The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 27: Beauty From Pain

*Emetophobia Trigger Warning*

December 4th, 1981

Belle heaved again as more vomit left her stomach. She could taste her eggs and toast from that morning. Grapefruit was not great a second time. She could even taste it in her nose now. 

She had been in her studio above the shop for a Saturday morning painting session when the news arrived. It was horrible and Belle couldn't stand more bad news. Now here she was, curled up beside the toilet, letting her emotions leave her body.

"Belle." Vivi's voice called in.

Belle couldn't answer as she threw up again.

"Oh you look dreadful." Vivi said as she knelt down beside Belle. "Are you ill?"

Belle lifted her head drearily, "They found her!"

"Your friend!" Vivi's face lit up until Belle began shaking her head again. 

"They tortured her Vivi." Belle said feeling the bile enter her throat again. "They tortured her and her husband."

"But they are alive!"

"Barely," Belle revealed before tasting the acid in her throat again. She leaned over the toilet again and let it all out. She pulled the letter from McGonagall out of her pocket and handed it to Vivi.

After reading the letter, Vivi grabbed Belle's black hair and rubbed her back. "I'm so sorry Belle. That's horrible, at least their baby is unharmed."

Belle shook her head, "They didn't want to spill pure blood that they could use in the future. It's probably why they didn't full on kill all three of them."

"That's disgusting."

"You know what the worst part is?" Belle began to surmise between convulsions, "I know the person who hurt them. She is my best friend, Cissy's older sister. To think Alice was just telling me that she thought Cissy was innocent. There's no way she is, not now, not with this."

She leaned back over and threw up again.

Belle sat back after everything was out. She cried out, "I just can't do it anymore. I thought everything was better. I thought things were better. First Gideon, then Lily, and now Alice. Cissy may as well be dead if what I think is true."

Vivi said nothing, just reached into her pocket and grabbed a kerchief. She wiped Belle's chin slowly. 

"I can't do it anymore." Belle cried again, "I feel so empty and worthless."

Vivi combed through her hair and wiped off the dirtied pieces, "You aren't worthless."

"My brothers used to say I was."

Vivi swore loudly before asking, "So are they, remember? They are the ones who have murdered people and hurt innocent creatures."

"Mum says I was only worth something, if I did what they wanted." Belle cried remembering her mother's softly spoken words, "And I didn't, I ran away and now most of the people I cared about are gone."

"You can't blame yourself Belle."

"Even if I'd stayed I couldn't have helped anyone." Belle said as she felt her stomach begin to settle.

Vivi was sounding stern now, "You came here to escape and be who you truly are right?"

Belle nodded and pulled her hair back, "Yeah."

"Who are you then?" Vivi asked harshly, "What are you then? Because I know you and you are not this empty shell."

"I'm an artist." Belle closed her eyes. She breathed in cool air and tried to find something to hold onto.