Bellatrix smoothed her royal blue dress, making sure her hair was neat. Druella had already come to check her off and Bellatrix was about ready to head down. She had had one hope seeing her through the summer was that Tom Riddle might show at the ballas. She wanted to feel the cold heat of his eyes, to feel her body buzz with energy from his words. She just wanted to feel his presence again.
She had almost forgotten about Narcissa in her hurry to get downstairs, but turns to go get her sister. Please be better, please be better, she thought to herself. Just let me have this one night. Bellatrix breathes out in relief seeing how put together Narcissa was when she came to collect her, her mouth in a thin line of determination.
Bellatrix takes her hand and guides her down the ballroom, nearly buzzing in anticipation. She leaves Narcissa by the door and begins searching through the crowd for a glimpse of Tom Riddle. She searches through the groups for a good fifteen minutes, but there's no sign of him. She sinks into a chair in disappointment.
The guests of the ball dance around her, unaware of her frustration. She sinks her head into her hands, her elbows digging into her knees. The room felt stifling without Tom Riddle in it, the dress now more restriction than anything else. All these people.. all these pretty dancing fools were disgusting to her. They felt so false, spinning around carelessly in gowns more expensive than houses. All of this felt useless.
Her eyes made their way to the doors that lead upstairs and she wondered if she could sneak away before her parents saw her. As her eyes shift across the crowd, however, she sees a commotion in the side of the room. Her back arches, trying to see what it is, and she finds herself standing to catch a glimpse. As she strains, the crowd parts and Tom Riddle makes his way through. Her heart felt sudden in her chest, knocking against her ribs. There. There was the only living man in the entire world. His eyes makes their way across the room and sink onto her body. She shudders at the force of it. There was more magic in this man's eyes than most people she had encountered had in their entire bodies. A smile crosses her face.
Bellatrix found herself walking to him, pulled by his energy, compelled. She pays no mind to the dancing bodies, walking through them like moses and the parted sea. "Mr. Riddle," she says, looking up to him with adoring eyes when she arrives. "I've been waiting to dance with you."
"Is that so," he says, his voice cold and quiet, like trickling water down a cave wall. Bellatrix felt it was hypnotic in her ears, a rare and precious sound. He holds out a hand for her and she takes it, letting him lead her onto the dance floor. He slides a hand around her waist, but doesn't hold her too closely, moving her to the music.
"I've waited all year to be close to you again," Bellatrix admits, her eyes burning up at him. "You were the only thing getting me through everything."
"I heard of what happened with your sister," Tom says, nodding. "Even the most beautiful garden must be pruned, Bellatrix. False seeds cannot be allowed to grow."
"I hate her," Bellatrix says, trusting him completely. "I… I can feel the rage bubbling just below the surface."
"You'll have your chance to release that rage," Tom says. "I promise you that. You need only wait for the right moment."
"I know," Bellatrix says. "And I know you're the one who will bring it. I can see your power. I can feel it. I want to join you."
"The last we spoke," he says cooly, "I told you. I only accept the best and the bravest warriors. You are strong. I can see that. But you're not there yet."
"I will be," Bellatrix promises. "I'm training every day. I'll be the strongest of them all."
He smiles softly and reaches out to tilt her jaw up, inspecting her. "I must go now, Ms. Black," he tells her. "There are others I must speak with. But train hard and join me when you are ready."
"I will," she promises again, feeling his lack immediately when he lets her go. "I will.
