Chapter 19: Warmth
It felt warm. All the feelings spread through Edenia's body, giving her chills. The hot water caressed her skin and goosebumps only increased when Bellatrix embraced the girl in the bathtub. Edenia closed her eyes while she rested against the witch peacefully, a soft smile was drawn on her face. She did not flinch or wince anymore when Bellatrix touched her head, no, it felt good. It was like everything she ever looked for was right here. This was where she wanted to be, wanted to stay.
"Bella...?" The girl started. She had to hear the witch's voice. She felt terribly nervous when it was too quiet.
"Hm?" Responded Bellatrix, her dark eyes glued down to Edenia but the girl could not read them. She never could.
"Talk to me..." Said Edenia with a hint of longing and anxiety in her voice. Bellatrix stared at her; her cherry red mouth parted slightly until it was brought to the girl's forehead. Edenia closed her eyes and leaned into the rare but naked contact of those lips; she did not want them to go away. But they eventually did. Edenia looked up to the witch, her eyebrows twitched in disappointment. She wanted Bellatrix to lean down and kiss her once more but she didn't. Edenia feared that Bellatrix would get up now and leave her behind, she was scared that this wasn't real. Her body started to freeze again, the warmth started to fade with the increasing nervousness that intruded her very core. In a couple of seconds everything would be marked as fake, Edenia was sure, things were too good to be true. She glanced up at the witch, started to cling to her a tad more while tears ran down her cheeks. Bellatrix, now aware, looked down at her little pry but she did not leave. Instead, she rubbed the girl's body up and down with the water. At first, Edenia's eyes widened, then softened again. It felt good; beyond measure. It felt warm.
When both women were done taking a bath, Bellatrix got up and moved out of the tub. After dressing up, she held out a towel for Edenia; opening it with her arms and obviously waiting on the girl to walk in. And she did. Edenia smiled while the soft cloth was wrapped around her neatly, a hand laced around her own, and she was pulled away into the bedroom. Bellatrix stopped in front of the large closet, raised her wand and clothes flew out. Not some clothes. Slightly puzzled, Edenia looked at them, her mouth gapped open slightly. They belonged to her.
"My missing clothes..." Said Edenia. Bellatrix raised an eyebrow and a slight grin grew on her lips.
"Mhm." The witch agreed and gazed at the girl. Edenia stared into Bellatrix's eyes again.
"I remember the day I missed my first piece...I thought Pansy stole some of them and burnt them or something...I noticed I was missing a couple of things after the day I packed everything and wanted to leave Hogwarts. Right after Draco slapped me. And you were there, in the common room...and we had a conversation about..."
"Rotten twigs." Finished Bellatrix and nodded, eyes slightly narrowed in delight as she walked closer and rested her index finger on Edenia's chin, forcing it up so she could stare into her eyes deeply.
"And then, as you very well noticed, you fell asleep."
"I fell asleep when...You put something into my tea, didn't you...?You told Pansy to put away my bag...so while I was asleep...you took some of my clothes...and stored them here..." Came Edenia's conclusion.
"Do you have proof for such harsh accusation, Edenia?" Asked Bellatrix with a sudden turn in her voice; it sounded raspier and darker but still yet very amused. She cackled lowly when the girl shook her head in defeat.
"What does it matter now? You are here. I am here..." Cooed the witch.
"You collected the clothes before you knew what was going to happen...before you knew..." Mumbled Edenia but Bellatrix didn't answer. Instead, she pulled the towel away and picked some of the clothes to start dressing up the girl.
"You told me you didn't want me to become one of those rotten twigs...but...you thought I would become one of them anyway...you...put the clothes here...it was all planned!" Continued Edenia absentmindedly as a shirt was now covering her naked skin. Bellatrix pushed the girl down onto the bed and Edenia sat on her bottom, continuing to mumble.
"You knew all along...planned this all along..." She repeated and looked at Bellatrix that was putting a skirt on the girl now, adjusting it as she pulled Edenia back up in such a rush and so forcefully that the girl kept quiet while Bellatrix stared into her eyes deeply, almost in a scolding manner, daring her to say another word.
Silence. Her black orbs widened when suddenly, her cherry red lips felt a pair of others pressed against them.
Edenia could not help her giggles once she saw Bellatrix's dumbfounded face but they switched roles when she was pushed against the wall suddenly, causing her to cough and lose the giggling tone. There was not enough time to catch breath as Bellatrix pulled the girl into a passionate and messy kiss, leaving almost no time to catch air. Edenia made good efforts to keep up with the witch but had to part soon after being too oxygen-deprived. Bellatrix smirked against the girl's lips, her eyes lowered to Edenia in lust but the girl shook her head and hugged to the older witch.
"Just hold me..." She said softly and Bellatrix frowned, did not move her body at all for a couple of seconds but when Edenia searched for her eyes yet again, she pulled her into a dear and warm hug.
"We could've had all of this so much sooner..." Whispered Bellatrix into Edenia's ear while rubbing her hand through the soft hair.
"I...I...know...it's...my fault" Whimpered the girl and started to tighten her grip on Bellatrix desperately while fighting the tears.
"You did a good job, running away from me..." Stated the dark witch and for the first time, Edenia thought she realized something curious.
"I...I wouldn't have run if-"
"I would have given you everything! We could've had everything! We could have had a perfect life! You and I! Here! Rod! The Dark Lord would've been so proud to see how well I'd educate you...it would've been perfect!" The witch raised her voice and all that Edenia could do was to stare. She clung to Bellatrix yet again, scared she worked herself up so badly that she would storm away and leave her behind. Tears streamed down Edenia's face when she thought of that, her grip on Bellatrix tightened yet again. The latter breathed heavily, observed Edenia closely when she spoke.
"But..but you said it yourself..all of it doesn't matter anymore...we..we are here now..you and I..." The words stumbled out of Edenia's mouth; innocently repeating what the witch said previously. Bellatrix kept staring, her narrowed eyes softened and narrowed again, this time, however, in combination with a grin instead of an angry face. She pulled the girl into a tight hug, kissing the side of her head.
"Right, dear." She uttered and asked.
"And you will be a good girl from now on, won't you?"
"Yes!" Edenia spluttered out, causing Bellatrix to laugh in a high pitched voice but it died out in a gentle and amused scoff when Edenia cuddled to Bellatrix.
"But." The girl started and stared up into Bellatrix's eyes again. Seeing a raised eyebrow, she knew that the witch wasn't too impressed hearing about a condition. Edenia knew she was not in the position to make any orders, but she had to do this one.
"Can...can we go out sometime? I'm going crazy here..." Edenia confessed and lowered her head, did not want to see Bellatrix's reaction. She regretted asking it as soon as the words had left her mouth, too sure she was that it would only result in another cynical huff. But it did not come. Stricken with curiosity, Edenia raised her head again, eyes locked. Bellatrix stretched her hand out and Edenia squinted shut her eyes, fearing she'd earn a slap when the hand only caressed her cheek; did not harm her.
"Fine." Said Bellatrix. Edenia's eyes lit up on an instant but her happy face vanished the next second when Bellatrix grabbed her chin roughly, bringing her closer as she whispered against Edenia's bottom lip with almost nothing but sheer venom.
"But if you so much as move an inch too far away from me-"
"I won't!" Squeaked Edenia.
"Don't you interrupt me!" Yelled Bellatrix, tightening the grip around the girl's chin that started to twitch in fear now.
"I'm sorry..." Edenia squeaked and Bellatrix raised her head a bit, narrowed her eyes, but fell back into a normal composure again before she let go of the girl and turned around.
But Edenia did not want her to turn around, did not want to let go of Bellatrix. She leaned forward and hugged the witch from behind, whimpering with her troubled voice.
"Don't walk away...!"
"Oh baby." Cooed Bellatrix and turned around again. She chuckled lowly as she brought the girl closer and kissed her lips dearly. Edenia's tears dried out and she smiled yet again, however, did not let go of the woman.
"We need something to eat. I have to inform Kreacher."
"Let me come with you..."
"It's better you stay here, as fragile as you are...you can barely stand on your feet."
"Then use your wand to inform him...just...just don't go away...!" Pleaded Edenia again and she feared that Bellatrix's patience would soon come to an end. What if she lost her temper in a few seconds? This could result in leaving her behind! The mere thought of it caused Edenia to cling to the witch even more. This again troubled her mind; this could perhaps push Bellatrix away. Thick, very thick droplets of tears started to stream down Edenia's face, and before she could help it at all, she sobbed heart-breakingly. Bellatrix exhaled deeply but pulled the girl into her arms, comforting her while trying to suppress an evil smirk.
"What's the matter baby? Tell me why you are crying right now." Demanded the witch as if she didn't already know.
"I'm scared you will leave me behind again!" Whined Edenia, rubbing her tears away with the back of her hand but Bellatrix grabbed her arm so it came to a halt, and brushed the tears away herself. As if she wanted to feel them.
"But I never left you behind, have I?" Asked Bellatrix and chuckled lowly.
"Ye...s...yes you did...the manor was abandoned...and the collar was gone and...and the food in the fridge was foul...and...-"
"The things the mind can do, hmm?" Interrupted the dark voice in a teasing manner as she brushed some strands of Edenia's hair behind her ear.
"It felt so real..." Whimpered the girl and shook her head in disbelief, lowering her forehead while her face was still contorted in mere stress.
"I'll show you what's real." Said Bellatrix and pulled her into another dear and passionate kiss. It felt warm.
Gentle rubbing through her hair caused Edenia to wake up. The scent of food smelled pleasantly enchanting. Edenia smiled softly when she spotted the dark witch next to her, tending to her head like that; she was about to drift away once more.
"Now don't fall asleep again. I want you to eat something." Scolded Bellatrix, almost at the edge of being angry.
"But what about you?" Frowned Edenia with a voice of worry and sat up.
"Well, I ate something while you were asleep." Explained the witch.
"We never ate together..." Sighed Edenia softly once the tablet sat on her thighs. The food looked incredibly good.
"My favorite dish!" Squeaked Edenia and smiled. "I love gratin potatoes." She added and her mouth felt watery once her tastebuds recognized the cheese.
"I know." Responded Bellatrix and watched the girl with a face that Edenia found difficult to interpret.
"How do you know?" She asked once her mouth was empty. Bellatrix, however, did not feel obliged to answer this question. It was silent until Edenia chimed in with something else.
"I never asked...but is Draco alright? I-"
"He is fine!" Came Bellatrix's voice harshly. Edenia flinched at the sudden sharp tone, but asked no more. Once done, she put the tablet away and cuddled back to Bellatrix again, even though she still felt the coldness.
"You... are not displeased with me, right?" Asked Edenia and her eyes lulled into the black orbs that turned from poisonously enraged to softly attentive. She stretched out her hand and rubbed through the girl's hair yet again, shaking her head.
And It felt warm.