No Mercy

She fell hard on the wooden floor, the screams and bangs still echoing in her ears. This small hut had a pathetic fire in the corner, spitting and crackling feebly. It did not help to keep the cold out. She shivered, and clutched her bruised shoulder from where the statue of the witch had tackled her to the floor of the Ministry.

"I thought you were my last hope Bellatrix"

She jumped violently when she heard his voice. Crisp and cold, his words pierced her like a knife.

"You would have been rewarded"

Her heart sank. The Prophecy. Fleeting images of Potter yelling at her that it was gone, and her fear rushing through her when she realised the truth caused her hands to shake.

"M-master" she croaked.

"Yes, Bella, the Prophecy is gone. I trusted you to take it from Potter without a mess, but your idiocy of being distracted by an animagus; your own cousin, even, is too much".

She sunk to the ground again, he wasn't even shouting or raging at her. The disappointment in his voice was breaking her already cripple and meager heart.

"Tell me, how can I try and repair the damage I have done. However, Master, Lucius-"

"Don't talk to me about that fool!" Voldemort spat.

She shrunk back by the force of his words.

"He will be punished greatly for what he has done…or what he has not…"

Voldemort smiled his rare mouthless smile.

"As for you Bella," he kneeled in front of her, his wand pointing at her throat.

"As you removed an enemy, or hurdle shall we say, you will have some of Lord Voldemort's mercy"

He was so close to her, she could see the scattered black remains of specks in the reds of his eyes. This moment took her so far back to when they were both at Hogwarts, about to share what she had longed to do again, ever since joining the Death Eaters. The forbidden kiss. She leaned forward ever so slightly, ignoring his wand pressing hard against her throat.

"Lord Voldemort, however, is not that merciful, even to loyal servants who meant well, but failed, Bellatrix," he breathed into her ear.

She opened her eyes, and saw the flash of anger run through his. She felt the pain before she saw the red blaze. She didn't scream, though every inch of her body felt as though hot knives were stabbing her. Tears ran down her cheeks. The pain subsided.

"Do not fail me again, Bella, and you must know.."

He lifted her up by the arm, and dragged her face to his mouth so she could hear clearly.

"Lord Voldemort", he whispered, "never has, does not, and never will love."

She stared unseeing ahead, knowing full well what he said, he meant. He let go of her. She landed on her feet surprisingly balanced. She looked up at him and whispered in return.

"Lord Voldemort cannot prevent others from loving him though"

There was a terrible silence. She was surprised by her own words. It was like someone else had said them. Like her hate and madness had been extinguished by her deepest need. His gaze pierced her and his wand trembled for a split second. He retained himself however, and grabbed her wrist pulling it upwards, bending it the wrong way. She let out a small scream.

"Leave me, get out. You have failed me this night, and Lord Voldemort does not forget failures. What you have just said, however, will not be spoken about again, understand?"

She nodded quickly, wincing as he let go and thrust her away. She ran away from the hut, and reached the edge of a forest. She clung to a tree for support, and wept quietly for a moment. She would apparate to the Malfoy Manor for the night. She would tell no one of what happened, not even her own sister. This was between her and him. It always had been.