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. . .