~ Lukewarm Rain ~

- Chapter 3: Drown In The Darkness -

Bellatrix awoke in the early afternoon, after a long night (and morning, as well) of deep, dreamless sleep. She sighed and pushed the covers away, then spent a few luxurious moments stretching, before she finally opened her eyes and got out of bed-

-and realized that she was in a room which was entirely unfamiliar to her.

She looked around in an attempt to gain her bearings. The style of the furniture, which had obviously been chosen for functionality over aesthetics, and the utter disregard for things to be properly matched to each other suggested that the owner of the room was male. Really, three different woods in four different finishes - how distasteful. The sheets on the bed didn't match the pillowcases, although they were at least in complimentary colors. The blanket was striped and clashed horribly with the rest of the bedclothes. However, it had been very warm and comfortable in the bed, she recalled, which she supposed was what ultimately mattered to whoever inhabited this room. She couldn't think of a single person she knew who would have such poor taste in interior decorating, though.

No, she concluded, this definitely wasn't any place that she knew.

And yet... the top of the dresser was littered with assorted cosmetics, hair-styling products, jewelry in distinctly feminine styles, and several small trinket boxes - which, upon further examination, proved to contain more jewelry.

Is this my room, after all? she wondered, idly noting that there was neither a window nor a mirror anywhere in the room. There were two doors, one of which opened into a cramped bathroom, and the other of which presumably led to either a hallway or another room. She didn't bother trying to open that one yet; she was not prepared to leave this room when she still had no idea where the hell she was, exactly.

She checked the wardrobe. It was stocked with dresses in exactly the style she preferred. There were also a few sets of plain black robes, which she initially dismissed as being normal for her to keep even if she did not like to wear them. Next she looked in the dresser drawers, the first of which contained a plethora of lacy black undergarments and silky nightdresses in dark jewel tones. Another drawer was filled with corsets, silk stockings, and a few garter belts.

Who needs multiple garter belts? she thought disdainfully. She regretted asking herself that a moment later when her mind spat back the answer, A woman with a spoiled lover who likes to see her in lingerie that matches, that's who.

Her earlier suspicion was confirmed when she opened the third drawer and found a small stack of black silk boxer shorts sitting next to a heap of unfolded socks. The owner of these items was likely the one whose plain black robes were hanging beside her dresses in the wardrobe, the man whose room this was.

Feeling a bit foolish for even needing to check, Bellatrix glanced down at her hands. They were bare. No rings, and definitely no wedding band.

I would remember if I was married, she mentally scolded herself. Then again, I should also remember whether or not I'm being kept as someone's mistress...

Bellatrix would have continued to examine the bedroom for clues, but her quest was interrupted by a sudden and desperate need for the bathroom. Once her pressing biological imperative was taken care of and she was washing her hands, she happened to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror that was hanging over the sink. What she saw there shocked her more than waking up in an unknown location had.

She had known since she'd woken up that something was wrong... but until that moment, she had not realized exactly how wrong it was.

~to be continued~

A/N: Reviews are always appreciated.