The meeting had been called at an unusual hour, Lucius had to admit. It wasn't one of their regular meetings, that was scheduled for tomorrow, which meant that the Dark Lord had something of an emergency. Lucius couldn't help but wonder what his master would consider to be an emergency. He did not believe that fear was an emotion the Dark Lord could feel. Certainly not enough to call for an emergency meeting of his Inner Circle.
Lucius arrived at the meeting's location, a disused Comet Trading Company warehouse that had been set aside for such clandestine purposes, as Lucius used his influence over the board of the Comet Trading Company to ensure it. Influence he had gained for a pittance after the deaths of owners Randolph Keitch and Basil Horton during the First War.
That had been one of his more pleasurable wartime activities, targeting business owners for Death Eater attack so that he could buy up their stock portfolios during the sales of their estates for a reduced price. He had been rather looking forward to doing that again this second time around and had even sent Alecto Carrow and her lot of minions with instructions to target a number of shop owners in Diagon Alley earlier in the evening.
That attack had, unfortunately, been foiled. Alecto and a number of her minions were now in Ministry Custody, though fortunately, Lucius' influence with the Ministry was sufficient to allow him time alone with Alecto unmonitored by any of Madame Bones' Aurors. Alecto had told him that she and her minions had been taken down by a single Wizard, one who could cast at least the summoning charm endlessly, and who was able to brew potions that could enhance speed and agility far beyond the normal Hogwarts curriculum.
Apparently, he had also proven able to throw off the effects of the Cruciatus curse, which wasn't something just any Wizard could do. While a Master of Occlumancy might be able to do so temporarily, an extended casting of the Cruciatus curse would swiftly wear away any such resistance. Alecto had made it seem as if the person in question was unaffected by her extended casting. Only someone born as a Natural Occlumens could train the mind arts to that level.
The only other thing that Lucius had learned while at the Ministry, aside from the description of this Rogue Wizard, was from Auror Eric Selwyn. Eric was one of them, having gone undercover in the DMLE, and who had spoken to a number of the Aurors that had been present during the clean-up. Apparently, whoever this Rogue Wizard was, he spoke fluent Polish.
Lucius had come almost straight from the Ministry, in fact, having scarcely had time to stop by the Manor to change into his uniform. Ironically, he arrived around the same time that Dolohov did. Antonin Dolohov was looking a bit worse for wear, his Uniform tattered and torn, with pink skin showing beneath the tears, revealing the recent use of healing charms.
"Dolohov, you look like you've had an evening." Smirked Lucius, inclining his head slightly.
"This is no time for sarcastic remarks, Malfoy. The Dark Lord is not going to be pleased with the events of tonight." Grumbled Dolohov.
That struck Lucius as interesting. It implied that Dolohov knew at least part of the reason why the Dark Lord had called for an emergency meeting. Lucius had feared it had been due to Alecto Carrow's defeat in Diagon Alley, which would have put him squarely in the focus of the Dark Lord's displeasure, as Alecto was one of his subordinates in the hierarchy of the Death Eaters. If Dolohov had also run afoul of a setback, it was possible that he would be sharing the Dark Lord's punishment. A punishment shared was often a punishment lessened.
"Do tell?" Questioned Lucius.
"Why bother, you'll hear the story soon enough, once everyone has assembled. Besides, from what I hear, you have your own problems to worry about." Scoffed Dolohov.
"Suit yourself." Shrugged Lucius.
Then he walked out into the warehouse proper from the office area that they had been using as a target for their own version of Apparition. He was glad to be out of the dingy office if he was being honest. The Fumos Fuga Spell had been invented during the lead-up to the First War by the Dark Lord as a way to bypass Anti-Apparition Wards while their opponents would still be trapped by such countermeasures. The spell formed a critical part of the Death Eater's strategic playbook, but it did tend to leave an oily black residue in places from the smoke that the spell conjured.
As Lucius entered the main area of the Warehouse, he saw that he and Dolohov were not the first to arrive. Augustus Rookwood and Severus had beaten them to the punch, as it were. Rookwood served a key function as the Dark Lord's chief Spellcrafter, a position he excelled in thanks to his background as an unspeakable. Meanwhile, Severus was their spy in Dumbledore's little Order of the Phoenix.
"Severus. Rookwood. Good evening to you both." Nodded Lucius.
"Good evening, Lucius. I trust your evening was just as unpleasant as mine." Intoned Severus.
The Hogwarts Potion Master had a sour look on his face. Granted, Severus Snape almost perpetually had a sour look on his face, but Lucius had known the man long enough to realize the difference between Severus' normal level of annoyance and disdain for the world around him and his truly being dismayed by something. This was the latter, which could only mean that Dumbledore was behind this Rogue Polish Wizard.
"I see. You have information about our newest problem, I assume?" Queried Lucius.
"We should wait until we're all here. I doubt we all want to be repeating ourselves multiple times." Piped up Rookwood.
"Agreed. Especially given the news." Concurred Dolohov.
Lucius moved to take his seat at the table and chairs that had been laid out in the middle of the warehouse. Not in the largest chair at the head of the table, mind you, that was reserved for the Dark Lord himself, but just to the right of that chair. He was situated between the Dark Lord and Severus. Rookwood was at the foot of the table, with Dolohov next to him. Once Bellatrix arrived, she would take the seat to the Dark Lord's left, and the Dark Lord would complete their War Council at the head of the table.
In truth, the five of them merely advised the Dark Lord, rather than made any real decisions. After all, Supreme Command would always lay with their Master. Even as the Right Hand of the Dark Lord, Lucius could still only offer suggestions. Still, it was a prestigious position, one which would only translate to more power once the Dark Lord truly ruled Britain.
After all, the Dark Lord hardly had the patience for day-to-day administration. No, that was something that would fall to Lucius while the Dark Lord sought to spread his rule to the Continent, effectively making Lucius the power in Britain while the Dark Lord was off conquering. That was why he had thrown in his lot with the Death Eaters. It had been the sole reason his father had supported the decision to bring the House of Malfoy to the side of the Dark Lord.
It had also been why Lucius had continued to keep faith even during the Dark Lord's defeated years. The Chance to rule Britain, even in someone else's name as Viceroy, wasn't something to turn your nose up at lightly. Of course, if Lucius spread his influence in the Ministry during those years between the Dark Lord's temporary vanquishing and his return, who could blame him? Would the influence not prove useful on the Dark Lord's return? It certainly had proven so now that his return had come to pass.
Turning back to the Warehouse from his thoughts, Lucius beheld the arrival of the Dark Lord and Bellatrix Lestrange. His Master regarded them all coldly with his eyes slitted like those of a serpent. You never knew with him when he was going to strike, a factor which made him all the more formidable. Interestingly, the Dark Lord had his familiar, the Python Nagini, with him. He normally did not keep her on his person, but here she was, wrapped around the Dark Lord's shoulders. Meanwhile, Bellatrix's eyes burned with madness, a cruel smirk perpetually on her once lovely face.
Bellatrix had been quite a beauty once, a more graceful version of his dear wife, Narcissa. That had been before she had become so utterly devoted to the Dark Lord that she had been willing to suffer his more. . .unique tastes when it came to the bedroom arts. Narcissa had confided in Lucius once that Bellatrix had told her that the Dark Lord enjoyed using alternating Cruciatus and Imperius Curses on his romantic partners. A display of sadism that was unmatched by even the most degenerate of the muggles, and there were quite a few of those running about.
Unfortunately, such treatment over the years that Bellatrix had served as the Dark Lord's Consort had broken his Sister-In-Law's mind. Now, she was no less fervent in her support of the Dark Lord, but now quite mad as well. The Dark Lord, meanwhile, had grown tired of her and given her to Rodolphus Lestrange, who Bellatrix had married out of duty. She had never truly stopped loving the Dark Lord, though. That mad love had been turned against her by the Dementors during her time in Azkaban and now she seemed even more mad than she had been previously.
"Perhaps you might tell me why we are gathered here today, Dolohov?" Came the Dark Lord's sibilant, hissing, voice. It broke Lucius out of his thoughts just in time to stand as the Dark Lord took his seat, sitting down again only once the Dark Lord was seated again.
"When the alarms on the Crystal Cave went off, you instructed me to head to the Isle of Wight to deal with any intruders. I arrived to find a young man in his early twenties, bearded and garbed in a long, tattered, coat that had seemingly just returned from the cave completely unscathed. I engaged him in a duel and. . ." Began Dolohov.
"And you lost! Poor stupid Dolohov couldn't defeat a wizard half his age!" Cackled Bellatrix Madly.
"My Lord, the Boy had some way to explosively counter the Killing Curse, some of his spellwork was foreign to me and he cast it all completely wandless! He was able to escape only because of his unique repertoire of spells! It will not happen a second time, I swear it!" Protested Dolohov Frantically.
"Silence!" Snapped the Dark Lord, shutting Dolohov up.
"If I wanted your excuses, I'd have asked for them! Bellatrix is correct, you failed. That is all that matters. Because of your failure, this Boy has taken something precious from me! Multiple somethings in fact!" Snarled the Dark Lord.
"My Lord, I am not the only one who suffered a setback tonight! Lucius also sent forces to Diagon Alley that were defeated by this Rogue Wizard!" Tried Dolohov.
"Throwing Lucius under the bus? Really Dolohov, is that the best you can offer?" Drawled Severus. Lucius couldn't help but grin slightly at his old friend coming to his defense. That smile shriveled the moment the Dark Lord turned his gaze on him, though.
"Is this so, Lucius?" Demanded the Dark Lord.
"It is, My Lord. Regrettably, Alecto Carrow and her group were unable to carry out the raid that was planned this evening due to interference. However, I do have information on the Boy and his capabilities. I can confirm he is capable of wandless, wordless, casting, as well as having a unique spell repertoire, including the counter to the Killing Curse. I can also say that he is capable of brewing potions that can enhance speed, strength, and agility far beyond the normal curriculum. He also seems to be a Natural Occlumens of great skill, as he was able to throw off an extended casting of the Cruciatus Curse by Alecto Carrow. Finally, I have some clues about his origins. Auror Eric Selwyn, who was present while this Wizard was being spoken to by Alastor Moody claims that he spoke fluent Polish." Informed Lucius.
"Poland is six different Magical Countries right now. That's not much of a hint." Scoffed Rookwood.
"Loathe as I am to correct Lucius, the Boy is not from Magical Poland, My Lord. I spoke with Dumbledore earlier in the evening and he claims the Boy, one Jan Kowalski, is actually an American whose parents were from Magical Poland and emigrated once Dolohov began attacking the Polish Magical Government there during the first war." Informed Severus.
"Still, that is much more information that Dolohov brought me. Even without having his name, which you provided, I can count on one hand the number of Natural Occlumens in Magical Europe. Rookwood, does not the Department of Mysteries keep a mystically updated list of such people?" Asked the Dark Lord.
"It does My Lord." Nodded Rookwood.
"And how have your efforts to reach out to sympathizers in your former department been going?" Pressed the Dark Lord.
"Quite well, my Lord. Unspeakables Shafiq, Burke, and Blackwood are willing to join our cause and Unspeakable Edgecombe is on the verge of also joining." Answered Rookwood.
"Blackwood? Marion Blackwood? That Half-Blood wants to join? How interesting! Perhaps we'll have her kill her Mudblood of a Father!" Laughed Bellatrix in delight.
"Indeed. For now, I think a better test of her loyalty would be to find me the location of this Jan Kowalski. I assume that the Book keeps a record of locations for all Natural Occlumens?" Grinned Voldemort, Savagely.
"Indeed, My Lord. I'll have her look the name up tomorrow." Agreed Rookwood.
"In that case, Bellatrix will go clean up your mess, Dolohov. Once we have the Kowalski Boy's location, you will go there and eliminate him, Bella. I am certain you will not fail me as Dolohov did." Commanded the Dark Lord.
"I'll make him sing such sweet songs before the end!" Cackled Bellatrix.
"In the meantime, Severus, keep an eye on Dumbledore. If the Kowalski Boy is working for him, I want to know what that Pathetic Old Man is planning next." Insisted the Dark Lord.
"I shall continue to keep you apprised of Dumbledore's plans as I learn them." Responded Severus.
"Lucius, though your subordinates failed, you brought information that has spared you the fullness of my wrath, for now. However, you still failed. It is time to pay the penalty!" Snarled the Dark Lord.
Lucius' eyes widened fractionally as the Dark Lord waved his hand and Lucius found himself being flung out of his chair and through a stack of crates, cutting his forehead open in the process. If that wasn't bad enough, his Dark Mark began to burn like a branding iron. Lucius tried to keep quiet, but the pain was too much and he was forced to cry out. For a solid minute, it felt like a red hot coal was being shoved through his forearm and it was all Lucius could do to cry out in agony from his place on the warehouse floor amidst the dashed crates of broken broomsticks.
Then, suddenly, the pain in his forearm cut off and Lucius managed to get to his knees shakily, breathing heavily and sweating as the pain subsided and blood from his cut-open scalp slowly dripped onto the floor. Lucius looked over at the Dark Lord, who regarded him coldly with those slitted, snakelike, eyes.
"Let that be a lesson to you. I will not withhold my full wrath a second time. Continue to infiltrate the Ministry Administration and do not fail me again or this will seem a pleasant afternoon stroll." Hissed the Dark Lord.
Lucius rose to his feet, bowing as he began to leave. Rookwood, Severus, and Bellatrix followed him to the offices that were being used as a chamber for Fumus Fuga. Dolohov was forced to stay behind, rooted into his chair by the Dark Lord's malevolent will. If Lucius had thought the punishment he had received was harsh, it was nothing compared to what Dolohov had ahead of him. Just before it was Lucius' turn to Fumus Fuga away, he heard the Dark Lord cry out, "Crucio!"
The screams Lucius heard as he began casting would haunt his nightmares for the rest of the week. . .
XXXX
AN: The next chapter is already up on my Patreon, so check the link in the threadmarked post if you guys feel like throwing me a couple bucks to get chapters in advance. Everyone who does is super appreciated and I can't thank my patrons enough.
So yeah, Voldemort is not happy about losing three Horcruxes. Not only is he keeping Nagini on him at all times now, ensuring that at least one Horcrux can't be destroyed without going through him, but he's also begun devoting significant resources toward tracking down Jan.
Mind you, with Snape being Dumbledore's Double Agent in Voldemort's Inner Circle, at least some of the information that Voldemort gets is going to be misinformation fed to him by Snape on Dumbledore's behalf.
Also, I understand that Voldemort being the product of date rape via a Love Potion means that it's unlikely that he gets anything from Sex. His extreme sadism in the bedroom with Bellatrix that was mentioned in this chapter wasn't about anything a normal person would get from Sex. It was a power thing, plus he was using it to break Bellatrix to his will. The guy is a psychopath, of course, he's going to do stuff like that. Just be glad that I don't plan on showing any of it on-screen.
At any rate, in the next chapter, we'll be back with Jan for the start of his search for his tower in the Highlands.
Stay tuned. . .