A/N: A Rodolphus/Bellatrix/Voldemort triangle. Will be starting the sequel to the humour Bella/Voldy story soon. Promiseeee.

CHAPTER ONE - BELLATRIX

"Wanting him is hard to forget, loving him is hard to regret, losing him is hard to accept,
but even with all the hurt I've felt, letting go is the most painful yet."

I know that he knows.

It's the way he looks at me, as if he does not trust me. I pretend I love him but I am growing weary of the neverending facade. He is too, I can tell. He does not eat with me in the dining room anymore, infact, I am not sure whether he eats at all. He is growing thinner and he has acquired tired looking eyes. I eat alone, watching the candle flicker until, finally, there is nothing but darkness. I am not sure, in all honesty, if I ever did love him. I cherished him as if he was a brother, or perhaps, a close friend, but never as a lover. Whenever he kissed me I would respond enthusastically, so as not to lower his opinion on me. But now, everything has changed. Dumbledore has fallen - the senile fool, gone for good, at the hand of Severus Snape. If only the Dark Lord had let me finish off the old man, then perhaps ...

No. I know he does not love; he has explained that to me countlessly. Alone, in company of others, via comminucation. Whenever I invite him round for dinner, he declines, assuring me he would rather eat alone. I gave up on asking him, as I decided it may be annoying him. But ... tonight, he arrived, when I was not at my best. I was not wearing any magi-witch make-up products, and my hair was a complete mess. I had not taken pride in my appearance that night, but when he apparated into my lounge, as I carelessly sipped Wine, he did not seem to mind my appereance.

We talked, and he even stroked my hair. I tearfully told him of what Rodolphus was doing, and he listened to my complains with a fatherly atmosphere, but his expression was unreadable. When I had finished, sipping more wine for self reassurement, he spoke to me. "Come here, Bella," he said softly, putting an arm around my shoulders and positioning me so I was leaning comfortably on him. I sighed and buried my face into his chest, and he smelt irresistable. "I cannot help you with Rodolphus," he told me, stroking my hair absent mindedly, the way he would sometimes stroke Nagini, "But I do ask of you one thing. And Lord Voldemort only asks when it is important."
"Anything - anything for my lord!" I choked, my eyes filling with tears.
"Do not mess up, Bella," he purred, placing his lips near my forehead, but not actually touching. Perhaps he had changed his mind split second. "This ... task, is important. Very important. I cannot afford to have mistakes. Bella..."

I stared at him, my eyes watery, my lips slightly pouted. "I would not mess up, my lord, not even if death stood in the way!"
He chuckled lightly. "I am glad to hear it," he confessed, twirling a strand of my hair around his finger, "Because, I am sure you know, that I do not like to punish you."
"I ..." I turned to look at him, but he had vanished. At that moment, Rodolphus entered the room, and stared at me with a bored expression.
"What?" I snapped, my usual manner returning.
He glared back in response, before turning away and slamming the door in my face.

I don't understand men.