WITHOUT YOU [draco malfoy fanfiction]

50. The beginning

A/N: [The artwork in the chapter does not belong to me. Credits to the owner.]

Hope you enjoy this one! Lots of action brewing in the upcoming chapters!

Lord Voldemort looked at the figure kneeling at his foot.

"How long?" he asks the man, sitting at his make-shift throne, Nagini coiled around his arm.

"Not long, my Lord. As soon as the ministry vacates and you lure the boy, we will ambush.

Voldemort hums, "Do not disappoint me Lucius or you shall face the wrath of Lord Voldemort. I will not accept failures. Make a blunder and you will pay with lives of your wife and son"

A shiver runs down Lucius' spine at the threat but he reigns it in. It is not the first time that his Lord has made a threat, but it is the first time that he has so callously thrown his wife and son's lives in the mix. Before, Lord Voldemort would make Lucius feel like he was a priced possession, his honeyed words flowed like the poison they were in his veins. He would tell Lucius that purebloods would emerge at the highest tier, that their lives were of utmost importance. He would make Lucius dream of a golden future for his boy, Draco. He would tell Lucius how another Malfoy would be a loyal servant to him and would be favoured accordingly. But ever since he re-emerged, Voldemort became sloppy. His eyes always had a crazed look in them. He forgot all his goals and agendas, targeting only the spectacled boy Potter. Voldemort now shows no regard to the lives of Purebloods, killing his followers in fits of rage and threatening their families. How were purebloods supposed to emerge at the top if he killed them all? Lucius was a shrewd man. Yes, he was a follower but not a blind one. He could see Voldemort deteriorating and Lucius would never place his bets on a mad man. After he saw what was supposed to happened to him in the future and how Voldemort treated his family, Lucius only feels blinding rage towards the man he once blindingly worshipped. Yet, he had to play his part of the loyal follower. He locks all the bubbling emotions back in their cage and bows down low,

"I promise to succeed at all costs, My Lord" he says placing a fisted hand on his chest. He tries to come to a standing position.

Lucius falls back on his knees while trying to standing up with a flick of Lord Voldemort's wand.

"Did I give you the permission to stand Lucius?" he hissed

"No, My Lord" the tall and proud man cowers.

"Crucio" Lucius tries not to scream in agony as the curse rips through his body but gives up after a few minutes. He felt as if he was being stabbed with sharp knives all over his body and the pain was excruciating.

After a few minutes the curse is lifted, leaving Lucius' body aching and sore and mouth full of blood since he bit his tongue.

"Stay a little longer like that will you? I like seeing you on your knees" Voldemort laughs, a strange sound very close to hissing and all his followers present, join him. Some in genuine glee at Lucius' predicament and some in fear of angering their master.

Voldemort takes sight of the pitiful man in front of him.

Lucius Malfoy.

Lord Lucius Malfoy.

Earl of Wiltshire.

Voldemort scoffs internally. In front of him, no title mattered. He had the head of the richest wizarding family in the world, on his knees for him. He felt truly invincible, drunk on power.

He beckoned a crooked finger towards Bella who almost ran to his side like a panting puppy and fell at his feet.

"My Lord" she purred in a seductive voice while kissing the hem of his robes. Always so ready to please him, for him to use her in any way he wanted to without any resistance. So unlike her sister, the one he truly wanted. The blonde beauty, Narcissa Black. Malfoy now. She never submitted to him fully and it is a part of the reason why he likes to see Lucius in pain even though he is his left-hand. Lucius has one of the few things in the world that Lord Voldemort really really wants and does not have.