why I am giving you this assignment. My sources tell me that the traitor, Isabella Rothschild, is in search of a teaching assistant for her position as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It seems motherhood is keeping her busier than she expected, now that her brat has been returned to her." He spat out the last words with an expression of disgust upon his face.
He strolled away from Bellatrix then, and over to another window that overlooked a desolate stretch of road. "You are to apply for that position, and you are to get it by any means necessary, is that clear? Even if you must kill the other applicants, you will get that job!"
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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 21, 2008 17:08:52 GMT -5
She watched him move across the room, her eyes fixed on his form. He was clearly plotting something, but what? Bellatrix was puzzled by this task he set before her. If his hatred for Professor Rothschild was as strong as it appeared to be, why would he want Bella to assist her? "My Lord, if I may ask..." She was hesitant to question him, but she couldn't imagine what he would be wanting. Was she to steal the infant again? Somehow try to get her sacked? "Once I have the position," there would be no questioning whether or not she would get it, "what is it you wish me to do?"
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 20:32:09 GMT -5
Voldemort turned back to her, just the barest hint of a smile on his face. "We tried once to attack Voltaire and Isabella where they were most vulnerable, by taking their child. And so we will do so again, only not with the infant." Hie eyes narrowed coldly. "Voltaire has two cousins, young girls, who were orphaned last year. One is called Anna Marie Heart. The other is Rori Logan. He and Isabella have adopted them both, and are raising them as their own. Now you are to go after them. Watch them, learn about them, learn their vulnerabilities, and exploit them. Then lure them out and away from the school... and straight to me."
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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 21, 2008 21:30:10 GMT -5
Not caring much for the Rothschilds while she attended Hogwarts, she had been unaware of their relationship to Rori and Anna. The girls were both far younger than she, and they had never really interacted with each other. But of course that would all change now. She'd have to get to know them, find out their issues, and play. This would be much for fun than having to take that insufferable infant. Hundreds of schemes began to run through her head as she pictured herself bringing the two Ravenclaws to her master, a pleased look on his face. She had gotten so wrapped up that she nearly forgot she was still speaking with the Dark Lord. She snapped herself out of her day dream and back into the present. "I will not let you down. I swear it."
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 21:44:42 GMT -5
Voldemort smiled. "I can see that you are going to enjoy this little assignment, my dear," he said, his voice coming out in a rapturous hiss through tightly clenched teeth. "I trust that you will not fail me. Not many of my other Death Eaters could I say the same of." He reached out and touched her chin almost seductively. "If you succeed in this, my Bella, there may be a reward in your future. And I know you will succeed." He did not add that, of course, failure was not an option. He knew perfectly well that she knew it already, and he preferred to let that threat hang in the air, silent and unspoken.
"Now, go. You are to apply immediately. Once you have the job, we'll meet again. I'll be in touch."
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Post by Bellatrix Black on May 21, 2008 22:06:40 GMT -5
Her head gently tilted into his hand as he touched her chin. Everytime he touched her it was like lightning ran through her body and this time was no exception. And Bella, being a girl of money, enjoyed the notion of rewards and gifts. They excited her nearly as much as being in the same room as the Dark Lord. It was not long ago that she couldn't wait to leave Hogwarts, and now here she was preparing to go back. But it was for her master and she would do anything for him. Bellatrix bowed once more on her way out of the room.
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Post by Lord Voldemort on May 21, 2008 22:14:41 GMT -5
Voldemort watched her go, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Bella would do the job, and do it well. Soon, he would have another chance at revenge against the traitors who had abandoned him so. He turned back to the window, staring out with unseeing eyes. Once, Isabella had been his favored one, followed closely by Voltaire. Everything he offered to Bellatrix now, he once would have offered to Isabella. But she had betrayed him. Abandoned him. Turned away from the cause. The very thought sickened him.
But Bella would not turn. He knew it, as sure as he knew of his own supremacy and perfection. Bellatrix would be ever faithful.
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