The Love of a Thornbush

The Collar - Chapter Four

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"Sweetie, come here for a moment"

I looked up from my book, seeing the older woman standing in the doorway to the expansive library.

One hand on her hip, the other holding a red velvet box just large enough to house her hand if placed inside. She had an oddly sweet grin, encapsulating the rarely kind emotions she so infrequently displayed.

I reluctantly put my book down, hesitant to approach. Bellatrix could be kind, sweet even, but she was still a murderous raving lunatic (the daily prophets words, not mine) and was not to be approached unwarily.

"Mistress?" I questioned, my eyes glancing from hers to the box in her hand. Bellatrix had a widened grin, showing off her vicious fanged teeth. I'd felt the bite of them before, and it was... Not exactly horrible, but not pleasant either.

"Hmph" she snorted in amusement, I'd not realised before that her powerful presence was in my mind and hearing my inner thoughts. I blushed a little, I was so used to feeling her in my mind that I barely noticed her anymore "I won't bite, pet. Unless you ask nicely"

She snapped her teeth playfully, and cackled as I flinched away.

"Now come here"

I stood before her now, trembling at the knees. I watched her nimble, clever fingers stroke across the velvet box and run over the golden clasp with exhilarating sensuality. Bellatrix eyed me carefully, possibly guageing my reaction to whatever was in the box.

My face must have read hesitation.

"Don't worry, sweetie. It's nothing bad" her dark, nightly eyes were strangely soft. Her hand twitched, as if she was about to reach out and touch me. She thought against it and in a flash it was back to her side.

I watched with trepidation as she unhooked the box and opened the lid, I saw a silver chain shine in the candlelight dissolving into a leather circular collar. From the chain hung a metal name plate, engraved with the noble crest of the Black family.

Her dark eyes watched me for my reaction, a slow finger trailing across the shiny black leather of the collar. I swallowed my hesitation and lifted the collar from its box, making eye contact with the dark witch who watched me with intensity.

Bellatrix parted her sultry mouth, the tip of her tongue wetted her lips and I held her strong gaze as I placed the cold leather to my neck. A hand with long, black tipped nails raised and played with the nameplate. Her eyes glanced down to it, then back to mine.

"Now no one will mistake you for something to be taken at will, darling. Isn't that wonderful?"

I heard the click of the collar being secured to my neck, a strange feeling at first before my skin adjusted and it felt like it had been part of my flesh from the start.

"Mm... My family name suits you, little one" a little smile lit up her pale face, before her rosy lips gifted my forehead with a kiss. Without thinking, I embraced her in a hug, arms around her shoulders. I felt her stiffen against me for a moment, I realised she was unused to sudden hugs like this.

I considered pulling away from the seemingly unwanted hug before I was pressed closer, one hand on my back and another caressing the base of my neck. Bellatrix's warm breath ghosted over my skin, the shorter yet more intimidating woman had cuddled her head into the crook of my neck and was breathing in my scent.