::: CHAPTER 23 :::
His surroundings suddenly seem to fall into place. It was as though someone had put back every item in his room one at a time without him noticing. He wasn't even aware of how he got to sitting in his den in the first place. When he suddenly awakened from his daze, he found himself sitting with his head tilted to one side, resting on the tips of his fingers. He was obviously deep in thought.
About what though? He couldn't recall. He straightened himself, looking around his den as if for the first time trying to recall what had happened. Then, he remembered.
Quickly he got up off his chair and started out the door when he suddenly noticed something. The room does seem different now from where he stood. Everything seemed……lower than usual.
The time turner! My body! I'm back in my body again! It worked! It must have worked! I'm no longer in Faustus' body!
"It worked!" he exclaimed out loud.
But….that means….Faustus is dead this time. I wonder how Bella's taking it…..I better go and find her.
He walked out the room suddenly appreciating the fact that he was no longer too short to reach anything. The world suddenly felt so much better, uplifted, that he suddenly felt the urge to laugh out loud but, he stopped himself. If the spell had worked, it would mean Faustus is dead and Bella probably isn't exactly in the mood for levity. Instead, he took a deep breath and hoped that he had already fixed the situation.
He was about to climb up the stairs when he heard voices in the drawing room. Taking a few steps back, he paused in the doorway.
Rodolphus…
What the bloody hell is he doing here?
Rodolphus Lestrange and Bella were sitting on the sofa wrapped in each others arms. Bella was sobbing uncontrollably into Rod's shoulder. So engrossed were they with each other they did not notice him standing at the doorway, witnessing this tender scene.
"Rodolphus, have I demanded for your presence or did you come here just to visit Bella?" Voldemort said as he started slowly into the room.
Rodolphus looked up towards Voldemort, his face showed no expression. Bella upon hearing his voice immediately wiped the tears off her face and stood up beside Rodolphus, facing the Dark Lord.
Bella is crying? She's never cried in front of me before….why does she have to act so vulnerable in front of Rodolphus?
"I came as soon as I heard the news about Faustus' sudden passing. I came to offer my condolences my Lord." Rodolphus said, bowing low to the Dark Lord.
"Yes, thank you and now you may leave. Bella and I have something that we must discuss." Voldemort said and as soon as he had said that, Voldemort noticed that Bella had reached for Rodolphus' hand, giving it a squeeze as if she did not want him to leave. He suddenly felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the bond that they shared. He had never experienced a shared bond with anyone and never has he felt a need to have one until he had met Bella. Somehow with her, he felt a sudden need to possess and he had to fight back an urge to crucio Rodolphus right there and then.
Rodolphus squeezed her hand in return and turned to look at Bella to bid her a silent goodbye. He bowed again to Voldemort and apparated.
As soon as Rodolphus had gone, Voldemort could feel Bella concealing her thoughts from him. He frowned at her as she merely stared back at him.
"Come here, my sweet." Voldemort said as he held out his hands to Bella who started to walk over to him. She took his hands as he pulled her into his arms.
Oh Merlin I missed her….how long has it been?
He placed his left arm around her waist pulling her towards him and brought his right hand up to her face. He traced her features carefully with his fingers, memorizing every single detail. He could tell from the look on her face that she was surprised at how different he was acting and he wasn't about to stop and explain anything to her. He bent down and licked her sweet and luscious lips.
"We will get through this. You don't need anybody else. I will care for you." He said softly to her.
Bella's eyes were filled with tears as he said this. He smiled down at her, pleased with the fact that he could still have that effect on her. He held her tighter as she buried her face into his shoulder.
In her mind as she stood there with her face buried in his right shoulder with tears streaming down her pale face, Bella only knew one thing: He murdered our son.
THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE THIS IS A LINE
Reviews please…..thnks. =]