Severus Snape was not in pain anymore. Crouched on the floor, he heard her sweet whisper, "Sev, come to me. I love you. I love only you. We'll be together forever like this." It was torture. Snape was going insane. Insanity was common in the Death Eater ranks, but, little known to most, insanity of the Death Eaters was often attributed to long term effects of the Cruciatus Curse. It broke their minds bit by bit, leaving lasting damage. For them to join the insane crazes of their master more avidly. Severus Snape's mind went to quite different places as effect of the torture.
Her voice. "My love", she called him. And her whispers went on and on, creating a world of its own around him. He could not give in. Snape reached for his headphones to drown out the whispers with some EDM music that was trending these days.
Tears fell from his eyes. Voldemort had exquisite ways to punish and maim one's spirit to the core. He reduced a person to their basics, their skeleton, drawing out the needs every human being harbored, however deep hidden within.
"The voice is in my mind. It's not her. She is dead". He repeated futily.
"I wanted to make you jealous with James. I never loved him, I only love you." The insanity's magnetism pulled him in with all force. He believed it. He was leaving the real world and following the voice into its own world.
Then Snape's arm burnt in pain. The summons. He had to go.
He opened the narrow closet in his bedroom and drew out the mask and black Death Eater robes. Walking over the wet grass through the darkness, breathing in the crisp air, his head cleared a bit.
Apparating to Malfoy Manor with a spin, Severus Snape recongized the huge manor veiled in darkness.
The lawn was impeccable in the moonlight and lilies lined the paved way. How ironic. The white petals reminiscnent of her white pale skin. Lily had been more beautiful than those flowers, remembering her red lips and flowing hair and the warm expression in her green eyes with which she had looked at him. He pushed the thought down.
The big, dark wooden doors opened to let him in. "Severus", a cold snarl as Snape entered into the huge main hall which was illuminated in a low glow. Dark robed figures lined the halls walls and at the fair end he stood. Voldemort.
"My Lord". There was silence but for the shuffle of moving robes and low breaths.
Standing in front of a throne like chair Voldemort beckoned Snape closer and Snape crossed the room in big strides.
He fell to his knees in front of the Dark Lord.
"What news do you bring me, Severus?"
Snape recounted the story Dumbledore had told him. "The boy will be moved to the blood traitor Weasley's home in three days. On sunday at midnight."
"And we will be ready", Voldemort jubilated. "My loyal followers, gather round and let us celebrate the good news. Bring them in."
And so began the evening of torturing unfortunate souls, Muggles which had been ripped from the safety of their homes and lives, and then killing them. Snape, who was used to these torture orgies, managed to melt into the Death Eater crowds this time standing by the wall, observing all ongoings vigilantly.
As the hours passed on, Snape thought he had been forgotten, but then Voldemort waved his wand an an eery silence erupted suddenly.
"Where is Severus? I have a special present for him tonight."
Snapes intestines coiled.
"My lord."
"A Mudblood. The only one we managed to catch."
A young girl was dragged in front of Voldemort by two cloaked figures. Snape came closer, knowing everything else would be counted as indecison.
"The young Miss Woodville. She will attend Hogwarts next year."
Oh no, he knew what was about to happen. He saw blond curly hair and blue eyes that looked into his almost trustingly. They still had hope and life in them and had not accepted their fate yet.
"You have to kill her", Lily's voice said frantically in Snape's head. "You have to protect my Harry. You have to protect him, Sev. Please. Don't let anyone hurt him."
He let Lily's voice guide him through what was going to happen and when he turned his wand on the girl, he felt detatchment and an alien feeling of peace.
"Avada Kedavra."