A/N: As you can see, i decided not to post the alternate chapter and just skipped to the next part; Bellatrix's POV. So... to be honest..... I am not at all happy with this; so please review--I'd like to see what you think of it. I thought this chap was pretty crappy and not at all what I planned.... but you be the judge.
Bellatrix's POV
"A plan…?" He asks me, his voice is still cold as usual. But I can detect the genuine surprise and curiosity underneath the icy veneer.
My anger flares for a brief moment.
Are you really that surprised?
I lower my Occlumency shields to let him hear, annoyance and indignation ringing through my words.
"No need to bite, Bella." He says icily, a nonexistent eyebrow raised. The tone is dangerous but his use of my nickname tells me he's not serious.
I got lucky this time, I mentally scold myself for my temper. Next time I might not be so lucky… I repress a slight shudder at the thought. He was, thankfully, in a playful mood right now, so he was being far more lenient than usual. More often though, he was in a bad mood. The War was still going full-on. The "good" was fighting back-hard. They were taking losses. She herself, had lost a distant cousin in the War. He, as their leader, had a lot on his plate right now—which often resulted in him being in bad moods. He was a very moody person actually. A fact his followers were all too often reminded of. I mentally wince at the memory. Nobody was spared the wrath of the Dark Lord. Not even me, I mentally shudder at the recollection...
I was not an official Death Eater (yet), since in order to be an official Death Eater and therefore a member of his inner circle and attendant of Death Eater meetings—one had first need approval from Nagini. The followers were never told this, of course. It wouldn't do for future followers to think their Master were taking orders from a snake.
------------------------------------
I was told though, explicitly explained to by the Dark Lord himself. He had told me a few weeks into our.. relationship, about their relationship-Nagini and Him—and what it really was. He told me that while Nagini herself thought she was master, the truth was quite the opposite. He allowed her control over him. Why? I had asked. And he was silent for a few moments before finally replying:
"Because, power gets tiresome after a while."
I had stared at him in disbelief. Power was everything. It was what I lived for. Hell, it was why I was here in the first place!
"You won't understand." He shook his head. "The grass is always greener on the other side." He quotes idly, his hands making circles int he air. I stare at him in confusion.
"That's a secret for another day, Bellatrix." He waved his hand impatiently. The use of my full name does not escape my notice and I remain obediently silent.
"It means we want what we don't have; what others have." He explained patiently. I blink a few times.
I never had any power. I wanted power.
------------------------------------
"Your plan, Bellatrix."
His words cut across my reverie, sharp as a whip, I wince. His use of my full name does not escape me even in my half-dazed state. I snap to attention and eye him tentatively. The plan I am about to suggest is very likely to upset him. But now he is already upset…
He seems to notice and understand my hesitation (even though my Occlumency shields are up). He takes a deep breath and smile--a creepy smile, since that's apparently all he knows how to do, but I understand the sentiment and I smile back, albeit a bit hesitantly.
"I won't be upset or angry, now tell me," His voice now bordering on annoyance. The Dark Lord was not a patient man either.
So without missing a beat I take a deep breath and say calmly:
"I plan to seduce Nagini to gain her favor."
His mouth is agape and I have to admit the sight looks simply ridiculous. A foolish man would laugh, a foolish and dead man. I instead, take another deep breath (to gain courage) and continue further.
"Nagini plans to kill me, I assume." I raise my eyebrows and he gives a curt nod in response. I cannot read his expression--not that anyone could since it was always either expressionless and cold or maliciously amused, but I had always been ever to read the underlying feelings underneath his facade. The fact that I cannot, this time, read him is a testament to either his immense control and skill or my own reluctance to really find out the answer. I guiltily admit it is most likely the latter.
"She thinks me a threat." He gives another curt nod. She has reason to be threatened, I muse to myself. It was an arrogant thought I know, one that I would probably be punished for were he to hear me. And I am thankful, once more, for being an able Occlumens.
"But what if I were to convince her I was not a threat?"
"—by seducing her." He said scathingly. It might've been a mistake to start off with that, but truth be told, that was the gist of the plan.
"Well, yes." I said lamely. "—but that's not all." I added hastily, upon seeing his expression.
"I will convince her that I will betray you—that I will her spy on you." I explained quickly.
He remains silent for a few long and tense moments, his face expressionless. I pointedly avoid looking at him and finger the hem of my dress as I wait anxiously.
"I have no doubt you have much experience in the act of seduction." He sneers coldly. I repress a flinch and continue to face away him. The allusions behind his words causing an indignant fire to burn within me and I force myself to calm down. I will not be so lucky this time, I chastise myself.
"Look at me when I am speaking to you." He hisses it softly, barely above a whisper, yet power emanates from every word.
I hesitantly turn to face him. His face is as expressionless as ever.
"I hope for your sake your plan succeeds." He whispers the words with malice… yet (and I must be deluding myself) I can detect a certain worry and hope behind the ostensible malevolence.
I am still in shock at his words (or what's beneath the words) when he suddenly moves and closes the distance between us in one swift step. I am about to voice my confusion when he presses his lips against mine and all coherent thought is pushed out of my mind.
I am lost in the sweet ecstasy for a few moments-the pure bliss and power I feel from being so intimately connected to him is always wonderful--before questions began to arise in my mind. Why is he kissing me all of a sudden? He was all business less than a second ago and now… I shouldn't be surprised. He's always been a bit unpredictable; it's connected to his need to control—sex, and just about everything else, is always casual, possessive, impulsive and intense. It's a quality that makes the bedroom a very fun and interesting place.
Often times he calls me-usually at odd hours of the night or day-and I come, and the sex… I revel in my memories and lost in both my present and past orgasms; my questions lay forgotten in a corner of my mind.
He is never gentle with me. He is rough and strong and forceful. I do not mind; it's what attracted me in the first place. I didn't want the sweet nothings and the hand holding-- sex, power and control; that's what our relationship was. That's what I wanted. He was never gentle. I never wanted him to be. He was never gentle…. So why was there an undercurrent of something almost like tenderness amidst his rough approach?
Even his act of entering me seems slower, less rough; gentler. It was not very obvious, but I knew him too well to not be able to immediately sense the change. It's so… different. I never wanted him to be gentle… I liked it rough. I wanted it rough…… So why do I like this? Why do I like this tenderness?
And I, not for the first time (but the first time in long time), once again retreated into the crevices of my mind and cried myself through the night.
A/N: Next chapter is SUPPOSED to be Nagini..... But now I might change it to Voldemort and make it follow up directly after/during this. Please review/PM what you would prefer.
And please review if you think I ought to rewrite this. I think maybe I should, but I'll let you decide. Oh, and sorry for the late update!!