Entangled

Chapter Thirty-Two: Dark Forces

"Oh…" her voice was like a slick drawl from the shadows of her lonely corner, yet even in the cover of darkness, Rita could see that meticulous smirk creeping along her elegant cheekbones. "There's my lost, little lamb…"

Shackled by her wrists, her chains rattled as Bellatrix emerged from the dark to wrap her fingers around the cold, metal bars; Rita gazed at her quietly, unsure of what to say or why she had decided to make a sudden visit out of the wind to Azkaban. Her expression resembled a scorned child whom had come to apologize for bad behavior, uncertain if they were actually at fault or led to believe so.

"And how was your holiday, my lovely?" Bellatrix said coyly. "You could imagine how mine was."

"Not much joy to be had in a place like this," Rita whispered.

"You think that I have any regrets about what we've done?" Bellatrix uttered a quiet laugh. "You do. I don't."

"Then what do you see when the Dementors approach?"

Bellatrix clicked her tongue thoughtfully, but her answer was unresponsive as she slowly shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. Instead, she leaned in as close as possible,

"What are you doing here, Rita? It's the middle of January."

"I've been thinking about you a lot lately," Rita confessed.

"I'm surprised that you're allowed in."

"Most of the Dementors have been posted at Hogwarts, Bella. Guarding Potter…from Sirius Black…"

At the sound of his name, Bellatrix threw her head back with a raucous cackle. Rita stared at her, a bit reminded of the mental instability that set in for those who stayed in Azkaban for a longer stint. Even for Rita, Bellatrix could be a bit terrifying…and yet…

"Sirius Black, you say?! You jest!"

"It's not a jest," Rita said seriously. "The Ministry of Magic sent out a notice for the better part of the Wizarding World to look out for him. They've painted him as one of the Dark Lord's most loyal servants—"

"What a bit of crock," Bellatrix hissed, suddenly grave. "He was never one of us."

"I know this…" Rita said slowly. "But Black was the only who could escape Azkaban."

"A clever ruse, that shrew," said Bellatrix. She spat on the floor on Black's name. "Rita. Darling. Why are you really here?"

"I missed you…" said Rita, placing a hand along the same metal bars to which Bellatrix seemed to grab hold of for dear life.

"Missed me, have you?" said Bellatrix. "Thinking about the good old days? I think of them too, honestly. It's what keeps me sane in this dump. I remember them fondly. What do you remember, Rita?"

"Everything," said Rita.

An almost genuine smile tugged at the corners of Bellatrix's mouth, yet it seemed as if she forced a frown to cover it. Rita wondered if she feigned this unforgiveable, cynical front at her own expense, to keep her questioning if she could ever fall back into Bella's good graces. It wouldn't do much good to try to figure it out while Bellatrix was still locked up; the Dementors would easily pull these serotonin-filled visits from Bellatrix as quickly as Rita could make them.

"You can't get me out of your head, can you?" Bellatrix whispered silkily.

Rita leaned in to the bars, where their faces were only inches apart.

"You don't know every piece of Dark Magic, lovely," Bellatrix continued, her deep-set eyes boring into Rita's. "I taught you well, but not even the Dark Lord revealed to me all of what He knew."

"I think of you because I still care…" Rita said.

The idea that her devotion to Bellatrix Lestrange wasn't out of love or friendship seemed outrageous. Clearly, Azkaban had been playing its part very well on her. But the confidence in her words had a way to sway Rita's mind…

"There are more forms of Dark Magic than just Unforgiveable Curses and Unbreakable Vows, Amortentia, or Veritaserum. All it takes is for you to really want it." Bellatrix said. Her tongue slipped out of her tongue and lightly flicked along Rita's bottom lip. "I put a spell on you…because you're mine. You may very well be Snape's mate, but you always come to me. You will always think of me. And when the time comes to see where your loyalty lies…Where I go, you will always follow."

"I didn't follow you here…" Rita reasoned, shaking her head, though it was met with a harsh chuckle.

"Aren't you delicious, look where you are right now!" Bellatrix sneered. "For the last twelve, fourteen years—You've come here. This place is infested with Dementors, and yet you come here."

"You taught me, I fought with you. We went through a lot together—" Rita insisted.

"Oh, my pet…" Bellatrix tapped Rita's chin with a playful finger. "My sweet, little minion. It's good to see you, Rita Darling. But I do believe that our visit is done. I look forward to seeing you next year at the start of term."

And with that, Bellatrix pulled away, retreating back into her shadowy corner. Rita caught the sight of two Dementors at the end of the long corridor. The idea of the hooded creatures pulling Rita out of the prison was daunting, and so Rita slowly stepped away from Bella's cage. The thought that Bellatrix had put a Dark Spell on Rita to begin with, to think that her feelings and thoughts and wishes of seeing Bellatrix free might have been forged in selfish intent was daunting too, but…

It can't be. I love her, I miss her, Rita thought longingly as she began to make the walk toward the exit of Azkaban. I'd have known…