First off, and most importantly--I will love to thank my readers for reviewing, and giving me the motivation (which I seem to lack sometimes) to keep this baby going. :D
Tell me what I want to say.
Save me for another day.
Break me, it's the game you play.
Hate me as I turn away.
A boyish notion of false emotion.
These words are spoken despite my love.
A fool's devotion was set in motion.
My eyes are open now.
-Looking Glass, The Birthday Massacre.
Bellatrix awoke with a small start, the cold hand on her stomach quickly withdrawing as she rolled over to see him retreat out of the bed. He walked over to the large wardrobe where his robes were kept, and threw one on over his shoulders, glancing back towards the bed at his new life, her midnight black hair sprayed out across the two pillows, her fair-almost white, in fact- skin standing out on the emerald green silken sheets. Her eyes were barely open, the crystal blue peering at him curiously. He didn't even think she was awake fully at the moment, and dammit to Merlin if his few, but loyal followers weren't downstairs at this very moment he would crawl back into their huge elaborately carved bed to embrace her warm form.
Voldemort opened the door quietly, noting that her eyes had fallen once again and she was indeed asleep, most likely unaware that he slipped away at all. But needless to say, when the door closed with s slight 'click', her eyes opened once more and she sat up, the sheets and duvet pooling at the waist of her naked form. She reached for her wand on the side table and opened the drapes, letting just the slightest amount of warm light from the summer morning fill the room so she could see. "My-my Lord?" She called out, the response of nothingness filling her ears. She continued to look around the room curiously until she finally figured he must have left. As warm as the morning sun was, it could never heat up the floors to a comfortable temperature that didn't send shivers up Bella's spine as her feet hit them, making her way out of bed to her small trunk in the corner of the room that concealed what little she had left as of now.
"Bellatrix!" I loud voice called to her, making her lift her head to hear more. "Come! Now!" Rudolphus? "BELLA!" She hurried to slip on her underwear and a black robe, running her fingers through her hair in a last attempt to tame the black mass that came from rubbing her head on the sheets. She ran out of the room, stopping at the balcony that overlooked the formal room. Her eyebrows lifted at the sight below her. The Dark Lord and Rudolphus were arguing, abit quietly.
"She will stay here. Bella has no business with you now! You are not the one she spent fifteen years in Azkaban for!" Voldemort yelled, his voice icy and sharp. "Oh I'm sorry. Is that supposed to be a good reason she is with you right now? Stockholm Syndrome?" Rudolphus returned, just as cold as the Lord's words. Bella clenched the wood railing, her nails scraping the wood and drawing attention to herself. "Bella!" Rudolphus yelled, running up the stairs to her blank face, free of any emotions as she stared down to the first floor at her lover. Rudolphus stopped a few feet from her, his face clenched in fury as he eyed her current state of dress. "You--you sleep in the same bed as him?" He whispered to her, unbelieving of what he was seeing. "You have no business here, now. You should be happy he got you out when he came to rescue the rest of us." With that said, she turned on her heel and made her way back to the bedroom, slamming the door, leaving Rudolphus staring at her tracks. Rudolphus turned to glare at Voldemort, his face still radiating heat from her last words. "What have youdone to her?"
"Bella is here out of her own free will. It is not my fault that I took care of her when she got out of Azkaban. There are things you do not know about her, Rudolphus. You do not know what we have been through since she became my most loyal Death Eater." Voldemort said, shaking his head at Rudolphus, who was clenching his teeth and biting his tongue. "I assume that since you get the picture now, you will leave."
"Not without her."
"It will be in your best interest---"
Voldemort took out his wand as the others came flooding in, coming to a halt as they spotted the two men, Voldemort raising his wand lazily as he muttered 'imperil.', Rudolphus's eyes glazing over with a foggy tint, his face frozen in thought. "Now, now. You will make your way back to your home, forgetting about Bellatrix Blackafter you packed her belongings and sending them to this room. I want everything by tonight." He raised his hand and pointed to the door as Rudolphus made his way out, closing the door in his wake. The other Death Eaters were still standing there, looks of confusement spread across their face, turning to follow their leader into the Dining Hall. "Take your seats, my followers."
---
Bella sat on the bed, her clothes being prepared to her by the small house elf that had been a gift from her sister. Narcissa sent her early this morning, and it immediately began working. "This, Miss?" She asked, and Bella raised her head, fingers still at her temples massaging. "That is fine." The elf held a purple brocade corset and another full black skirt that dragged on the floor as Bella slipped it on and walked around. She took out her wand at laced it in the back as she sat down in front of the black vanity. She still couldn't believe that he had restored her ebony hair back to its original healthy condition. "Missus, Cocoa thinks you should leave it down. Tis pretty how it is, miss." Bella smirked and nodded her head, walking back to the door to catch up with the others.
She walked quickly through the halls, the dress flowing behind her like her hair, her chin up and proud. "Nobody can bring a Black down." She whispered to herself, remembering the conflict with Rudolphus moments before. She walked into the Dining Room, where they all stared at her entrance. "I am sorry I have arrived late. It shall not happen again." Voldemort nodded and tilted his head to the seat next to him. She made her way and sat down, avoiding eye contact with the others as usual. What was the purpose for this meeting? Probably just another check up...
"Severus. Report on the Order?"
Snape lifted his head from the table and looked towards Bella. "Sti-still up and running. It seems like they are making no movement or advances. Partially because there has been no sign of you lately."
"Ah, well. That must be...taken care of--"
"Also, My Lord. Potter and his crew of kids have made an um--Army, at Hogwarts. They are...fighting for Dumbledore..."
Bella shifted in her seat and looked up to Severus, her mouth opening to say something, but Voldemort got there first. "...Oh really? So the boy thinks he has something now? Something to 'destroy' me, right? I have never met any body so--so--"
"Foolish, my Lord?" Bella added, tilting her head to look at him. "Foolish."
"Now for the prophecy. I need it. Enough said. We need to get it. I need to know what it says!"
Lucius raised his hand lightly and sat up, "I say we go get it. It is in the Department Of Mysteries. I work there--I know what floor it is on. How about Bellatrix and I retrieve it. We can bring the others for back up, and we shall get it for you."
Voldemort sat in silence for a while, contemplating the thought and looking towards Bella, and back to Lucius.
"Excellent."
----
Bella felt the water raise around her as she laid stomach down in the water, resting her head on the foot of the tub. "My Bella." He said, putting a hand on her leg and moving up towards her. He rested gently on her back and hooked his arm around her torso, pulling himself closer to her. "Exhausted?"
"A little." She shut her eyes and let the steam hit her face, it's warmness relaxing her. "So, what are we to do? I know this isn't the time to discuss plans, but I would like to know what I am up against, and when I have to--" He put a finger to her lips and shushed her, frowning at her. "Potter and his friends are no match to your power, my sweet. This will be a task to which you will pass through quickly. And of course you will be rewarded again."
She nodded her head and sighed. "Are you going to tell me what I am to do?"
"You and Lucius will go into the Department of Mysteries, bottom floor, the Department of Prophesies. Merlin knows he will be there too, with his crew, retrieving the prophecy. If they are there and already have their hands on it, I will need you and Lucius to get it from them. I am asking you not to fail me, Bella." Twice she nodded her head and rolled over to face him directly. He leaned in, kissing her forcibly, tugging on her bottom lip hard enough to draw even the smallest bead of blood. Before he could lean in again and lick it away, somebody rushed into the bathroom, causing both Bella and Voldemort to jump in surprise. "Lucius! How dare you walk into here without knocking first!" Bella roared at him, pulling Voldemort closer to avert Lucius's gaze. "Master--we found out when the Potter boy is leaving! In exactly one week, sir!"
Bella grinned wickedly. "Oh boy."