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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 1, 2017 4:17:54 GMT -5
Derek returned the grave nod and left first leaving the couple to have a final moment together. More Death Eaters had arrived eager to see the spectacle unfold. Christian was one of the first to join Voldemort's cause. He was well respected within their group and had a high rank. They were curious now to see if the man would fall from grace, and how he would handle the situation at hand. Derek sneered.
To her credit Diana was cool under pressure. Christian's fear had upset her, and his warning seemed severe, but Diana was confident. Christian had managed to penetrate her defenses, but he had always been the exception. She loved him. She couldn't fight him no matter how much she tried.
She didn't care about Voldemort, his cause, or his power. She had been at the mercy of powerful men in the past and survived. She would survive this too.
When they arrived Diana watched Derek take a knee. She looked to Christian to see what her own action should be.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 1, 2017 15:33:29 GMT -5
Christian's demeanor changed instantly as they arrived. He did not resemble the man who, only moments ago, showed emotion in his voice as he gave warnings and instructions to the woman he loved. Christian stood strong, his appearance indifferent. He had learned long ago that emotional outbursts were not only unwelcome, but they were generally not tolerated in Lord Voldemort's presence. A stoic demeanor was required and although Christian was feeling a wider arrange of emotions now that Diana was in his life, the strong silence came naturally to him.
There was a crowd of Death Eaters that had assembled to witness the potential downfall of Christian Ward and like Derek, Christian sneered as he saw them. Vultures. Diana looked to him for a sign as how to proceed and Christian nodded at her as he took a knee in front of the Dark Lord. Deference first until they better understood their purpose in being summoned.
"My lord," Christian said in a deep voice as he bowed his head.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 1, 2017 16:57:31 GMT -5
Diana followed suit and fell to a knee bowing her head.
Voldemort was swathed in shadows, she didn't see him, until suddenly he was immediately before her. A move that startled her as she felt the raw power emanating from the man. She could understand both Christian and Derek's awe now having felt Voldemort's unquestionable power, and she had only just met him.
"So this is the cause behind such petty squabbles between my men." he hissed lifting Diana's chin.
She resisted the urge to pull away, but there was a fire in her eyes. She wasn't afraid, she had passion, and she was not easily read. The thought made Voldemort's lips twitch. While she kept her thoughts well hidden he was able to discern what made her alluring to two of his more trusted men. And yet she had caused a stir within his followers that he did not need.
"Now I see what all the trouble has been about. Congratulations," he turned toward Christian, "on your marriage."
He disappeared then and returned to the throne like structure that was placed further back in the room. He sat with pride, with power, and with all the ease of a man who knew he was king.
"Unfortunately, your wife has a rather high price on her head. More than one of your brothers and sisters had hoped to collect." he paused, then ordered sharply, "Silas!"
The man appeared and was instantly on one knee his head bowed in deference.
"My Lord."
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 1, 2017 22:49:05 GMT -5
Christian watched Diana as the Dark Lord inspected her and perused her mind. He kept his own mind as clear as possible but knew that his occlumency skills were nothing compared to Voldemort's powers of legilimency.
Voldemort made it known that he had acquired some information on the couple, at the very least he knew about the marriage but what else had he discovered? Christian looked into the powerful man's face, giving a small nod of acknowledgement and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
When Silas emerged Christian's face hardened.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 2, 2017 1:48:09 GMT -5
Voldemort was keenly aware of Christian's reaction. The animosity was strong. He had long ago sensed Silas' envy over Christian's position, but the man was simply not as valuable as Christian had proven to be. Until now. Until Christian had the absolute idiocy to bind his life to another.
"I thought I had made it clear how I felt about infighting." he said deceptively cool, "And yet it would seem that some of you need a reminder. I do so loathe repeating myself." he snarled thinly.
"You have knowingly attacked one of your own. One of my men. A man above your station. And yet you claim to be after this woman and the bounty on her head." he summed looking at Silas.
"And you two," he said quickly turning his attention to Christian and Derek, "slaughtered an entire hit squad comprised of men and women loyal to me! During a time in which we are seeking new additions to our cause! But as Burke has explained, it was in self defense and in defense of again this ...woman." Voldemort nearly hissed as his attention was turned back toward Diana.
"Tell me Mrs. Ward, are you worth all this trouble?"
She raised her chin slightly, she hadn't given much thought to be worth trouble to anyone else. But she would not apologize for being difficult to kill.
"I see." he said clearly as though he had heard her unspoken words, "Does your husband feel the same?" he asked still keeping his eyes on Diana.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 2, 2017 2:54:23 GMT -5
Christian was about to make an emotionless plea for understanding, as he had been too busy at the time trying to stay alive, and trying to keep Diana alive, to realize that the men breaking into his home to attack them were followers of the Dark Lord. Their lives were in peril and there was no calm reasoning with them. Christian's house was still in shambles and would be quite unlivable for a while. Thankfully Derek had the situation covered, at least for now.
Was Diana worth the trouble? It was an awful lot of trouble to be sure. But she was the mother of his children and the only woman he had ever cared enough to love. Despite trying to keep his mind clear, he couldn't help but think of Diana's strength, courage, and passion. She was worth every ounce of trouble and so much more. Christian nodded to his master's question.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 2, 2017 23:19:26 GMT -5
He had better things to do than meddle in his follower's affairs, but the pretense was important. He could not appear weak, or appear to have favorites, even if some members were more useful than others.
"Indeed." he sniffed. He was not the most sentimental of men, and he had assumed Christian was of the same ilk. He did not like being proved wrong.
"I certainly do hope so. For your own sake."
He paused then surveying the crowd that had gathered. Christian had put him in an inconvenient position, he was loathe to lose one of his best men, but more would be lost in the absence of a firm hand.
"She is not one of us, and she has not yet proven her worth to be one of us. Therefore, her life is of little value to me. In contrast, the slaughter of your brothers and sisters, my loyal followers, held much value. And for their lives lost someone must pay the price. Perhaps more than one." he said gravely.
"Do I punish you, Derek, and your wife, for the deaths?" he asked Christian, then turned toward Silas " Or do I punish you for leading them to their deaths against your own superior in the first place?"
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 2, 2017 23:43:44 GMT -5
Christian felt his heart begin to beat slightly faster as Lord Voldemort claimed Diana's life was of little consequence to him. It was true, Diana provided nothing for the Dark Lord's cause and her presence on Christian's life had turned things topsy turvy, creating a domino effect of chaos that greatly impacted the Death Eater ranks. But if anyone in their little trio was to blame, it was Christian, certainly not Diana or Derek. But even more so responsible for the deaths of so many loyal followers was the man who stupidly recruited them in an attempt to overtake someone who had proven his better in nearly every way that mattered.
Christian glanced at Diana quickly before laying eyes upon his master. He and Diana were bonded, and so no matter what fate befell him it would also claim her. But there was little he could do in this situation that guaranteed them safety. He could not make a safe move, so he made a strategic one.
"My lord, if I may speak. The quarrel that claimed the lives of your faithful was between Silas and myself. If any are to be punished it should not be Diana or Burke. They simply had the unfortunate accident of being connected to me but this fight was brought to them and was not theirs."
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Post by Lord Voldemort on Feb 3, 2017 0:07:16 GMT -5
Voldemort allowed Christian's defense, and an eyebrow rose in response, "It is my understanding that this fight was over your wife, and you and Burke had the unfortunate accident of being connected to her. Does her death not carry a significant financial reward?"
He knew what Christian was referring to however, and the pettiness of it astounded him. He encouraged competition, but stupidity was not tolerated. Silas was a fool to challenge Christian, and ordinarily it would cost Silas his life, but now that Christian's life was tethered to this other woman's there was no telling when Christian would be snuffed out, and a replacement would be needed. That very well could be Silas. Voldemort needed to plan ahead.
"And yet instead of claiming that reward yourself, you have tied yourself to this woman." He replied leveling a gaze on Christian saying more with his harsh stare than with the words spoken. He did not speak directly of the lifebond, it was not necessary for the other DEs to know of it, but he made his knowledge clear to Christian at least.
He was silent for a moment looking between them, then looking at the other men and women in the room. "Enough. I have come to a decision."
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 3, 2017 0:20:00 GMT -5
Christian knew that the price on Diana's head was the initial bait for Silas' mind games. But when the man had clearly made to kill Christian over Diana during the attack in his home, the petty man's motives became clear. And if that hadn't solidified it in Christian's mind, twisting Diana's reality until she believed she needed to murder her own husband was the definitive proof. Silas had beef with Christian and was using the bounty on Diana as a perk.
The look that Voldemort gave to Christian was deadly and he knew at once what was intended behind the vague words. Voldemort knew of the life bond, as he would know of many things simply by looking at each of them. There were no secrets from Lord Voldemort, only from the men and women who had come to gawk at the spectacle. He looked down.
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Post by Lord Voldemort on Feb 3, 2017 1:02:16 GMT -5
"Do you have a wand Mrs. Ward?" he asked deceptively cool.
She nodded affirmatively, and kept her eyes soft but confident while looking at the man her husband and Derek were reverent toward. She could understand why; he was an intimidating presence at best.
"Then I do hope you know how to use it." he said casually as he then ordered them all to make room for a duel.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 3, 2017 1:09:56 GMT -5
Christian looked up at once, his adrenaline pumping as Diana's preparedness was questioned and a duel was ordered. He clenched his fists as he looked to Silas. Christian should have killed him when he had the chance, then he would not have this show to put on for his colleagues. But he would get the job done now; if he and Diana were to fight Silas Christian was sure they would overcome him. There was a reason Christian outranked Silas and had it not been for instantly coming out of the anchoring ritual he would have been able to best him when they were still at Christian's home.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 3, 2017 1:17:21 GMT -5
Voldemort almost smirked, though it appeared as thin sneer as he could sense Christian's intentions. He called Silas to one side and the man eagerly moved into position.
"Time to prove your worth my dear." he said inviting her, and only her to the other side.
Diana had a wand, it wasn't her wand, and she was fairly certain it was damaged. Christian had her wand, somewhere, probably in the bag of tricks he had kept from her grasp. If she was going to duel someone she would have liked her own weapons at the very least, but she would make due.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 4, 2017 1:59:43 GMT -5
Christian's jaw clenched as he realized that he would not be facing Silas. He had to watch as Diana attempted to defeat her would-be assassin. But Diana was not in top condition and Christian's heart raced as hesitantly stepped back nearer the crowd of blood thirsty Death Eaters. He looked at Derek with a grave expression.
Silas gripped his wand, rotating it in his hand as he stared at Diana with a smug grin. He knew her dirty little secrets, her insecurities, and her weaknesses. He was confident in his position and only sorry he couldn't draw her death out longer, but the Dark Lord wouldn't permit such time for that. Had he captured her before, he could have tortured her for weeks before ending her suffering.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 4, 2017 2:16:57 GMT -5
Diana recognized the peculiar gleam in Silas' eyes. Steele had a similar expression when it came to the job. Diana had seen Christian kill his fair share of people, she had also seen Derek take down men and women left and right. But neither of them enjoyed the kill the way that Steele had, the way she imagined that Silas did as well.
She could almost sense the glee Silas felt in the opportunity he had to kill her, and perhaps take Christian down with her. Diana wouldn't let it come to that. She was confident in her own abilities to take Silas down, if only she were at her full strength.
She moved to take position, and gripped the wand in her hand, she could do this.
***
Derek returned Christian's concerned gaze, Diana was not at her best, and Silas was easily one of the more skilled Death Eaters in Voldemort's army. His gut twisted at the thought of Diana being bested.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 4, 2017 2:27:32 GMT -5
The crowd around them hummed with an eager silence as they waited for Lord Voldemort to give the cue. Silas was itching to better this pathetic wench and lord his prowess over her and her rotten husband.
Voldemort signaled and Silas didn't hesitate. He quickly threw a bolt of shocking orange light straight at the sultry brunette.
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 8, 2017 1:16:11 GMT -5
Diana had been dazed earlier, coming out of the twisted dream Silas had put her in, but she was all business once the duel began. Silas predictably shot first and Diana was quick to evade, she didn't waste time or energy deflecting the curse, but moved to the side and toward the man himself. She would have done anything to have a decent knife on her, but her only weapon was some henchman's poor excuse for a wand.
She was better in close quarters, but first she needed to see how Silas fought. She threw a curse his way to see how he'd respond.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 9, 2017 0:36:46 GMT -5
Silas blocked the curse easily and laughed at her. "Come on Diana. I know you can do better than that. Why not show us some of those moves that get your old man all hot under the collar." Silas had played witness to Christian's observation of Diana's memories during the spell to try to keep him out of her head. It hadn't worked and instead it gave him great insight into both Diana and Christian. The Ward family, what a f*cking joke.
He threw another curse at her as she came closer still. He countered, keeping his distance for now. "Pretty little Diana Crawford. It's a shame you weren't always this beautiful, if you had been maybe your father would have actually loved you. Maybe Ward would have stuck around after f*cking you instead of running off halfway across the world to escape you."
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Post by Diana Ward on Feb 11, 2017 22:25:58 GMT -5
"Keep talking asshat." Diana said under her breath. He was moving away from her; it wasn't surprising. He knew her moves, the way she fought. He had infiltrated her mind and was privy to not only the way she fought, but the reasons why. His unpredictability could be her undoing. She would have to be unpredictable in return.
She brought her hand up with the faulty wand and conjured dozens of knives in the air to rain down upon Silas.
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Post by Christian Ward on Feb 12, 2017 1:44:48 GMT -5
Silas was well aware of the threat Diana posed in close quarters, especially with non-magical weapons; tools really. Knives, guns, all manner of unsophisticated and primitive tools only used in duels by muggles and filth. And here was Ward's precious little wife itching for a weapon that would highlight the man's poor choices. Surely Lord Voldemort and his faithful followers, witches and wizards who plotted to rid the world of non-magical peoples, would look down upon a man who's wife preferred savage weaponry over magic. Ward would be shunned only seconds before the man dropped dead after Silas defeated Diana. He gave a dark laugh at the thought which turned taunting as he was about to fire another curse at her.
Suddenly razor sharp knives rained down from above, slicing into him several times before Silas was able to shield himself from the remaining flurry. "You're a clever little c*nt, aren't you? Shame you weren't clever enough to save those little girls. What were their names again?"
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