Tom Stark-Malfoy

In the foyer, just as Bellatrix was about to floo out of the place to somewhere safer, she felt a push from her dark mark and cold blood ran down her spine.

With a loud "crack", the Dark Lord had appeared inside the room and looked down on a hysteric Bellatrix.

"Did you honestly think you had enough brain cells in you to scheme against me girl?" The low, smooth, and condemning voice struck fear in Bellatrix's heart whilst his glowing red eyes seemed to expose all of her faults.

"M-my Lord. Please, I didn't mean to."

The Dark Lord glanced around the room, rapidly forming ideas as to why Bellatrix chose to come here. A glint flashed through his eyes, coming to a conclusion as he glared admonishingly at the servant girl who disobeyed him.

"Thought you would protect your sister?" He challenged, more a statement than a question.

"You have disappointed me again Bellatrix. First you disobey my orders, then you refuse to return what is mine, and now you openly defy me." The Dark Lord's every word getting colder, harsher, and dripping with death and venom with every syllable.

"Very well. I shall do as you wish." Bellatrix shuddered as her realization of what his words meant sunk deeper. Now, he really was going to kill her family.

"My Lord! NO! Please!!! I'll do anything!"

The Dark Lord started to frown as he realized something was off. Lucius and his wife still hadn't come to where the commotion was happening. He would have guessed that they had already fled, but he could still sense Lucius in the Manor. Displeasure started to mark his eyes as the seconds passed, but it vanished as the owner of the Manor finally decided to finally present himself.

"What is-" His eye's widened in shock after seeing the uninvited guests currently standing in his foyer.

"My Lord!" Lucius bowed, before rising again and looking at both the Dark Lord and Bellatrix in confusion. One could have given him an Oscar for his spectacular performance.

"May I ask what services you require of me?" The Dark Lord nodded, pleased to see him act accordingly with how obedient Death Eaters should act like. But he still wasn't satisfied.

"Lucius, bring your wife to me."

Hesitation flashed through Lucius' eyes which made the Dark Lord's irises glow furiously for a split second.

"I am afraid my Lord, that my wife had just given birth and is resting. But I shall still bring them here if that is what you dėsɨrė." Voldemort nodded as Lucius expertly pacified his suspicions.

"No need. I shall go to them."

Lucius nodded his head and gestured with his hand as though he were hotel staff directing an honored guest to his room.

"This way my Lord."

"Lucius! They are not here!"

Lucius had stopped in his place, before confusedly turning towards Bellatrix.

"What-"

"I have taken them somewhere you can never find them! And I made sure that they will never ever return here."

The confusion on Lucius face slowly turned into anger and disbelief.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Bellatrix was shaking in every limb as she pointed accusingly at the Dark Lord.

"He was going to kill them!"

"Enough!" Voldemort irritatedly commanded at his two elite Death Eaters who were currently bickering like preschoolers.

"Crucio!" Lucius screamed in the loudest voice he could muster.

Bellatrix fell to the ground with a sickening wail similar to a banshee's, all of her muscles were twitching as pain coursed through every nerve. In her own mind which she blocked off with occlumency, she took note of the fact that while it had indeed been painful, the pain Lucius had put her under was nothing more than mild cramps. However, she had enough experience with the curse on both ends that she knew exactly how to act.

"How dare you accuse our Lord! You disgust me." Lucius glared accusingly at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix screamed and trashed around until her throat went sore. For a split second, when she rolled her eyes to the back of her head, she glanced at the Dark Lord and knew that he was still unconvinced, with a prominent scowl etched on his lips. She let her tears, snot, and saliva fall down as she clawed on the ground while still twitching and screaming with her now hoarse voice. With an inward twitch of her whole body, she wandlessly cast a vomiting hex at herself just like she has always done to get out of class when she was still a student at Hogwarts.

After thrashing around in all her mixed-up body fluids, Lucius had finally seen a smirk make its way onto the Dark Lord's lips, and he disguised a wordless stupefy into his spellwork.

The Dark Lord seemed to be content seeing the limp Bellatrix lying in her disgusting mess, as he grasps Lucius' shoulder while smiling at him with what seems to be a proud fatherly smile. He lets go and turns around towards the exist, speaking in a low, soft, smooth, and entrancing voice.

"I bestowed upon her an item, which she has proven herself untrustworthy of. I want you to get it back and return it to me. Then I will forgive your transgressions."

Transgressions? Cold blood runs down Lucius' spine, as he glances to where Voldemort was looking. The fireplace, dirty, warm, with floo powder that had scattered in haste. Blood rushed out of his face at the clear evidence that spoke of what had truly transpired.

Bellatrix had still been dirty from flooing over here (which would explain the heat and soot coming from the fireplace), but she had not been the one to scatter the tiny amounts of fresh floo power scattered on the floor in haste, for she was still here and she had no reason to come back if she had indeed left. Narcissa had definitely not been well enough to escape on her own so there had obviously been a third party unless Lucius himself had flooed her to safety. However, if that were true, Lucius' pristine clothes, late entrance, and oblivious behavior would have then meant that he was hiding his involvement, a definite defiant act towards his Lord.

Even if Bellatrix were to reveal a third party who helped her, it was too late for she already said that she had been the one who hid them. It was obvious that they were trying to hide the presence of a third party. Finally, the floo was loud. The user had to not only shout their destination, but the roaring flames should have also alerted Lucius of its use; thus, he should have come down much sooner, so he can't even hide his involvement.

It was then that Lucius realized he had misread his Lord, for the Dark Lord was not smiling like a proud father, he was smiling like a predator, amusedly watching his prey foolishly trip over themselves.

It was at this moment that Lucius knew. He was f*cked.

When Bellatrix work up three-and-a-half hours later, it was to a broken-down Lucius. There was no light in his eyes. No movement in his limbs. His pristine appearance hadn't a trace of any 'punishment', therefore his lifeless state had scared Bellatrix out of her socks.. He was simply sitting on the ground, like a lifeless doll.