Death Whispers

Chapter Four - Dark Houses

Winsley, a small town 5 miles from Bath, 15th August 1979

They Apparated straight onto snow. Lucius' suede boots were ruined.

"Shit!" he hissed, as he awkwardly lifted his boots from the snow. The two large men beside him looked around with their wands drawn.

The night was dark and cold. No one had noticed the arrival of the three men from thin air in. The moon was full, yet hidden from view by dark gray clouds so that the only light remaining was from a small house on the hill. A light, candlelight by the look of it, flickered from the window. The other village houses were blanketed in darkness as smarter wizards hid in the dark during these dangerous times. Not this man, he who lived here, held no fear of intruders. The snow around his house shone from the reflection of the light making the stone house look deceivingly daunting and strong.

Flanked by the two clumsy men Lucius walked across the snow complaining the whole time about his boots until he reached the small house. The group felt the wards sizzle around them as they trudged through. They gave them no thought, as they were expected guests this evening. Their luck, however, was unknown to them. These wards were dangerous and powerful. Had the three not bore the Dark Mark, they would be choking to death, instead of approaching the landing.

The door pushed open and the large frame of Blair Dolohov, the most brutal and feared Death Eater greeted them. He was tall and broad, befitting his strong physique. He wore Death Eater robes and a silver belt around his middle. His hair was black, close-cropped and a painful gash was visible under his eye.

These eyes were metallic and strange. Dangerous eyes. They glinted in a twisted greeting.

"Lucius, old friend," he said, and then nodded at the two behind Lucius, "Nott, Goyle."

The group entered the house, which, like most wizarding houses, was bigger inside then out. Dolohov led the way to a stark sitting room and checked the time on a large grandfather clock in the corner. Looking to Lucius, he nodded. Lucius told the two buffoons to remain in the sitting room. The men grunted and sat. Normally they would have asked for a snack; however, Dolohov struck fear into them, and they were not easily frightened.

Lucius and Dolohov proceeded down a narrow and poorly lit corridor. Dolohov whispered to the doors and they flew open as the pair walked down stairs into a dungeon. The dungeon was large, probably bigger than the house. Potions were brewed in one corner and the other held large muggle torture devices. They walked into a smaller dungeon. It was dressed simply with a desk, two chairs, a crystal decanter of port and two glasses.

Dolohov poured the port and they sipped it in silence for an hour. It was standard procedure for important meetings like this. It gave them time for Polyjuice checks and time to think. Lucius was a smart man and knew what precautions must be taken; however he was sure that he would have recognised a fake Blair, and he, a fake Lucius. The two were old friends and had joined Voldemort together years ago; they had only been eighteen. Lucius just out of school and travelling Europe on his fathers pay check. Blair, similarly just out of school, they met Voldemort in western Russia. Then, at the beginnings of his power - a man with a vision. He was powerful then too, speaking in bars, gathering followers. Lucius and Blair were some of the first to join.

Lucius admired the man who was considered to not be human by the majority of the wizarding world. The two had had fun in their early days competing against each other in their power games to impress the Dark Lord. They were powerful, smart, and vindictive. Calling a semi-truce once they both gained flavour, they looked out for each other now, even though unspoken rivalry still remained.

There weren't many people who could tell the difference between these men, both sick, both brutal, both deranged, and sinister. But they knew it, and the Dark Lord knew it.

Lucius was the manipulator. While they both recognized the beauty of the kill, Lucius didn't like to do the dirty work.

"Why get blood on your hands if you can get someone else to lick it off?" he would say to Dolohov, eyes glittering dangerously.

Lucius knew about control, he loved it, loved torture and manipulation to the highest degree. He could get you to kill your own family if he wanted to. Heck, he could make you kill yourself. He loved memory charms the best. Memory charms are misleading, you see...the memory isn't really gone, just hidden, pushed into the deep recesses of the human brain. Perfect for manipulation. He could haunt people, change them, convince them without them even knowing he was doing it. They felt like they were going mad when they found they reacted to certain stimuli without cause. Suddenly a mother with no violent history would stab a man she swore she had never met and not remember why. It was also why Lucius was able to keep his evils a secret.

Dolohov on the other hand craved the kill. He loved the feeling of taking a life - a stranger, his mothers - it didn't matter. He would watch greedily as his victim slipped from consciousness, throw his wand aside to feel a man take his last breath under the crushing of his huge hands. He wanted them to plead for his mercy, so he could laugh it away. Painful deaths were his favourite; "toying with his food" other Death Eaters would call it. Then he would masturbate over the dead body, his victim's blood lubricating his fingers. Death and pain excited him beyond reason.

The Dark Lord respected that, loved it, even understood it. He was, however, more familiar with Lucius' type of power and had sent him to manipulate on his behalf. This game was a dangerous one, even for Lucius. The hour's silence was well respected in this instance, as he collected his thoughts.

Lucius waved his wand to re-light candles that had burnt low. An hour had passed.

They looked at each other and broke into laughter. They laughed like madmen, when decorum was restored they turned oddly serious.

"Congratulations on the Travers boy," Dolohov said, breaking the ice. "I hear that you have manipulated him well." It was always a good start to butter up Lucius. Let the mind games begin.

"Boy killed his own parents," Lucius boasted, "and Rosier said he was only good for reconnaissance. He's turned out quite well. Of course, that'll happen with quite a bit of Malfoy Manipulation. Did you handle the Dearborn situation?"

"Of course," Dolohov smiled. Although he and his brother Antonin had attended Durmstrang, he was eager to make it in Voldemort's circle, "So what is the new mission?"

Getting straight down to business, Lucius smirked, swirling his whisky in the glass. He had to think quickly and speak carefully, as Dolohov could become angry at his information.

"I have instructions for you to start a Scientific Camp. You're to round up the prisoners and work with Snape," Lucius said

"Ureic Snape?" Dolohov asked. "I've heard the name...Potions Master, right? Thought he wouldn't fight for the cause?"

"His son, Severus," Lucius said, carefully measuring the man's reaction.

"A boy?"

"A prodigy, powerful and Slytherin to the core. He has succeeded in every mission from our master, neatly. He's been working with Rosier and been unprecedentedly useful, thanks to his potions ability. The Dark Lord feels that he is ready; he was taken into the Silver Circle last week," he explained

"What?!" exploded Dolohov, slamming the glass to the table. "Why wasn't I at the initiation, or even told about it?"

Lucius turned the anger to his flavour, as he always would, if given half a chance.

"Knew you wouldn't approve... the Dark Lord got me here to sing his praises to get you on board. And I admit the boy unfortunately has none of the vices I admire. He's not fond of rape, torture or Imperius...says he prefers to control them on his own. I can respect that...the man is smart. You have to see him work. Plus he's a master of the other two Unforgiveables, and with his potions skill and his...imagination...it more than makes up for his deficiencies."

"I would do anything for our master," Dolohov said sullenly, upset that he was out of the loop.

"He doesn't doubt that, that's why he wants you to keep things in control," Lucius said, flattering him unnecessarily. Dolohov shot him a look, aware of Lucius's attempts to charm him.

"This is an important new mission with science. Severus has been brewing with Pince and Muench. The boy far exceeds them, a prodigy of sorts. They had him cooped up for a week brewing Crirriuo, the most painful and difficult of the Dark Arts potions and he forced it down Pince's neck screaming, 'Do you know how easy this is for me?' He watched him squirm for a full minute before he gave him the counter potion. Certainly raised some eyebrows, especially after the boy revealed that Pince and his wife had been hiding out at Hogwarts and turned to the other side. He says the only reason he gave him the antidote was to keep him alive long enough for his guilty admission and so the master could kill him. Pince unfortunately was killed last week, his wife managing to escape to Hogwarts, but leaving a position in the Silver Circle. And, Severus just happened to be the best one for the job."

"I'm starting to warm up to the boy," Dolohov grinned.

"Yes, but he is dangerous and powerful," Lucius warned. "Keep him in charge, and watch him. There is no room for error here; we want him on our side, a powerful ally and fiercely loyal. We just have to make sure we know where his loyalties lie. That's why the Dark Lord wants you to keep an eye on him, and install a little fear in the camp."

Dolohov was angry at being made second in command. Currently his only plans were to trip the boy up. Lucius read him like a book.

"I know what you're thinking...you can break him after we are done. The Dark Lord won't be happy with any insubordinance, not when he is so close to achieving immortality," Lucius said, watching Dolohov slowly as the man agreed with a slight nod. He had sold the mission.

"Anyway, here is the brief," he continued handing Dolohov the black folder which bore the Dark Mark. "It's the only thing we've kept. All other documents are to be written in code, no names, use numbers. Rookwood is paranoid about spies. He has taken to tabulating everything...no information is given out without his consent. He's gone so far as to keep it at the Ministry. You get a small team to round up prisoners. Snape needs wizards and Muggles, halfbloods will do, and pures against the cause. Try and get some Weasleys. Your team's all right, except Karkaroff, he worked with Travers at the McKinnons murder, Travers says he's a bit of a bungler. The Dark Lord was afraid Travers might kill him so moved him to work with you guys," Lucius said with a cruel Malfoy sneer.

Dolohov nodded, reading through the papers. The brief seemed interesting enough and he knew he had to beat Malfoy back into the Dark Lord's favour. Voldemort was strong and intelligent; as long as he kept playing one against the other neither would have time to eye his throne.

"Those goons have probably found their way to the kitchen and eaten everything," Dolohov said, rising from his chair. Lucius nodded and rose.

"Lets go and redeem some of our glory days...nice little village you have here, Blair," Lucius smiled, drawing his wand.

They laughed as they reached the landing and Nott and Goyle looked up from their feast.

Lucius grinned. Mission accomplished, he was in an excellent mood, and ready to attack. "Come on boys, we're off for some fun."