The Love of a Thornbush

Let Me Try - Chapter Nineteen

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"Let me go" my voice, as intimidating as I meant the words to sound, cracked like a little bird trying to sing it's first song.

"Hmph" Andromeda stifled a chuckle, trying to look me in the eyes even as she covered her mouth to keep quiet. My irritation and hateful eyes seemed to amuse her.

"You are-" she giggled like a schoolgirl, even though the wrinkles she displayed showed otherwise "-absolutely adorable!"

To me, my wrists handcuffed to the headboard and ankles tied together, wasn't a very cute position to be in.

Her laughs were like cackles, but softer and less scary. She was a little less psycho than her sister.

"Oh my love you do know how to make me laugh~" she patted my knee, making sure to drag her fingers halfway up my thigh to make me shiver. Whether intentionally or unintended, it still made her grin a little at the sight of my tensed legs.

"Ah-" Andromeda teasingly ran her nails across the exposed skin of my thigh, laughing lightly as I squirmed and tried to get away from her touch.

"-you're a funny little thing" she sighed, shaking her head as she chuckled. Her brown curls quivered as her head turned to face me, a straight-toothed smile ready and waiting to see more of my 'hilarity'

"I'm serious! Let me go Andy and I swear I won't-"

"-tell anyone?" Her doe eyes masked the insanity beneath with seeming innocence. Her lip quirked, and she tilted her head as she smiled "as if you could tell anyone from where you are now!"

"But- b-b-"

"Buh buh buh-" Andromeda mocked as she giggled in a childish way. My tears welled up as she humiliated me. Her fingers moved from my thigh all the way up to wipe away the tear tracks sliding down my cheeks.

"Shhh..." Her thumb stroked my face with tender affection, and her soft eyes nearly comforted me "why are you upset, my darling?"

My throat closed with overwhelming emotion, and as I tried to speak a quiet whimper was all I could make out. Her hand flickered against my face as she seemed to feel my restraint. She frowned in concern.

"I thought we were having fun? I'm-" she swallowed, a little guilty expression slugged onto her face "-Im sorry if I upset you"

Her thumb twitched to stroke my cheek, such a sudden movement that caused me to flinch my head away from her hold. Her eyes glimmered with regret and seemingly real tears.

"God!" Her hand met her face, like she wanted to express her frustration through pain.

"I'm-" her voice cracked, and I saw her lip tremble. Andromeda stood up from the bed and marched herself around in a frenzy. Her amber eyes flickered from my tearstroked face, towards the handcuffs keeping me tethered to her bed.

Wracked with guilt. Andromeda's soft pink lips stuttered out a barely audible, horrified realisation.

"I'm just like her"

Her hands trembled, and she paled so much I worried she would collapse. Andromeda let out a surprising, soft keen of distraught emotion. Her hands beat themselves against her head, sobbing and throwing herself draped over the edge of the bed. Her forehead leant on the calf of my leg.

"Please- please don't!" My heart broke seeing the woman so distraught, and if I was honest it scared me a little. Andromeda's hand cupped my knee, holding it tightly, as if to prevent her self harming urges.

Andromeda raised her head slowly, eyes wide as she sniffled. I noticed her light eyeliner remained unscathed. Her cheeks were dry.

My confusion must have played on my face. Andromeda quickly realised and wiped her face with her sleeve.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart..." She took my hand "I've made a fool of myself, haven't I?" She sadly chuckled, and sniffed. My conscience battled with my innate fear for this woman, but before a victor could be decided her wand was brandished before me.

I gasped, and tried to wrestle myself free of the handcuffs. Andromeda quickly lowered her wand so as to try and ease my suspicions.

"Shh! I'm sorry! Let me-" her hand raised again, and my eyes flinched shut to prepare for the slap I expected. Instead, the shackles on my wrists snapped open to let my stiff arms fall back to my sides.

I stared up at her, rubbing my wrists trying to ease off the red marks from the cuffs nagging into my skin. Andromeda weakly smiled, and slowly placed her wand on the edge of the bed. It was, I assume, a show of peace.

"I- I panicked" she blurted. The nerves on her face told a story "I just- I didn't want you to leave, that's all!"

"You have... Truly captivated me, sweetheart, since you arrived on my doorstep. A broken girl trained to expect the worst out of life, but I know you can be more!" Her hand wavered, then her eyes begged me for permission. I granted it with a little teary smile.

Her hand sat itself on top of mine, and I tried my best not to flinch. Andromeda rubbed her thumb over the back of my hand.

"The things my sister did- it is a common family occurrence, I will admit that" upon seeing my panic, Andromeda quickly completed the sentence "but I promise none of us are as bad! I mean, she is the worst example of a rotten tree, by far"

Her eyes softened. Andromeda's voice quivered.

"I would never want to hurt you, sweetheart" she broke, and looked down "Let me-"

"Andromeda, please" I cut her off. Her eyes snapped to meet mine and I now noticed the shimmer of tears threatening to spill over the edge "I can't be the person you want"

The words spilled out before my brain could filter them. I suppose that looking her in the eyes and being honest was cathartic in some ways.

"Bellatrix-" her name, her real name, was strange on my tongue. It sent a volt of electricity straight to my heart "-destroyed whatever was left of my innocence"

I noticed her eyes shift for a second at the mention of innocence, as if she wondered what had happened to steal it. They darkened, then refocused as I continued.

"I don't know-"

"I could fix that" Andromeda stared deeply, eyes begging. The tears began to spill down her cheeks in rivers "if you let me try"

I was lost for words. Her honeycomb eyes swam with desperation.

"Please, sweetheart"

In her shivering fingers, my hand was lifted and a hesitantly gentle kiss  placed on its knuckles. Her lips were soft, and wet from absorbed tears.

"I just want to show you real love. Not abuse, not ever! Please... Let me try?"

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