A Bellamort Tale

Part 45

Voldemort was already seated at the large table in the drawing room. And for the first time since his constant stay at the manor, Bellatrix was sitting next to him, on his right. As the summoned death eaters arrived one after the other, he gestured at them to take their usual places.

There weren't only those who usually belonged in his inner circle at this particular meeting, though, but also Abraxas Malfoy, who seemed very pleased by the invitation, and also a handful of others from lower ranks.

As soon as he saw that they were complete, the dark lord stood up and began to speak.

"My dear followers. I must admit, I am not very pleased with all of your late actions and reactions. Especially concerning my given orders and announcements. Therefore, I will attend to each of you, who have been disobedient, arrogant or simply ignorant towards me or those closest to me, in person."

The crowd didn't dare to show any reaction, but their faces turned pale and they started to shiver. Voldemort's voice was soft, quiet and almost friendly, when he spoke the first name.

"Rodolphus Lestrange!"

Said man jumped to his feet and bowed deeply.

"My lord!" He mumbled, his head lowered.

"You've always been loyal to me and have been fighting for my cause for a long time. You would have earned great honours, if you had not committed the worst possible crime on a pure-blooded witch. Thankfully your misbehaviour led to your marriage to said witch being dissolved and after a few negotiations with the ministry even legally annulled. As I haven't decided on which might be the best punishment for you, I will postpone it until I could think of something suitable for the severity of your atrocity. Sit! On the ground, cur, not on your chair!"

The usually tough and violent man cowered on the marble floor like a beaten dog at its tormentor's feet.

While most of the death eaters had some idea of what he could have done to Bellatrix and all agreed with the dark lord when it came to the ways their own kind, meaning pure blooded witches and wizards were to be treated, Abraxas Malfoy, who lived in an arranged marriage himself, grinned and asked.

"What's so wrong about showing his wife that he's her superior, my lord? She's just a nasty little bitch who doesn't deserve any better. Look at her. The last bit of her sanity stayed behind in Azkaban!"

As soon as he had finished, he was writhing in pain beside the crouched down Rodolphus, hit by the non-verbal cruciatus curse, Voldemort had cast upon him, while he, at the same time, raised his hand towards Bellatrix who had already drawn her wand at him.

He sneered down at the older man, lifting the spell for a short moment, so he was able to listen.

"You've made more than one mistake, old man. First of all, why should a witch be of less worth than a wizard? Especially if she is so much more skilled than any of you in here? Second, it is 'never' right to force yourself onto another person." He looked around, his eyes gleaming in a dangerous scarlet red. "That's to all of you. But the worst thing you did, Abraxas, was insulting the woman you have been told to respect and honour almost as much as myself. And you have as well ignored the information to follow her orders as if they were given directly by me. Furthermore, have you insulted your son, who I give a shit about, and your daughter in law, who I honour and respect very much. Lucius, be so kind and take your father to the cellar. I will send someone to attend to his special 'needs' later. For now, we have to discuss a couple more things, pleasant and unpleasant ones."

"Yes, my lord." Lucius bowed deeply and grabbed his father's arm harshly. He couldn't hide the evil grin completely and Voldemort reciprocated it with an encouraging tilt of his head.

Then the dark lord focused back on the remaining followers.

"Let's begin with something very pleasant. To me at least," He smiled, almost kindly which caused the gathered members to shake in fear. "Bella, stand up, please."

He held out his hand and the witch took it and let him pull her from her seat.

"Bellatrix Black. As you're eventually a free witch again and aren't obligated to anyone but yourself, except maybe me and that one other person, I will make it official and announce to all of my loyal death eaters, that I claim you as mine and mine alone. I also will set a date on which I intend to make you my wife very soon, but before I can do that, I should at least follow the protocol and ask you if you're even willing to marry me. Not for the stupid old rules and traditions, but to pay you the respect you should have deserved a long time ago already."

The wizards who were sitting around the table, as well as Bellatrix and Narcissa stared at him open mouthed. The dark haired witch was the first to be able to speak and asked barely audibly.

"My lord, did you just...?"

Lord Voldemort sighed and pulled her closer.

"Wasn't that obvious? I, Lord Voldemort, foremost Tom Riddle, ask you, Bellatrix Black, do you want to become my wife?"

"Of course, I want to, my lord." She whispered with one of her most maniacally looking grins on her lips.

He nodded and bowed his head, signalling her that this, holding her hand and making them official, was the most affection he would show her in public. But Bellatrix understood him, even without that gesture.

"Well, as we're now officially betrothed, I can also proclaim the birth of our daughter Delphini Black. She is healthy, beautiful and will one day be just as powerful and superior as her parents. You can spread the news about our engagement everywhere, especially that Bella from now on is to be met with the same respect and obedience as if it was me in person. But keep the knowledge about my child to yourselves. If I just as much as hear a rumour from anyone who didn't attend this meeting tonight, I can be sure that there is a spy among us and I will punish him with all my cruelty! You are dismissed. I decided to keep my unconfirmed suspicions to myself until our next gathering."

As quickly as they could, the remaining wizards, except for Draco and Lucius who had returned from the cellar, left the room and rushed out of the warded area to apparate to their homes and hideouts.