Author's Note: So this...chapter might be triggering...It will all be explained in a couple chapters after this. Enjoy!
'Cissa, Cissa wake up.' Lucius whispered urgently shaking his wife gently.
Narcissa groaned and rolled onto her side facing her husband. She opened her eyes slowly and yawned as she stretched.
'What is it Lucius?' She asked looking at him.
'It's Bellatrix, Cissa you must come
quickly!' He said urgently.
There was panic in his voice, Narcissa sat up, and looked at him, brows furrowed.
She had felt Bellatrix move off of her sometime during their nap. However, she was nowhere to be seen. Narcissa figured that she had either left, or went into the garden for a walk, the younger witch wasn't aware that Bellatrix was still inside the manor.
'What's wrong?' Narcissa asked touching his arm.
'She is curled up on the floor on the third floor whimpering and shaking. I don't know what is going on. She swung at me what I tried to help her.' He replied.
'Where is Draco? Is he safe?' Narcissa asked quickly.
'He is at the Minstry, Cissa what is going on? She is...completely unhinged...' He replied.
At those words Narcissa bolted to her feet and took off. She didn't hear Lucius when he called after her telling her which room her sister was in, she already knew. A wave of panic washed over her as she reached the room, wrenching open the door. She saw Bellatrix laying there, defenseless and shaking, she was sweating and pale.
Bellatrix was whispering to herself as she moaned in pain, squeezing her legs together, gripping her skirt.
'Bella...Bella please come back, it isn't happening, it isn't real.' Narcissa said, her breathing was shallow and rapid, matching her sister's. She knew better than to touch Bellatrix when she was like this, but she didn't care, she would risk the backlash.
'Bella, Bella it's me, it's Cissy. Come back to me Bella.' Narcissa said again shaking her sister.
Bellatrix sat up slowly, still shaking. Dark, cold eyes were staring into blue pools of concern. The slap echoed across the large room, Bellatrix had struck her, her large ring cutting her face, knocking her backwards. Narcissa cried out as Bellatrix struck her again, bruising her jaw, cutting it deeper. Unable to hold back any longer, she sat up and pulled out her wand, pointing it straight at Bellatrix's chest.
'Stupefy!' Narcissa yelled.
Bellatrix went flying backwards, knocked off her feet by the power and sheer force of the spell. Bellatrix lay there on the hardwood floor quite motionless, confused, disoriented, and bruised.
'Potrificus totalus!' Narcissa bellowed as she advanced on her older sister.
Bellatrix didn't get a chance to catch her bearings or her breath before she was petrified, a full body bind curse had rendered her temporarily under control and defenseless. Bellatrix, like Narcissa was very skilled at wandless, non verbal magic, the spells wouldn't hold her for very long.
Narcissa waved her wand again and she advanced on her sister, opening her mouth. She poured the contents of the small crystal bottle into the older witch's mouth.
'Swallow.' Narcissa commanded.
Bellatrix swallowed. After a few minutes, her breathing had slowed and her eyes were no longer cold and lifeless. The spell broke and Narcissa eyed her sister, unsure of what to say.
'I'm sorry Cissy. I...I wasn't paying attention to what room I was in, it wasn't until I looked up that I realized where I was.' Bellatrix said, her voice was hoarse and weak.
Narcissa's heart broke at the sound of her sister's voice. There was only one other time in her life that she had heard her sister's voice so fragile and scared...after that day, Bellatrix had never cried again.
'Hush Bella, everything is okay now, let's get you out of here.' Narcissa said breaking the spell on Bellatrix.
The older witch was much too weak to perform any type of magic at the moment. Narcissa helped Bellatrix to her feet and led her out of the room.
A few minutes later, Bellatrix was back in her room, Narcissa had helped her change into some Muggle pajamas, and tucked her into bed. She was utterly exhausted and sore from the whole ordeal, Narcissa looked equally as drained, then Bellatrix saw it...the bruise and cuts on her sister's face.
'I...I hit you?' Bellatrix asked sitting up to touch Narcissa's face.
Narcissa winced as Bellatrix ran her fingers over the bruise on Narcissa's face, running her thumb over the cut across her cheek and down the length of her jaw. She looked ashamed and anguished as she met Narcissa's eyes.
'It will heal Bella. It was an accident, it was an accident, I shouldn't have touched you.' Narcissa said trying to reassure her sister.
'I'll be here if you need me Bella, I have to take care of some paperwork for the auction tomorrow.' Narcissa said kissing Bellatrix on the head.
Bellatrix's face fell slightly, she was hurt but understood the dismissal. Narcissa then handed Bellatrix a small bottle.
'This will help you sleep. No dreams, just sleep.' Narcissa said as Bellatrix took the bottle, drinking it down.
'Thanks Cissy.' Bellatix whispered as she rolled onto her tummy, folding her arms under her pillow, turning away from her sister.
'Anything for you Bella.' Narcissa said.
She gave Bellatrix one last kiss on the head, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, Bellatrix closed them, falling into a deep sleep.
TBC...