For you, always: Part 2

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Severus woke with a start in a state of delirium and for a moment he could not decipher the reason he'd been torn from slumber. Then as though his skin was being pierced with a hot blade, a searing pain cut through his left forearm. He hissed as he pulled his arms from the covers to see the Dark Mark pulsating vividly. The familiar wash of icy fear gripped his heart and his eyes darted to Lexi's peaceful form, she slept soundly from a sleeping draught of his own creation he'd given her several hours earlier. Her porcelain skin seemed to emit it's own glow in the pale moonlight, he kissed her lightly on the forehead and rose to dress.

With one last look at Lexi, he left his quarters swiftly and flinging his travelling cloak over his shoulders. He exited the castle that was bathed in moonlight, which fought the newly forming clouds that threatened to obscure its radiance. He tried to ignore the stabbing pain in his arm as he attempted to clear his mind of thought and emotion, and only when he felt the proverbial mist obscure his subconscious did he dare disapparate.

He took a deep steadying breath when the clearing blinked into view. He pulled his hood over his head and made his way toward a group of masked figures that were huddled in a circle at the edge of the woodland. Voldemort stood in the centre of them, walking round inspected each individual as though trying to ascertain their motives. The circle parted when he reached them, Voldemort fixing him with a piercing stare Severus did not care for.

"I was beginning to think you would not show, Severus," he asserted coldly.

"Apologies, My Lord," he implored with all the sincerity he could muster. "I apprehended a student on my way out of the castle."

"I care not for excuses," reprimanded Voldemort, continuing his stalking of the circle. "My friends," he addressed the rest of the group. "We have been making great strides towards our goal. The Ministry is completely ignorant to our existence."

"Yaxley," he barked, addressing the wizard to Severus' left.

"My Lord," Yaxley's voice rasped from beneath his hood.

"I trust your work with our friend at the Ministry is going according to plan?" He asked cryptically.

"It is," he husked in response. "His mind is completely at my disposal, My Lord."

"Your work pleases me," he remarked coldly.

"Thank you, My Lord," Yaxley simpered, bowing deeply.

Voldemort ignored Yaxley's platitude and continued to observe his followers with an emotionless gaze that made the hairs stand up on the back of Severus' neck. "Now that we have our claws into the Ministry, I would like us to turn our attention to our loyal brothers and sisters who are, at present, entombed in Azkaban." He resumed his dictation with a terrifying quiet. "I wish to persuade to dementors to sympathise our cause, and in return we shall offer them to darkness and depravity they crave. Malfoy –" he commanded.

A tall figure opposite Severus stepped forward, his head bowed so his face was obscured but Severus could tell from his demeanor that he seemed reluctant to be called out personally.

"Y-Yes, My Lord," he quaked and Severus noticed his hands tremble in the pockets of robes.

"I wish you to make a trip to Azkaban," Voldemort sneered malevolently. "The dementors must know of my plans to liberate our comrades and to respond to my word, when the time comes."

"O-Of course, My Lord," Malfoy stuttered, inclining his head. "An excellent –"

Voldemort held up a hand. "Enough of your vapidities, Lucius," he said sharply, causing Malfoy to retreat back into the shadows. "The recruitment of followers continues, so I am told, to progress." Voldemort stated. "We have several of our own working on the giants who reside in the Alps and two more are paying a visit to the vampires of the Black Forest."