AN: I apologise to readers (especially Faliine) for the lateness of this update. I have a lot of unfinished fics to catch up with as well as a lot of other things to be getting on with. I hope more frequent updates will be coming when we get into the spring/summer weeks. I hope you like this chapter because I'm pretty proud of it. Please review!
. . .
Chapter 2
"Good morning, Cissy angel."
The gentle voice of Narcissa's mother, Druella, awakened her after what seemed only to be a few minutes. The sight of sunlight streaming into the room through a crack in the velvety curtains betrayed this feeling with fact.
Narcissa managed a small smile after a moment's hesitation and opened one eye slowly at the sound of her mother's voice. Druella only ever used that soft tone of voice with Cissy; her youngest, most perfect girl. Narcissa was the spitting image of Druella and was the only one of three daughters to share the luscious golden locks and icy blue eyes with her mother; she was sure this was another reason for her mother's favouritism.
Druella brushed a strand of blonde hair away from the young Black's eyes and tucked it behind her ear as she leaned down to speak softly to her, "You have a visitor coming."
Little Cissy blinked rather confusedly at this. She didn't recall having invited anybody to the Black Manor. She pushed herself up into a half-sitting position so that Druella wouldn't smother herself over her laying body.
"A visitor?" when she spoke, Narcissa's voice sounded tired and nasally, resembling an old woman with a cold rather than a young girl.
Druella sat back a little, the material of her dress ruffled against the sheets in a rich under-layer of sound as she did, and nodded in response to her daughter's questioning tone. "Indeed; the young Malfoy boy. His father and yours have been in conversation and felt that a meeting needed to be instated. He will be coming for afternoon tea at three but in the mean time, my dear, we must get you adequately ready."
Cissy's little heart gave a lurch. Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy? The one with hair as long as her own and, according to Bella, an unhealthy obsession with his father's peacocks? Narcissa couldn't see any way in which this could be worse. She was barely in the mood for leaving her bed, especially after the difficult night she'd just ensued, and now she was being dragged out of bed by her mother to undergo hours of preening and perfecting until she'd have to paint herself black and white for the visiting boy and his family.
Druella took Cissy's wrist in her hawk like hand and pulled her into the girl's en suite bathroom. She twisted the crystal knob until jets of steaming hot water spewed out of the shower head and turned to her youngest daughter with the epitome of pride.
"My little Narcissa…" her tone was quite off putting as Narcissa unbuttoned her nightgown as she had done countless times with her mother like this, "Who knows what might come of today." Something in the way she said those words made the blonde's stomach twist nauseatingly. She nodded awkwardly in response not quite knowing what was proper in the situation.
"I'll leave you to it, dear. Don't use all the hot water; I'd rather not deal with your sister when she wakes up to find it gone." Druella left the room, murmuring about how thankful she was that Bellatrix would soon be leaving home after marrying Lestrange in a few weeks time.
Narcissa gave a sigh and took a look in the mirror opposite her. From what she could see of her reflection, due to the steam obscuring some of the view, she looked ghostly white which accentuated the dark bags under her eyes. Her yellow hair hung dank around her shoulders and she was sure some strands were still damp from her tears. With an awful feeling of shame, Cissa forced herself to stop staring at that pitiful creature and step in under the hot water.
Cissy tipped her head back and raised her arms in a preaching manner to the water, letting it wash over her and cleanse her body. It felt good. She could have stood under that consoling heat all day had she not been terrified of disregarding her mother's earlier warning. Indeed, she wouldn't enjoy explaining to Bellatrix why there was no water left for her.
When a fair amount of time had passed and she had finished massaging the last of the shampoo into her hair, Narcissa stepped out of the steaming shower and shivered as she was met by a rush of cold air. Quickly, she grabbed for her towel and, as if afraid to lose her dignity by staying nude too long, slung it round herself and tried to avoid contact with that ghastly girl in the mirror as she dried off and readied herself for the pretending she would next have to endure.
XxX
The corset she sported was enough to surely crush her poor ribs, puncture her heart and put her out of this misery, wasn't it? Oh, how she wished.
It had taken Druella just under three hours to create the perfect young woman in Narcissa; pulling, curling and pinning her hair into an elegant bun; covering her blemishes and painting her cheeks rosy; tugging the wretched corset so tight that Narcissa soon resembled a picture of pure… discomfort and falsity. Or so Cissy thought anyway.
Lucius Malfoy was already waiting for her when she entered the parlour obediently behind her mother. Cygnus was stood not far from where he was sat and soon ushered his wife to sit next to Abraxas and his wife who occupied the sofa adjacent. Narcissa was forced to take the only remaining seat other than her father's armchair.
When she sat down carefully next to Lucius, he turned to her with a thin, half smile that looked more like an amused smirk than anything else. "Pleased to finally meet you, Narcissa. I've heard so much."
There was something in the way that he spoke was mechanical, rehearsed. It was cold and reserved and Narcissa subconsciously coiled away slightly. Had the bones in her corset not have kept her upright she would have curled up in a ball in an attempt to hide herself from this.
A glare from her mother told her that she should reply to his meaningless greeting. "Pleased to meet you too, Mr Malfoy."
It wasn't much, but it seemed to keep Druella happy and that was all Narcissa needed do.
The conversation was business-like and based on social issues that Narcissa really found quite boring. She felt herself drifting away from the company, thinking that this was more something Bellatrix would get involved in. Perhaps Bella would be a better match for Lucius and she could have the Lestrange brother. The thought of marriage enveloped her mind then, she was no longer in the room other than her carcass. Gone now, she thought of how she would spend her night. The same as the last no doubt. The same as the last night before that and the night before that. The same as she saw every night in the foreseeable future. This was the sickened routine the young Black had gotten herself into and she had no way of escaping it… for this was her escape.
"Narcissa?" her father's sharp and partly angered tone snapped her back into the room. She blinked several times and lifted her head to see every pair of eyes fixated on her. Her mother looked positively furious which made Cissy's insides churn.
"I apologise," Narcissa started meekly, "I didn't sleep well last night."
"If that is the case or not, daughter, I think you'd better be present for what we have to say next," Cygnus' voice sounded grave, as if he was about to announce that she was being disowned due to her disinterest in the politics they discussed.
Next to her, Lucius cleared his throat, "Narcissa. Our parents have come to the conclusion that we, due to our age and blood, would be suited in marriage to one another. I know we haven't known each other long but, Narcissa," Cissy's head began to spin as Lucius slipped off the couch and onto one knee, "would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
This was all so sudden, so fast. Narcissa was sure that her cheeks were flushing and not just due to the copious amounts of rouge. Desperate to know if this was a cruel joke, Narcissa's eyes darted to her mother and father; both of whom looked a mixture of delighted and relieved. Looking back to Lucius, Narcissa had already began to shake her head.
"Mr Malfoy I, I'm flattered but…" Narcissa caught her mother's eye. The look she received was one she had seen only once before; when Andromeda had been cast out of the family. A look of threat, of disgust that haunted Cissa's nightmares. That was when Narcissa's trouble had started, when she became so terrified that one day she could be thrown out and tossed aside like a piece of dirt. To feel she was inadequate and so imperfect that she was useless even to her own family. She shut her eyes tight, unable to face that disgust any longer, and with a quick intake of breath the words had escaped her lying lips, "I will…"
The aftermath of that horrific situation was a hazy blur for Narcissa. She was hugged by at least four or five people, including Bellatrix who had somehow come into the scene, and was congratulated by more than that she was sure. She didn't quite come to herself again until she hung over the bathroom sink, splashing cold water over her face. Gripping both sides of the ceramic bowl, Narcissa tried to regulate her breathing as it was made hard due to the tightness of the corset. She glanced to her left hand and laid eyes upon the new silver band that coiled round her fourth finger. How had this happened? She still could not make sense of the situation.
Glancing up, she made eye contact with her reflection. The cold water caused two black rivers to creep down her cheeks along with the droplets of liquid running to her chin. She was so engrossed in her own tired and dead eyes that she didn't realise she was crying until the familiar salty taste met her lips. Once aware of it, the tears began to flow more rapidly and her painted lips began to quiver.
Her father's razor was in her hand before her brain could start making any sense. All she could think of was how unhappy she was going to be for the rest of her life especially now she was going to be honour bound to a man she didn't love. She would spend her entire life as if a Dementor had sucked her very soul from her and left her an emotionless, lifeless shell.
Just a few easy cuts… that would be all. Just something to distract her for a few moments; to give her a sense of release and escape… To let her live…
