The Obligatory Spiel: All characters belong to their respective creators; I am only playing with them. Thanks for reading, and as always, R&R!

Warning! Contains adult content. If this offends you, or you do not like the pairing, please don't read. I know people get serious over HP fics, but please don't flame. We're all entitled to our own stories. Thanks!

Black Envy

The manor was silent, just as he liked it. The silence gave him a sense of calm, and time to sort through his thoughts. His slender fingers moved to his temples, gently massaging them in an effort to prevent the raging headache he knew was coming. He could feel it in his neck, the tight stiffening and ache behind his eyes could mean nothing else. Letting his eyes close upon the window he had been looking out of, he imagined he was elsewhere.

It was not like him to want an easy route out, or to completely hide away, but lately it seemed to be an appealing solution. He had become more afraid of death in these days, though he was on the winning team. He felt suddenly cast out, expired, used up. He used to wear the glory like a well-pressed robe. His hair had been longer and shiner then. He got more sleep, and always held the air of confidence about himself. But now, he was merely a man. A man like any other: less than great.

But He was great. He had done great things. He could justify having headaches by having something to show for them. Indeed, the Dark Lord was much better than him. He wondered sullenly why the Dark Lord even kept him around. Perhaps it was because Voldemort was waiting for Lucius to return to the shining warrior he had been before. Perhaps it was simply because the Dark Lord was too busy and too lazy to get rid of him. He was hardly worth the effort. The job was probably to be done by someone else anyhow. Lucius cringed at the thought of another Death Eater turning against him and his family, dispensing of them as if they were common Mudbloods-all for the praise and attention of the Dark Lord.

And he knew who that would be…

Bellatrix Lestrange valued attention from the Dark Lord more than any of them, and because of that, and her own crazed adoration for torture, she would probably be the one to get rid of them all. But could she, or would she kill her own sister? Lucius opened his eyes, hoping the images of his own murder would fade from them.

And when had Bellatrix attained such a high position? It always used to be him beside Lord Voldemort. The Malfoys were always his best followers… When did a Black usurp that position? He knew the answer. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he knew. Bellatrix matched Voldemort's relentless nature and tendency for murder. There was nothing she wouldn't do, and especially for him. But above all, Lucius knew, Bellatrix was offering Voldemort something even he could not resist. Even the darkest and most powerful of wizards had needs of the flesh, and Lucius was sure that Bellatrix was serving her Master in more ways than the obvious.

Damn her! He thought briefly about Narcissa and why she couldn't be more like her sister, and then perhaps they would again hold the comfy seat next to Lord Voldemort. But upon the obtrusive image of his Cissy offering her body to Voldemort, he changed his mind. If anything, he thought, at least the Malfoy's still had their dignity.

Then he felt a tinge of guilt, realizing that he had been no better than the Dark Lord when it came to Bellatrix's temptation. He recalled the many lonely nights spent at the Ministry, only to come home to a tired and unresponsive Narcissa, who was too busy taking care of their baby son to participate in acts of affection. He recalled, with another pang of guilt, how Cissy's sister had been so refreshing- a break from the mundane and monotony that had become his early marriage.

Where Cissy was light and sweet, Bella was dark and mischievous. He opened a part of him that he usually kept hidden, and he enjoyed immensely how he felt around her. She must have known, must have been trying to arouse him, because he didn't have to do much to have her. After a few torrid evenings and one particularly memorable afternoon, Lucius felt much better about his life, or at least the part he kept hidden. After Bella was sent to Azkaban and the Dark Lord returned in part, Lucius had all but forgotten about his affair, but when he helped to break the Death Eaters out of Azkaban the last year, seeing Bella brought back not only his memories, but his desires.

It had been much harder to carry on the situation presently however, as Bella was confined to Malfoy Manor and constantly under the watch of Voldemort. He himself was being watched closely by Cissy, but he knew she was only making sure that he was being an effective father to Draco. Still, he and Bella had shared at least two encounters since her breakout. They had been enjoyable, but Lucius still felt an uncomfortable sensation about Bella's closeness to Voldemort. He would not admit to jealousy; he was not, could not, be that enamored with Bella, especially if she was to turn against him.

He sighed, wondering what exactly was to become of him. A clock ticked from atop the mantle, but the sound was distant to him. Time no longer seemed to matter. He was aware that he was, and had been, waiting… but everybody was. That's all anyone seemed to be doing anymore. Waiting. Even the great Harry Potter was waiting.

But Lucius was tired of waiting. With a huff he stood, deciding that anything was better than nothing. He marched out of the study, his boots thumping noisily on the stone floor. He plodded down the long corridor, ignoring the moving portraits on the walls. He only had eyes for one, and he would stomp through the whole house to find her if he had to.

Luckily, he did not. As he rounded a staircase on the third floor, he saw her emerging from her bedroom.

"Lucius," she nodded as she closed her door. "Have you seen Cissy?"

Lucius had no time for greetings, and no patience for questions. Hurriedly he advanced towards her. She seemed to notice his urgency, and her eyes widened as he took her arm and led her back into her bedroom. He closed the door and latched it behind them, then turned to her.

"What are you doing with the Dark Lord?" He demanded, his voice cold.

She looked completely taken aback at his question, and her eyes seemed to search him for an answer. "What are you talking about?"

Lucius stepped closer, his hand going to his want instinctively. "I said," he started, backing her slowly up against the wall. "What are you doing with the Dark Lord? It must be something serious, as you spend all your time with him. I wondered what exactly could be taking that much time…"

"What are you playing at?" Bellatrix whispered, her eyes full of fear at Lucius' scornful expression.

"You're seducing him, aren't you," Lucius said flatly. "Do you think the more you entice him the better your chances will be for survival?"

Bella's face was blank, but there was understanding in her eyes. She seemed to grow less afraid and even scoffed lightly. "That's what this is about? You're afraid I am using my body to get what I want?" His eye twitched as she began to laugh at him. That crazy laugh he had come to associate with other people's peril and humiliation was not something he wanted to endure. "Really! I'm flattered that you would get jealous over something like that, Lucius, but-"

She was stopped mid-sentence as the tip of Lucius' wand slid up her throat. "Jealous," he said loudly, "Is not something I am, or have ever been."

Her eyes were wide again, the smile completely wiped from her mouth. He looked at her pale skin, her chest rising and falling as she breathed.

"Lucius," she whispered lightly.

"No," Lucius said simply. "I want to know the truth Bella."

"What truth? Why does this concern you?" She asked, frustration in her voice. She couldn't be intimidated for long. Lucius loved this, though he would never admit it.

"It concerns me," he said sternly. "Because I am in His service, and being so, I am naturally concerned with His well-being."

Bella snickered. "I am in His service as well, and I also care about His well being. Therefore, whatever I do for Him is for his own good."

Lucius scowled at her, letting his wand down and re-sheathing it. "Know this Bella," he said, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "I have no problem hurting you to help Him… even if you are my wife's sister."

His last words had little effect on her; she merely looked bored and hopeful that his threats were nearly over. Lucius turned away from her, still quite infuriated and restless. The word 'jealous' still rang through his head. Ridiculous! How could he be jealous of the Dark Lord? He shook his head at the thought, but when he turned back to Bella he felt an odd compulsion to take her. He felt he needed to reclaim what he once had, before she had given herself completely to the Dark Lord. After all, Lucius had been there first.

He looked into her eyes with a hungry expression. She must have read it, because she did not seem surprised when he took her chin in his hands and kissed her roughly.

"Lucius!" She said under his lips. He pulled away, frowning but listening. "Cissy is home! Draco is downstairs!"

"Hush!" Lucius said, the names of his family the last thing he wanted to hear prior to this. He replaced his lips on hers to quiet her, and his hands quickly lifted her skirts. She gasped lightly as his hand brought her pelvis close to him.

"Lucius, no!" She all but shouted, her hands moving to his shoulders to push him away. He was beyond having mercy on her. Why show mercy to someone who would not show it themselves?

"What? Are you afraid, Bella?" He taunted lightly as he pushed her back against the wall, ignoring her long nails digging into his shoulders. "Afraid the Dark Lord himself will catch us?"

Bella shook her head once, but her face conveyed that she was afraid. Her eyes watched Lucius' hands as they moved to his trousers, unbuttoning the silver clasp. "Well good, let him," Lucius rasped, his hand moving inside his pants. "I want him to see us. I want him to know how foul you really are… How low you can bring yourself… and with your own sister's husband!"

Bella's maniacal laugh returned and she seemed to lose all fear. "You only want him to see us so he'll know that you were here first!" She panted. "You want him to feel jealousy, that's it!"

The truth in her words stung Lucius and only heightened his anger. His dark eyes flickered as he realized that Bella's relentlessness was the exact thing that was turning him on and driving him forward. She must have known this, because she scoffed with hostility and gave him a snotty look.

"How wrong can you be?" He said cooly. His hand stroked down her face and to her bosom, her eyes following it. "If you're going to play games with people Bella, you have to be prepared for the competition."

Bella stared into his eyes. If she was confused, she didn't let it show. Lucius let her linger on his words for a moment, before his lips went to her neck, and he fumbled with her skirts again until they were completely lifted. He could hear her ragged breathing as he situated himself against her, slowly easing himself into her.

"You're going mad," Bella whispered, closing her eyes as he began a gentle rhythm in and out of her.

"Interesting that you would recognize the symptoms in another," Lucius said, his mouth next to her ear while his hand buried itself in her dark black curls.

She let this jibe slide. He wondered if she was enjoying this. As angry as he had become with her, a small part of him, the part that gave him the uncomfortable sensation he had come to know as jealousy, hoped that deep down she was enjoying him like she used to.

As he pondered his secondary feeling of admiration for her, he only grew frustrated with himself, thrusting harder into her. She had to grip the top of the bookshelf nearby to keep herself standing as Lucius faced her completely, his eyes large and dark. Her face had grown soft, her lips slack and her eyes partially closed. Lucius knew her body, at least, was enjoying this. She met his severe gaze with her own. The only sound was of their breathing, his ragged and quick and hers little gasps, a hint of a whimper under each exhalation.

"Does he treat you this way?" Lucius broke the silence, slowing his pace slightly so as to preserve the moment longer. "Is he nearly as effective as me?"

Bella seemed to be considering, but did not answer. He didn't expect her to. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn't want to be talked back to. She watched his face as he continued verbally bashing her.

"He is only using you, you must realize," Lucius found a light ripple of pleasure run through him as he spoke to her with such disgust. "He'll have his fun, then he'll be done with you. Sad to think about really… but it was a choice you made."

Her bottom lip stuck out as it did when she did not get her way, or was being affronted. Her eyes were full of hatred, but her hands moved to his hips as his pace increased again.

"Then I will be at the top again!" Lucius' voice quavered as his ragged breathing increased. His long blonde hair fell about his face as he moved his head to her bosom. He could smell the sweetness of her sweat-a smell he recognized as purely her and drove him wild. Her hands were now on his head, her fingers combing through his hair.

He knew he must continue pestering her; it was the only way he could release this tension and get over the fit he had been in. He needed to assert himself as the leader, otherwise she would continue to rule by Voldemort's side and he would be done away with.

His hands moved to hers, tearing them out of his hair and pressing them to the wall. She winced lightly as her knuckles hit the hard stone. As his hands gripped her wrists, he suddenly realized his mistake. The forefinger of his right hand was pressed firmly on her left wrist, directly atop her black tattoo of the Dark Mark. He stopped thrusting, though his body protested, and his eyes grew wide. A trickle of sweat ran down his temple as he looked from her wrist to her face. Her eyes followed his gaze to her wrist and she realized what had happened. Her lips curled evilly into a malicious grin, as she whispered lightly, "I guess he'll be coming then…"

TBC