A/N: The feedback I'm getting is great! Thanks everyone! Yes, its gotten a little dark and disturbing, but that is what I write best. ;)
Chapter 20: The First Sacrifice
Severus strolled smugly out of the school and into the bright sunshine. There was a gleam of light to his right; the
sunlight was reflecting off of Lucius' white blonde hair. He was sitting with Bellatrix on a stone bench in the
gardens.
They looked up as Severus approached.
"Where have you been?" Bellatrix demanded.
"Sorry," Severus smiled. "An opportunity rose up that I couldn't ignore."
Lucius understood instantly what he meant and raised his eyebrows at Severus. Severus just smiled. Bellatrix looked
between the two, confused.
"Hello?!" she shot at them. "Someone care to fill me in?"
"Later," Lucius said. His attention was directed toward the sky. They turned and saw a raven flying toward
them. Inky black, it was a small shadow against the sunset-filled sky. It soared down and perched gently on Lucius'
shoulder.
"When did you get a raven?" Severus asked.
"A gift from the Master," Lucius said smugly. "Just in case the rat turns sides again, we need
something a bit more reliable anyway for spying." Lucius stroked the raven's glistening black wing. It ruffled
its feathers and leaned into Lucius' ear.
Severus and Bellatrix gave each other a look. Lucius looked as if he was actually listening to the bird. But that was
ridiculous, birds couldn't talk. . .
"Excellent," Lucius said as he straightened up again. He turned to Bellatrix. "Imperio!" Her eyes
glazed over instantly. Severus merely looked on in surprise. He gave Lucius a questioning glance.
"I don't feel like being interrupted this time," Lucius responded to the unspoken question. "Watch
her." He stood to leave.
"Oh and one more thing," he turned back to Severus," CALISTA?!"
"You get your pleasure how you will and I'll do the same," Severus said softly. He and Lucius shared a
look of understanding as Lucius disappeared in the direction of the hospital wing.
*****
Peter was walking alone around the grounds. Had anyone noticed him, they would have seen he was much more fidgety
than normal, even for Peter. He was also very pale and his stutter had increased to monumental proportions lately. But
no one noticed Peter Pettigrew. That was the problem. Lauren O'Henry hadn't noticed him, even his fellow
Marauders never really noticed him. Then the voice had come.
Oh, it had promised him wonderful things. Glory . . . power . . . the attention he had craved all his life. It had
said it could make him, not as good as, but even better than James and Sirius. The thought of what could be filled him
with a feverish desire to please. For two years now the voice had poisoned his mind, warped his senses, and twisted his
loyalties. For the voice in his head was cunning and shrewd. It knew things. . . the Master knew things. For the voice
in his head was that of the Master.
Peter shivered. He was loyal to the Master, but he sometimes missed the old days, the days before the voice had come.
When he had no worries larger than how to get Lauren O'Henry to talk to him. Now. . . well, things had changed.
Peter was amazed no one had found him out yet, but then again, who would notice short, fat, squeaky little Peter?
Master was right, it was perfect.
A pair of dirty hands reached out, unseen and grabbed Peter. His mouth covered, Peter was dragged into the shadows of
the greenhouses.
******
Calista ran all the way into her room and slammed the door behind her. She bolted the lock so the other girls
couldn't get in; she needed some alone time.
She brushed her tangled hair out of her face. She was still damp from the shower, leaving a trail of water behind her.
She sank onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow. Seeing Dumbledore and Sirius together had jarred her senses.
What if Sirius remembers? Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, what if he removes the Memory Charm?! The memories
of that night came unbidden to Calista's mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block them out but they came
on. . .
Lucius and the others had dragged her deep into the forest. They came to a small clearing which held a ring of
stone. In these stones was a large dais. Bellatrix, Severus, Rodolphus, Lucius and Rabastan took their places around
the dais.
"Here," Lucius tossed her a large, hooded black robe, "put this on and
stand next to Severus."
"What is going on?" she asked.
"You are about to make a choice that will change your life. Or end it, depending on what you choose to
do."
Calista gulped. This was not good. She heard a squeaking noise behind her and
turned.
"Ah," Rodolphus said. "Right on time."
The
sight was bewildering: Sirius Black and Sara Brown were floating towards her. It looked like they were both sleeping,
then they passed more fully into the moonlight and she saw the bite marks that covered their bodies. Behind them, Peter
Pettigrew emerged, wand out and pulling on his own black robe. Wait--Peter Pettigrew?! He was a Gryffindor and Sirius.
. .
The source of the squeaking noise was a large swarm of rats milling about beneath the lolling
bodies of Sara and Sirius. She swallowed the bile she felt rise to her throat. This was definitely not
good.
The girl," a high, cold voice said behind her. Calista turned and stared at a tall
figure that had materialized out of nowhere. Dressed in robes very similar to the ones she and the others now wore, the
only difference was the red rune designs drawn on the hem of this man's robes. She couldn't see his face, his
hood was drawn. All she could see of him was his hands, long and white.
She was confused;
Apparition wasn't possible on the Hogwarts grounds! So where. . .
"Shhh," Severus
whispered to her. He pointed at the space next to him and glared at her. She reluctantly obeyed; following orders was
apparently going to keep her in one piece.
"SO, we have a new face, do we?" the tall
figure said. He approached her and reached out one white, spider-like hand towards her. She shrank
back.
"Seems a bit too timid, don't you think?" he asked Severus.
"I beg pardon, Master. She knows too much." The response came from Lucius. She saw him bow his head to
the tall figure. Master? "She is weak, and expendable." Oh, crap.
"We'll
see." The figure approached her once again and reached out a hand. She looked up into the darkness that was his
face and beheld two glowing eyes, red as blood and bright as flame. She felt like fainting, but was determined to stand
her ground. If these were to be her last moments, she would not have them by lying on the ground.
The figure laughed softly; clearly, he could hear her thoughts. She ticked a glance at Severus.
"Yes, Severus and I do have that in common," the figure said softly. "Lord Voldemort expects nothing
but the best in his followers."
Voldemort. The name sent chills down her spine, but she
squared her chin bravely.
"So why is Pettigrew here then?" she said defiantly. The
figure laughed, Bellatrix smothered a giggle and Severus smirked at her. She felt his appreciation and it made her want
to vomit.
"Wormtail serves his purpose," said Voldemort. "The girl,
Wormtail." Peter directed Sara's body until she was resting on the dais. He then led Sirius body away from the
circle and conjured thick robes that tied him to a tree. Peter then took his place between Lucius and
Rabastan.
"You have two options my dear." She realized Voldemort was speaking to her.
"Join me, and serve reluctantly but faithfully. Or say your goodbyes now. I have worked too hard to have my plans
ruined by a child."
She bristled, she was no child! He saw. "Good. Very good," he
spoke softly. "Come." He gestured to her and she followed him until she was standing next to the dais.
Voldemort stood behind her and began to speak.
"Join the path of the ones most noble.
Pure-bloods, the true strength of wizard-kind. Let us free ourselves from Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers! Let us gather as
one and purge the world of those unworthy to claim the name wizard."
The others were
chanting lowly, she couldn't make out the words. She looked around and saw Bellatrix, her eyes glowing with
excitement. Lucius had his eyes glued to the dais. Rodolphus and Rabastan were nearly jumping on the spot. Peter had
his eyes closed tight while he muttered. He looked as terrified as she felt. Severus had his eyes on her again. She
felt dirty.
"Do not deny Severus," Voldemort spoke quietly in her ear. "Nor any of
them, lest I be displeased. They were my firsts here. You have an age to go before I grant you the same as I do
them." She nodded, unable to speak.
She looked back down at the dais. Sara was beginning to
stir.
Something hard and cold was pressed into her hand. A long, thin, dagger with the jeweled
handle of a serpent.
"To join, there must be a willingness to obey" Voldemort said. She
looked at him uncomprehending.
"Everything comes with a price. We must make
sacrifices." He put an emphasis on the last word and she understood. No. . .
"You or
her. Choose."
She looked down at Sara, whose eyes were beginning to flutter. She
couldn't do this, she wanted to be away from here, snug in her bed, anywhere! Not here, lifting the knife over her
head. No, no, no. . .
It was like time slowed down. She saw the people around her, eyes gleaming.
They weren't people, they were monsters, and she with them now. She saw the rats guarding Sirius, biting and
clawing still. Blood was pouring down him like rain. There was a raven perched on a branch above him, was it watching
her? The Master was close enough behind her she could feel his breath on her neck like a winter's
chill.
"You or her."
She looked. She didn't want to, but it
was her or Sara. She gripped the knife handle, high above her head. Sara's eyes popped open and stared directly
into hers. The knife came down.
Calista bit her pillow to hide the scream. No, no, no, no, no. . .