The Love of a Thornbush

A Flashback - Chapter Seven

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*4 months in the past*

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The basement door opened with a wet, creaking sound. I shuddered at the noise of pristine black boots marching lazily down rotting, wooden steps. I lay curled in a fetal position in the corner of the soaked, cold stone room. A keychain jingled and the door to the room slung open.

The polished boots paused in the doorway, laces bound until her knees and then hidden by ruffled skirts. I could not see it past the blackness of the unlit room, but I pictured the expression on her darkly featured face.

Bellatrix had stern, wild eyes that lit everyone she looked at on fire with her gaze. Lips soft, probably the least hardened part of her, downturned in a frowning leer. Her untamed curls cast down her back, spilling over collarbones and cleavage. She was beautiful, but deadly. Unpredictable.

I heard her tutting as she ambled closer to the corner I cowered in, a mocking sound that sent shivers through the dampening cells.

"You truly have no place down here~" her posh voice drawled, taking a step closer until I had nowhere to go but the wall behind me. Her angular, nimble fingers touched me under the chin to better see my face.

I saw her now, blurred features still beautiful in the darkness. Bellatrix stroked her thumb across my cracked lips, dry from dehydration. I thought I saw fire simper behind her eyes at the sight of my degradation, both exceedingly pleased and saddened. I daren't imagine what went on in her warped mind, but I thought she wanted me with her. On her arm like some sort of 'pet'

Her eyes lit up, and before my mind could process it she had a beaming smile, as if she'd finally won me round to some unknown point of view. I hated the way she invaded my personal thoughts with her legilimense-ability.

"Precisely, little girl. Maybe you are ready..." Bellatrix faded out with a thought, then snapped herself back to attention. I noticed a small, dented metal cup in her hands. If my mouth weren't so dry, it would be watering at the sight of a drink.

"Is- is that for me?" My voice cracked, my throat aching from dryness. Bellatrix followed my gaze to the cup, taunting me with the idea of cold, refreshing water to quench my thirst. She smirked.

"Oh, yes. I suppose it is" she lifted the cup and studied it as if it was intriguing. My lower lip trembled, was she going to keep it from me? I wasn't sure how much longer I could go without water. As a result of what she saw as bad behaviour, I was deprived of food and water for the past two days. My stomach rumbled, and my throat ached for nutrients.

Bellatrix pondered my begging, needy eyes. I watched her swirl the water and smile as she looked back at me. It wasn't a sweet one, like a mother's. It was like that of a dragon, bloody and terrifying.

"Are you thirsty, little one?" I nodded hesitantly.

Bellatrix had a frightening grin, and stepped back a few paces so that there was about seven feet between us. The darkness shrouded nearly everything about her, but her brown eyes still shone with malevolence.

"Come get it then, if you really want it"

After a few seconds of stunned silence, I tried to push my weakened body up from the ground. Bellatrix instantly held up a finger to pause me "no no no, back down. Thats it~" I settled down, leaning on my hands to receive whatever feedback she felt was appropriate "~good, now crawl"

Crawl? My cheeks heat up at the degradation. She waited for me to obey, and fear led me to comply.

The cold, stone floor dug into my knees as I slowly made my way over to her. Bellatrix watched, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth in satisfaction at the sight of me being so complacent. Her brown eyes were strongly lustful, like she was getting off on control.

"Mhm, that's a good little pet, crawl to me like the dirty lowlife you are~"

I was sure my face was red, my arms and legs trembled at keeping my weight upright. I was close to her now, so close I could see the leather shine on her boots. I came to a stop in front of her, raising my head. Bellatrix smiled.

"Well done, little one. Maybe there is hope for you to become my perfect little plaything" she moved the cup closer, placing the edge against my lower lip. The water that poured into my mouth was cold, and metallic. I stared up at her with what, I could tell from her expression, must have been a somewhat innocent way.

"Good girl" she whispered, holding back a lustful grin. Maybe, I thought to myself as I gulped down the cold liquid, she was kinder than she seemed. She could have left me down here, alone and starving. She could let me die, but she didn't.

Maybe Bellatrix wasn't the evil killer I imagined her to be.

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A.n this explores the development of the Stockholm syndrome-inspired relationship, thanks for reading!