Enid an Gleanna: Yeah I actually wasn't planning on updating this at all lol. But after two years and seeing that people still wanted an update I decided "kay fine but only because ya'll are so persistent lol." Truthfully the reason I abandoned it was because I had no idea where to go with it (though I think I have a direction now) I just really love both Bella and Regina and I wanted to ship stuff. Thank you very much though, I'm glad you like it so far. :) As for the heart thing it wasn't a change of the rules so much as Bellatrix being Bellatrix. I feel like she'd get more of a thrill out of it than a shock. I'm also rather partial to redeemed Regina but I'm not sure if that's where I'll take her (especially considering that Bellatrix is an awful influence) I'll just let the fic write itself lol.
Kapuis: Thanks, I appreciate it. ^_^ I'm going to try to update regularly, given that life doesn't get in the way.
SL13: You have good taste in characters my friend. :P
104maria92: No problem and no worries, I've actually already got a bit of chapter 4 started.
approximationOfhumanity: Yeah I totally see her having some odd kinks. I mean she loves causing pain so I've always imagined that she'd get a thrill of it being inflicted on her. And thank you. :D
And finally (last bit before actually starting), thank you everyone else who reviewed prior for your feedback. I really appreciate it and am glad there are so many people who love both ladies as much as I do!
"Well I'm glad we could settle that." Regina muttered, her eyes still fixed on the woman in front of her. Exactly what to do with Bella, Regina still didn't know. The only thing she knew for certain is that the woman could never get her heart back, lest Regina find herself dead.
"Such unusually dark magic." She heard Bella whisper. The woman was staring at her heart, a heart that was still beating in Regina's palm. "However do you do it?"
Regina scoffed, "even if I told you, you probably wouldn't be able to manage it."
"How dare you!?" Bella shouted.
To Regina's ever hard to come by luck, a figure shuffled into the alleyway before Bella could continue. She quickly tucked the woman's heart into her jacket and folded her arms across her chest to keep it from falling out of place.
"Bellatrix," hissed a voice. "What part of don't take too long do you not understand?"
Bellatrix chuckled gleefully, apparently forgetting her discontent. "The don't part!"
This Bellatrix is truly amazing, Regina pondered to herself. How can someone who just had her heart ripped out be so excited?
"Who is this?" The man asked, motioning to Regina with his cane.
"Why she's Bella's new friend." Bellatrix answered with a wicked grin as she curled an arm over Regina's shoulder. She squeezed just tight enough to make Regina snarl and twitch uncomfortably. "And of course she'll be staying with us, Lucius."
"And here I thought I'd be seeking out a hotel." Regina mumbled. Truly she hadn't expected or even wanted Bellatrix to offer her a place to stay. On the contrary, she rather dreaded the thought of being in the same house as this woman. "What a lovely offer."
Bellatrix shrugged, "I have to make sure my heart is in safe hands. That you don't lose it."
Regina half-snorted, "lose it? How daft do you think I am."
Bellatrix grabbed her wrist and tugged her along. She followed Lucius out of the alleyway, falling intentionally behind. "You and I have much to discuss when we get home."
"What's to discuss. I have your heart. You do what I say."
"You underestimate me. You see, I'll play along for a little while. But of course I will have my turn eventually."
Still safely out of earshot Regina drew Bellatrix's heart out once more. "You won't dare to tell anyone that I have your heart."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "but of course not. Where's the fun in that?" Regina could have sworn she detected a hint of sarcasm. And yet the woman skipped happily ahead of her as if the conversation hadn't happened at all. She watched Bellatrix catch up to a blonde woman. Quite beautiful—Regina noted—with her sleek blonde hair, her fair skin, and her pale blue eyes.
A very sharp contrast to her sister. Gorgeous thing really. Regina observed. Or at least she assumed this woman was the sister Lucius had been referring to.
Her eyes fell upon Bellatrix again, out of the darkness of the alleyway Regina decided that the woman was rather beautiful herself. With enticingly sharp, nearly hollow facial features and skin much lighter than her sisters—or perhaps the dark color of those strangely elegant yet messy curls that created an illusion of paleness. She had likely once been a wonder to see. And indeed there was something oddly alluring about the visages of the woman's former perfection. Regina wondered what had managed to dilute such a former beauty.
"Cissy!" She heard Bella call. "Narcissa, why don't we just apperate?"
Regina shook her head, grateful that Bella had snuffed out that train of thought. That loathsome woman was the last person she wanted to find attractive.
"Does your new muggle friend even know how." Narcissa spared her a slanted glance.
"She's no muggle Cissy." Bellatrix's voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. Regina focused in on her but between Bella's hushed volume and the chatter of passerbys she could make out no more.
"Can you apperate?" Both sisters asked at once."
"Apperate?" Regina cocked an eyebrow.
"Teleport. Get from one place to another using magic." Bellarix sighed as if Regina was supposed to have picked up on all of the rules of this land within a short stroll down what she presumed was a shopping district.
"I would need a visual for that."
"So your magic isn't much different from ours after all." Bellatrix tapped her chin. "I'll meet you at the manor, Cissy." She turned to Regina and held out her arm. "Hold on to my arm and don't let go. You mess this up and lose my heart I will find you between dimensions and I will kill you." She paused, "and for the love of Dark Lord Voldemort, don't vomit on my shoes afterwards."
"You'll find I am rather adapt at 'apperation', thank you." She took hold of Bellatrix's arm. Without another word the witch whisked them away.
To Regina's dismay this apperation was nothing like her own ability to teleport in a soothing cloud of purple smoke. No, this method was disorienting and dizzying—seeming to bend and twist and constrict her body and her breathing in ways neither should be. But for the sake of maintaining dignity she was determined to keep it to herself. Once finally settling upon solid ground a wave of nausea overtook the former queen. She felt truly sick, and based upon Bellatrix ever-smug smile she assumed she looked the part as well.
The burbling fountain did little to ease Regina's spinning world.
"Welcome home luv." Bellatrix said with a wide arcing gesture as if to display the grandeur of this place. "Shall we get inside or would you like to make friends with the shrubbery?"
"I'll leave that to you." Regina delivered the comeback weakly. She followed Bellatrix through the gates hoping that she wasn't still wobbling like a drunk.
"My heart?" Bellatrix asked.
"Is fine." Regina replied.
"Good, good, then dinner will go well."
Regina stepped into the foyer onto a marble floor richly carpeted with expensive rugs. Covered just as thickly as the floor were the walls, the entire expanse of them all was covered in portraits, suites of armor, and other lavish things. The place looked even more dank and dismal than her own castle. "Welcome home indeed."