Under The Midnight Sky

Voldemort stormed the halls of the ancient castle. He glared at everyone who crossed his path. Unfortunately, no one was scared. They sent even harder looks back at him making the Dark Lord a little unnerved. He felt isolated and alone. He had been trying for days to get his followers access to the protected castle. It would be perfect to gather everyone together without the risk of his enemy finding out. The only down side to his plans was the fact that Marquis would not allow him any type of control. He wanted to get his plans into action and so he stormed the halls to his final destination, Marquis’s study. He knew that Marquis would be there conducting some sort of business. He stormed through the study and glared at Marquis. Marquis was pacing behind his desk reading his latest letter. He looked questionably at Voldemort the minute he stormed in.
“You do not need to try and scare my people out of your way. You are nothing to them.” Marquis said as he sat the letter down.
“Then just allow me to use one room to hold a meeting. I have plans that need to be put into action.” Voldemort said placing his hands onto the desk.
“I do not want any of them near here.” Marquis said glaring. He turned his full attention to Voldemort. He could feel both of their tempers growing.
“I don’t care! There is much to do.” Voldemort began to raise his voice.
“Well, I do. You are in my territory. Once you leave this castle, there is no way for you to return unless I say otherwise. Have you ever thought for one minute that you had lost sight for what you stand for?” Marquis was not going to let him get his way yet again.
“Then join with me. Together we can end this war quickly.” Voldemort began to take a different direction.
“Not until you realize how far you had gone! You lost your point of view! There is no way I will help you if you cannot see what you have done!” Marquis replied giving him his answer.
“There are others of your kind that will gladly help.” Voldemort said trying to get Marquis to agree out of jealousy. However, he did not expect Marquis’s answer to surprise him.
“You can try but they will never follow you without me.” Marquis replied his voice growing darker. It was all about the battle of supremacy.
Voldemort glared but had no come back. He quickly stormed out angrier then he had been before. He did not see the smirk on Marquis’s face as he headed out. He pulled out his wand and began to blast anything in his way. If someone crossed his path, he would curse them. His effort put fear into the eyes around him. Everyone began to slip into the shadows just to avoid him. Unknown to him, Voldemort had put several into an unstable condition. He did not care what he had been told. Once he reached his rooms, he began to write letters to every clan leader that he knew of. Each letter was the same; however, each one would appeal to that peculiar leader. He knew how to persuade anyone into his cause. It would not take very long for each letter to reach them. He just did not realize just how quickly they would have reached their destination.

Marquis had watched Voldemort storm out. He did not follow him for he knew he was right. There was just too much going on. There was no better time to put him in his place then now. Marquis knew Voldemort would not leave. The power here was just too great. Not once did he even ask about their daughter, not that he would ever tell where she was. He knew she was safe but he could not shake the feeling that she was among the very same group that she wanted no part of. He felt her unease wherever she was. It was coming close to the time for Snape’s weekly letter on his position. He wanted to wait for the letter but he had other pressing matters to deal with.
He waited a moment until he began to hear the panic within his own safe haven. He quickly left his study and followed the same path Voldemort had taken just moments ago. He felt his temper growing as he saw the damages done to his home. He felt more panic as he continued down the hall. His first shock came from a small group surrounding three of his people. He quickly made his way over to the small group to see the damages done. What he got was a complete shock.
“What did he use?” Marquis asked as he knelt down beside of his injured clansmen. All three had been completely knocked out. Cuts began to appear everywhere and they were barely breathing. They appeared as if they had come out on the losing end of a major battle. He quickly extended his fingernail and made a cut along his wrist. He slowly fed his fallen comrades his blood and watched as each one began to heal. When they appeared stronger he slowly stood up and continued down the hall. Each group he came across, he would heal until he reached his last injured. When he finished healing the last, he could barely stand on his own. He had used up too much to heal everyone. He slowly made his way to the main floor and walked into the meeting room. All around the table sat the clan leaders. They watched as Marquis slowly walked in, a little unstable on his feet. Marquis blinked a few times to keep his eyesight from fading on him. He felt himself slowly fall to the ground but he never felt the impact. Everyone around the table rushed to his aid and one managed to catch him. They could see how drained he was. They quickly helped him to his chair and the one sitting closest to him allowed him to feed from him. Each one took turns to help him regain his strength as the meeting began. It was half way through when letters began to appear before each leader. Marquis stopped feeding even though he was still weak. He had not realized how drained he had become.
“Go head and read them. I want to know what they say.” Marquis even sounded weaker than before. They all knew who the letters had to have been from. Each glanced at the other before motioning for some bodyguards. The bodyguards took their place behind Marquis ready to help him as he needed them. Each letter opened produced similar reactions. Anger began to boil over the room. Marquis rubbed his head as each leader began to shot out reasons that they should not agree while others wanted to laugh at the attempt.
“I suggest that we each send our refusal and explain that he needs to contact our king. That will throw a surprise.” One suggested.
“We could also tell him where to find us if he has any questions. That is, if you feel that he can enter this room.” Another replied.
“That is fine, but if he does not see what he has caused, we will intervene and force him to see.” Marquis said slowly. A bodyguard stepped closer to him as he fed to regain his energy. Each leader began to write their replies and used their combined magic to send them directly to Voldemort.

Voldemort frowned when he had each reply at the same moment. He did not want to know how they pulled that off. He slowly picked up the first letter and read it carefully. His eyes widened when he learned how they had organized behind one leader. His shock continued when he learned that they were all just downstairs. Voldemort quickly read each letter. All the letters read the same way. As he finished the last letter, he quickly left his rooms and headed down to the main floor. He stood before the very same door that he had met his daughter for the first time. He frowned with his last thought. He had forgotten about that meeting and wondered why she hadn’t been seen around since then. He shook off his unease and stormed through the door. He stopped just short of the long table. Sitting around the table were each of the leaders, all eyes were on him. What took him my surprise was Marquis sitting at the head of the table feeding from several guards. His eyes narrowed as he watched how much he was taking.
“Why did you not tell me that you organized the race?” Voldemort yelled. Marquis loosened up on the guard and stood up so fast the others did not even see him move.
“What gave you the right to attack everyone in sight? You must see the destruction you are causing. People will turn against you unless you stop and rethink your plans.” Marquis said walking around the table. He took a hold of Voldemort’s arm and dragged him out of the room. Everyone one followed him as he led them into the ritual room. They would force Voldemort to see for himself through the eyes of his very own. It would be painful but it was necessary.
Marquis had had enough of the lies. He tossed Voldemort into the middle of the ritual circle. He had to give credit to Hyacintha and Auaraya when it came to decorations. He knew his daughter would someday make a great leader for them all. Everyone gathered around the circle as Marquis stood in the middle with Voldemort. He glanced around him as the door closet behind the last person to enter.
“We are here for this man, if you can call him that, to answer for his past crimes. I request that before he is trailed that he undergoes a mind ritual. I want him to see the crimes he has committed through our eyes. I request this so that he may redeem himself among us and take his rightful place at my side.” Marquis began.
“If any object to this trail let them speak out at this time.” One member said.
“Can I object? I do not believe I need this.” Voldemort said as he tried to stand up. Marquis pushed him back to the ground, making him kneel before the entire council.
“You have no say in this matter.” Marquis hissed.
“Why not? This is about me.” Voldemort questioned.
“You are the accused. Marquis has brought this before the council. It remains our decision.” The same person from before replied. He stood taller than the others and would have been considered the oldest among the group. His hair was long and his eyes were shining silver as all the members were. Voldemort looked nervous as he gazed up at the tall leader.
“That does not seem fair. I should have a say in my own trail.” Voldemort tired. He was nervous as to what they could do to him. “Besides, I do not believe I have strayed from the path.”
“You do not listen when I tell you so! You endangered me multiple times and left me for dead. You used the clan as if they were your personal soldiers and did not matter when the enemy found ways to kill us off. When we were at our weakest, you should have protected the clan, instead you sent them out to battle! It was all about power from then on. You did not care who you hurt or how much destruction you left behind! Worse of all, you did not realize when your mate was in trouble or had even left your side!” Marquis said making his point across for everyone to hear. There were mumbles going around when Marquis finished speaking. Everyone knew it had been bad for the young leader but no one knew just how bad it had been. They were lucky he was even still around.
“This is the council’s decision. You are to be shown the trouble you have caused. One by one until you have seen through our eyes. Marquis will be last and the most painful. Once finished, we will decide on the next procedure.” The tall clansman said. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
The first to step forward was a middle aged man. He seemed like a young businessman but with a hard edge about him. He knelt down in front of Voldemort and placed his hands on either side of his face. He closed his eyes and began to mumble something Voldemort could not make out. It was in that moment that began to realize how painful it would be. The room seemed to shake and the images began to give away. He felt as if he was being pulled into some obese.
In the next moment, Voldemort could clearly see that he was no longer in the room with the council but was now fighting for his life in some type of battle. His eyes widened as he began to hear his own voice from somewhere nearby.
“Kill them all! They all deserve the pain and terror! They are all traitors in their own right.” Voldemort said as he proceeded to kill each individual. Shots ran past him but he did not care. Clan members began to fall as the enemy found a spell that would end them. More of their kind could be replaced.
“Milord, we must not kill everyone. They have done nothing, for they did not even know of you. You are killing innocents.” A clansman said. Voldemort turned hate felt eyes upon the one who spoke.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” Voldemort yelled turning his wand against him.
“I am the clan leader Patrick. You wanted me to advice you on this battle. This is getting out of hand. I have lost one son this night, please do not make me lose another.” Patrick begged. Voldemort just laughed it off as he threw a curse at the clan leader. He walked away still laughing at the destruction of the once peaceful town.
Patrick stayed on the ground. He was badly hurt but could not understand what spell had been used. He was on the verge of passing out when Marquis slipped into view and healed him. Marquis gave a sad smile as he took off to help another fallen comrade. Patrick quickly followed him helping as he needed to.
“He has gotten out of hand. Did you not even talk with him?” Patrick asked.
“He refused me. He will not acknowledge me anymore. I fear the worst.” Marquis replied sadly.
“You need help yourself. Feed from me and regain your strength.” Patrick replied.
“No. My pain is something that you cannot fix.” Marquis replied before disappearing into the mist of battle. Patrick frowned worried about the young leader. He had lost more than anyone that day. As he looked around at the dead innocents, he prayed that someone would end the destruction. If not for the wizarding world, then for the young.
Voldemort felt himself being pulled back away from the scenes and into the room with the council. He looked into the hazel eyes of Patrick and tears began to form in his eyes. It was the first time he felt like crying in his life.
“I’m sorry.” Voldemort whispered before Patrick pulled away. He nodded once before rejoining the council circle. Voldemort made a quick look up at Marquis with a sad look. Marquis would not look at him. He was standing close to the tallest clansman. Voldemort frowned when he noticed how weak Marquis was looking. It was as if he was ready to give up. There was no time to question his thoughts as another member entered the circle and knelt in front of him. “Please, tell me your name before you begin.” Voldemort requested. The clansman looked to Marquis for an answer. Marquis just nodded his head for a response.
“My name is Corrick.” The clansman replied with a thick accent. Voldemort nodded as the same procedure began. This time Voldemort was ready for the strange pull. This time instead of a battle, he was pulled into a very familiar looking manor. It was one of the few he held his meeting at. It was strange to be watching one of the meetings from a different point of view. What really stood out were the mixes of Death Eaters and clansmen. He saw himself sitting before his followers with a few people standing around him.
Corrick slide into shadows very easily. Even though all appeared normal, he knew differently. There was a growing separation between Marquis and his mate. They had begun to reorganize behind one leader. Tonight they would vote on who should rule over the united clans. There were mixed feelings about who it should be but all most everyone agreed on the same person, Marquis. No matter whom it would be, everyone felt something different about Marquis. Corrick glanced into the shadows behind Voldemort and saw Marquis. He watched as he laid a hand on his stomach and frown. He could see the nervousness of the other leader. He quickly spotted a comrade and made his way over unseen.
“Connor, how is he?” Corrick asked.
“He is definitely with child but he denies it.” Connor replied.
“Keep an eye on him. If anything should happen to him there will be nothing but trouble.” Corrick said.
“So it has been decided on him?” Connor asked.
“No not yet but I have a feeling that it will be. He is a strong leader and powerful. There is no reason for him not to be appointed.” Corrick replied.
Connor was about to reply but was stopped by Voldemort’s announcement.
“We will prepare for victory then. Marquis will lead the attack in five days. That will give everyone time to prepare. At the same time I will go after the Potters.” Voldemort said his confidence showing. Corrick paled at the sick look on Marquis’s face.
“I bet he never agreed.” Connor said.
“Stay with him. Do not let any harm come to him.” Corrick said knowing who Connor was talking about.
Voldemort nearly broke down crying but there was no rest. Councilman after councilman stepped forward with no breaks between them. It was too much for him to take, each memory more painful than the last. When they finally stopped, Voldemort turned tear eyes to Marquis begging him not to show anymore. He could not believe that he had gone so far and destroyed so much. Marquis knelt down before Voldemort.
“You see what I have been trying to tell you. Believe me now?” Marquis asked. Voldemort could not answer; he just nodded his agreement as tears fell from his eyes. There was much to make up for but he did not know where to start. Marquis was about start his painful memory when a letter appeared beside of him. He frowned as he picked the letter up. There was only one person who would write him at this time. He knew in an instant that it was from Snape. He opened the letter and began to read. His eyes began to flash as his anger grew.
“I will kill him!” Marquis shouted standing up.
“What has happened?” Corrick asked.
“He was taken her to the one place I said not to!” Marquis said as he stormed from the room. The council glanced nervously at one another, now there were too angry Lords on their hands.