Taking the mark

[Daphne Marin]

(Part 1)

She turned and peered back at the twinkling lights of Hogwarts. Daphne felt a single tear roll out of her eye as she turned and walked away from the school. She had been summoned by her father for it was time for her to take the mark. She sighed heavily as she walked across the grounds towards the gates. Even though she knew it was her destiny, she was still very afraid of belonging to Lord Voldemort. If she made one mistake, she would be killed. She walked to the gate , opened it and looked at the castle once more. She wanted nothing more than someone to wake her from this nightmare but she knew that would not happen. She exited the school grounds and apperated to her home.Daphne felt the pop and looked at her lovely foyer. Upon a table in there was a note. She picked it up and read.

“To my lovely daughter,
It is finally time for you to become one with your master. You have done so well in most of your training and he is eager to make you a member of his elite. You will find the clothing you must wear upon your bed. You have 30 minutes. Once you are dressed, there is a port key in the form of a diamond necklace upon your dresser. This will be your way to come to our Lord’s manor when you are called. It will only work for you so do not worry about people at school getting hold of it. Now, go and get ready for big night. We do not want to keep our Lord waiting. You mother and I will meet you outside of the manor to take you to the ceremony.
Artemis Slytherin”

Daphne placed the letter back onto the table and walked up the steps towards her room. She walked down the chilly corridor to the end of the hall where two big maple doors were pushed open the doors and walked into her room. It was decorated in black and red. She walked to her bed and saw a black dress with a black cloak to wear over it. She pulled off her school robe and placed it onto a hanger in her closet. She then pulled off her skirt and blouse and hung them up. She stopped to gaze into the mirror at herself only wearing her underwear and looked to her left arm. She rubbed the silky skin that she knew would be forever scarred. Another tear fell from her eye as she walked to her bed. She placed the dress over her delicate body and smoothed it down. She then pulled on the black cloak and looked into the mirror. She looked and felt as dark as the clothing she was wearing. Daphne turned back to her bed and found black ribbon automatically knowing what it was for. She pulled her hair up and wrapped the ribbon around it. Tonight would be the end to her normal life. She would forever have to answer to another person; her freedom was being ripped from her. She wiped the tears that had begun to fall from her eyes. She would have to be strong. She could not be weak any longer. Everything she did from the night on would be watched by a band of very close people. There was not any room for mistakes in her life anymore.
Daphne was now fully dressed in her attire. She glanced at her reflection once more and walked to her dresser, took a deep breath , picked up the necklace and put it on. She felt the tug at her navel as she was transported outside of Lord Voldemort’s keep. She looked at the huge home and a small smile escaped her lips. She could not believe how lovely the man’s home was. She walked toward the porch and with a pop; her parents appeared in front of her. She looked at them both with a serious look. Her lessons with Snape had gone very well and she could now hide her feelings from others. She gave both of her parents a nod as they approached her. Her mother placed a frail hand on her shoulder and she looked at the both of them. Her mother was the first to speak.
“My little rose, I am so proud of you. You have now grown to be the wonderful and powerful witch I knew that you would always become. Tonight will be the beginning of your womanhood. I love you my beautiful rose and do not forget it.” She placed a soft kiss on her daughter’s cheek. Daphne gave her a small smile as she turned to her father. For most of her life, her father wasn't the sentimental type. She had hardly heard him say calm and nice things to her, so she didn't expect anything but coldness from him. Her father reminded her of Professor Snape. Both of their demeanors were cold and calculating. The saying must have been right, most women fall for men like their fathers. She watched as he stared at her with his piercing blue eyes. Daphne braced herself for any mean comment that her father was going to say. She was used to hearing negative comments on a regular basis. He looked down at his daughter and began to speak to her. “My child, I know that I have not treated you like the princess I know that you are. You have made me so proud over the last years. But that does not matter now; you have blossomed into the rose you are. I am also proud of you. Now, let’s get you to our Lord. It is time.” The young girl just looked at her father in disbelief. Daphne could not believe that her father was actually proud of her. She had never heard words that kind escape his lips. She smiled to him and gave him a kiss. The man placed his hand in Daphne’s right one and her mother held her left. The both led her into the manor. She glanced at her surroundings and took in the manor’s elegance. She could not believe the taste that the dark lord had. She was led to two big doors. She took a deep breath as the doors were opened. Her parents led her in to all the people standing there. Everyone was dressed in black cloaks. She looked at all the people around the room. On the left side, there were the Malfoys, Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa, whom all gave her a nod. She looked at them and gave them a small nod back. She had basically grown up with Draco. He was like the big brother she never had. She then turned to see Bellatrix Lestrange. She gave the woman a nod. Daphne then scanned to the right side. There stood Crabbe and his son Vincent and Fenrir Greyback. Her breathing picked up a bit when she looked directly in front of her. There stood the dark lord with his back turned towards her.

[Daphne Marin]

(part 2}

When her parents stopped, she stood still. The man spoke. His voice was powerful.
“Thank you Artemis and Caitlyn. Now, leave her and join the others to the side.” Daphne watched as her parents left her sides and went to stand together. . The Dark Lord nodded as Daphne's parents joined the circle of death eaters. The circle was comprised of witnesses to the event and those who would be testing the acolyte. She stood there with a serious look on her face. She did not let her fear show on her face. Daphne watched as the man turned around and she came eye to eye with the dark lord. He wasn't a mere image of a man, with snake like eyes and a bony face; he was a full man again. His hair was as black as night and his eyes were as crimson as blood. She took in the man’s features as he walked towards her. She looked into his eyes once more not wanting to loose the eye contact. She had to show respect to the man that stood before her. He walked near Daphne and held out his hand. "Daphne, my dear, are you ready and willing to join into my service?" The young girl looked him into his crimson eyes. "Yes, I am ready and willing to join with you. I am willing to give my life to our way of life." His crimson -eyes washed over her eager face and he spoke to her now with a voice soft and full of power. "You have chosen to join a select and powerful group of wizards, the most pure of the wizarding world. It would be unfair of me to allow you into our ranks without some form of testing. Therefore, you will now face four of our number, if, you can remain standing when these four have done with you. I will place the mark of brotherhood upon your arm. If you fail, this night will be you last. Do you agree with the terms set down?" She listened to him and she smiled on the inside. "Yes, I agree with your terms." The dark Lord looked at the young girl then spoke once more. "Then prepare yourself young Marin.”
He raised a pale hand and pointed first to true North calling Bellatrix Lestrange into the circle, then East for Narcissa Malfoy, to the South for Mulciber and to the West for Wormtail. As the four death eaters entered the ring, the spaces closed behind them forming a solid wall of death eaters circling the beautiful young woman. "You may begin." She watched as they all took their positions and she held her wand tight. She did not know where her new burst of strength came from but she was prepared for anything the four had to dish out. She turned a circle watching each member of the group. She waited for the first attack against her. Bellatrix and Narcissa working as a tandem, pointed their wands at the young witch and fired Bellatrix her specialty spell the Cruciatus and Narcissa with her Imperious.
Daphne saw the first two point their wands and she stood ready. She watched as they both fired spells at her as if they were working as one. She turned her wand to Bella and a blast of light flew from her wand and collided with her spell. Daphne then took the force of the Imperious curse. She held tight to her counter curse and also tried to break the Imperious curse. Her wand began to shake and she gripped it harder. She could feel the Imperious curse taking its effects but she stood strong until she broke the curse. She then focused her energy to her counter curse. She finally broke Bellatrix's curse also. She stood with her wand in her head. She was hurting a bit but she would not show it. She waited for the other attackers. As the young witch forced first one spell and then the other from her the remaining death eaters drew their wands and hit her from both sides with the cruciatius curse. This was a test to see how much pain she could take and still focus upon the bidding of her Master, The Dark Lord.
She saw the other two pull their wands and she felt the spell hit her like a train. She held tight to her wand but she realized it would not help her. She held her hand out and turned it to Wormtail. She began to use the energy from the other cruciatus curse to fuel her powers towards the death eater. Wormtail lifted off the ground and was thrown back against the wall. By the time that was done she had lost a lot of energy. The final curse was beginning to pierce her soul. She turned to the other death eater and held out her hand to him. She wanted to just give up and lay in a ball but something in her told her to keep going. She fell to one knee and looked at Mulciber. She looked around the room at the other people. She fought back up to her feet. Her body was aching badly. She then saw a random object in the room and she used wand-less magic to pick it up. She then threw it at him hitting him in a sensitive spot causing him to break the spell. As the death eaters teamed up to attack the young witch all at once the Dark Lord raised his hand. "Enough! She has done well." The death eaters who stood inside the circle with the Dark Lord bowed to him and stepped back into the circle with the others who had born witness to the feat. The Dark Lord came to Daphne's side and took her hand. "Kneel and give me your arm in obedience and brotherhood." The young girl watched as the people stepped back. She looked at the Dark Lord as he took her hand. She kneeled down and exposed the silky skin of her inner left arm. Lord Voldemort took the arm of the newest member of his family and with his wand touching her arm placed the bright red morsemorde upon her flesh. As her skin was marked by him, some of his own essence was released into her binding her forever as one of his chosen.
"Rise young death eater. You have done well. Rise and join your new family." She felt the pain of the mark but she refused to show any pain in her facade. Her occumency lessons with Snape had taught her how to harness her feelings. Once it was over she rose and went to her parent's side. She was a death eater and there was no turning bank now.
As the newest member of his ranks returned to her parents the Dark Lord let a slight but genuine smile cross his thin lips and his crimson-eyes washed over the circle of the loyal. Daphne had done well and hopefully would lead some others of her age to his side to stand among the most loyal.

[Daphne Marin]

(part 3)

Daphne went straight to her mother and hugged her. Her mother wrapped her arms around her with a smile. "You did well my rose. I am proud of you. Now, you are finally a member of our great forces. We are glad to have you. Now, we party a while then you are to report back to Hogwarts." Daphne looked at her mother in surprise but she nodded. "Yes mother." She then turned her head to her father who also joined in the hug. "I am also proud of you princess, you did well. I think you might have even rattled Bellatrix some." He smirked as he released his family. He walked over to Lucius and her mother left to talk to Bellatrix. Daphne stood there looking at the throbbing mark. She enjoyed the party for some time but her apparent pain was beginning to slowly show on her face. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and she looked up at the man. He looked down at her with his blue eyes. Blond locks of his hair hung about his face. She just hugged the man. He had always been there for her and he knew what pain she was feeling. He wrapped his arms around her with a smile. "It will hurt for a while but you should be fine. Just get some rest Blondie." She looked up at him with a smile. "Thanks Dray. It is good to know I have you." As they hugged, their parents watched from the background. They had decided, when Daphne was born, that once she graduated from Hogwarts, she would marry the youngest Malfoy. Neither child knew of this though, at least not yet. Daphne spent the rest of the party with him until she felt exhausted. She left Draco's side and walked to her Lord. She kneeled to him and rose when he told her to. "My Lord, I hope that this is not rude, but could I possibly return to Hogwarts? I am head girl there and I do not need certain…officials on my back if I am not seen." He looked down at his newest member with crimson eyes. "Daphne, I give you my permission and my blessing to return to Hogwarts. I caution you to be careful and not reveal the mark of your true calling to any who might wish you harm. Choose your companions carefully. I will summon you when I have need." She curtsied to the man and said goodbye to everyone, stopping to hug her godparents, Lucius and Bellatrix before leaving. She left the manor and apperated to the Hogwarts grounds. She walked back into the castle in almost a stagger. He arm was throbbing and she was feeling the effects of her "test". She went straight to her room and passed out.