Chapter Text
“ Hello, come in, welcome to the freak show”
The darkness was lethal.
It was black, dark, and full of greed.
It swept through the house, filling the corridors. Sweeping up the rooms, and throwing its walls into a murky grey. Always taking more, always wanting more.
And this Bellatrix understood.
The no-shaped creature was always there. Watching, waiting, timing, and calculating. Its shadow-like body left trails of an inky black substance. It followed her in her dreams, whether the dreams were good or bad; it did not care.
The monster was always there.
She had taken to calling (it?/him?/her?/they?) the visitor.
An uninvited one.
She watched cautiously as it stood leaning against the opposite wall of her bedroom.It was tall today and its(eyes?) were a dark calculating shade of red.
"What do you want from me?" Bellatrix whispered. She shouldn't be afraid. She's never been afraid. Bellatrix is the strong one. The one who protects her sisters from her father's outbursts. The one who cares enough to fight back. She isn't afraid of standing her ground and dealing with her father's drunken rage, but in the loneliness of her mind, she lets the feeling wash over her.
It curls its (lips?) into an amused grin. Raising a piece of itself that looks more like a bat wing than an arm, IT gestured to the window on her right.
Bellatrix shouldn't look, she shouldn't really.
She shouldn't have listened to the visitor, nor should she have listened to the monster who laughed at her misfortunes and deepest fears.
She shouldn't listen to something that caused her fear and curiosity. A strange mix.
But she does because Bellatrix is always the cat; she is always the one who fails to beat her curiosity. But once she looked, she wished that she was stronger, wished that her curiosity hadn't beaten her this one time.
The usual midnight blue sky was painted blood red and the clouds were an ugly shade of grey. The smell of death was strong and overwhelming and
The world was on fire.
The smell of burning wood and flesh made her take a step back.
It was boiling, a temperature too hot for her to cope.
Sweat beaded from her forehead. She wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the burning fire.
The flames roared and cackled, smirking and dancing, devouring and swallowing.
and taking, taking, taking
never being full
Its greed was overpowering drinking in her fear, her silent screams -
Bellatrix woke, her heart racing and pounding. She was breathing hard, her body in a cold sweat. Kicking off the blanket, she hugged herself and brought her knees to her chest. The dark red of the fire still imprinted in her mind. The visitor that haunted her every time she closed her eyes.
Bellatrix stared hard at the wall. There was no escape for her. In the real world or her nightmares. Something was always there.
A nightmare was an understatement. It had felt too real, impossibly real.
It was just a nightmare.
She didn't believe that though.
She sighed blowing the wisps of her dark wild curls from her face, resting her head on her knees. She looked around the room for the umpteenth time. The visitor wasn't there. Never was in the real world. Her room was rectangular shaped. On the longer side, The mahogany door was lined with silver. The soft moonlight shined on it making the color glow. Her double bed was on the other side of the room, made of dark cherry wood, and the bedsheets were a dark forest green with a splash of silver. Vertically opposite, was her wardrobe. And on her right but further down the wall, facing opposite the door was her window. It was large and finely built with (the same shade of green as her bedsheets) window cushions. The silver curtains were closed. She was still shaking from her nightmare, it had felt and looked too real.
It was just a nightmare.
But she still had to be sure.
Slowly, rising out of bed, she padded over to the windowsill, her footsteps light and silent.
Warily, she stood before the curtain, walking tentatively to it as she might with some hunted animal. Ready to leap back and soothe it if needed.
Reaching her hand out, she threw the curtains off in a single movement.
It was fine, everything was fine.
The midnight blue sky gleamed gently and the stars smiled kindly at her.
The moon shone brighter as if alerted to her presence.
And it comforted her, their smiles were the loving embrace, she needed.
Bellatrix smiled back at them.
Clambering onto the window cushion, unbothered by closing the curtains, she stared at the sky, smiling. Feeling completely at peace, the terror of her nightmare left her.
The creak of a door opening led her gaze towards it.
An average-sized 10-year-old girl stared back at her. Her neatly framed black curls and wide, inquisitive grey eyes stared back at her. She was dressed in a grey nightgown and clutched a stuffed rabbit to her chest.
"Oh," Bellatrix sighed, relieved. “It's just you, Andi." She patted the seat next to her as an invitation.
Andromeda slipped in, closing the door behind, her, and padded over to where Bellatrix had patted. Andromeda leaned back and made herself comfortable.
"Are you excited for Christmas?"
"Obviously, The cookies, the trees, the presents - "
Andromeda interrupted, "Did he hurt you again?" Her grey eyes lingered towards her older sister's back where she knew there would be marks.
Bellatrix froze slightly. " It's just the usual, nothing I can't handle, Don't worry about me?"
That was why her sister was awake at 1:00 am, she was worrying about her. Bellatrix didn't want Andromeda to worry; she was the older one, she could handle herself.
"Hmmm" Andromeda hummed noncommittally but fortunately let it go.
"Besides," Bellatrix continued, a small smirk forming on her lips, "Remember what happens when you stay up too long?"
"I'm not stupid, Bella," Andromeda snorted. "I'm ten. I don't believe in that sort of stuff anymore."
"No, no, no, no!" Bellatrix dramatically dramatically placed a hand.
A smile played on her lips. She took a deep breath, channeling her inner actor, "My baby, Andi, has grown up," she sniffled, “And left me behind."
"I'm afraid so, Mother"
Bellatrix could see Andromeda holding back a laugh, her lips twitching slightly,
"I'm sorry, but now," Andromeda took a deep breath as if bracing herself, "I am running away with him. I’m in love!"
"No!" Bellatrix gasped, her hand flying to her forehead as if she were about to swoon. "You mustn't, Andi! He is dirty, a no-good, rotten—"
Bellatrix played her most posh accent, the one she had to use at the Family Gala, her Aunt Cassiopiea’s favorite phrase, ”Absolute Nincompoop”
Andromeda burst out laughing, collapsing to the floor in seconds.
Bellatrix felt the familiar tingling sensation and tried to suppress it. Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh—
She gave up, joining her sister on the floor, and they both rolled around in laughter.
Once the two sobered, Andromeda grumbled, ”You win, it's not fair though”
Bellatrix grinned. She and her sister often played this game. Andromeda loved reminding Bellatrix that she was ten ("I'm a double-digit, Bella! I'm old now!"). It had gotten insufferable to the point where Bellatrix had proposed a challenge: they would act out a scene from one of their favorite books, and whoever laughed first would lose. It didn't stop Andromeda from reminding Bellatrix of her age, but it was fun anyway.
She punched her fist into the air," And Bellatrix Black remains triumphant in her streak of wins,"
Before Andromeda could retort, Bellatrix hastily added, "Let's go wake up, Cissy,"
Andromeda cackled evilly, "I'll go get the bucket," She sped from the room no doubt to get the pieces of equipment.
Narcissa was a heavy sleeper and it took a lot of noise, just to get her up. It was another game between the siblings.
Bellatrix sprang up from her bedroom floor and slipped through her door, shutting it tightly behind her. She walked down the corridor, passing the silver ornaments and wooden walls and moving past Andromeda's room toward Narcissa's room. When she opened the door, she switched on the light. The room was a replica of hers, though slightly smaller and painted light blue instead of dark green. Lying on the bed was a small girl, her head adorned with blonde curls, sleeping soundly.
"Got it, "Andromeda whispered, having just entered the room, she held a bucket filled with freezing water, shaking slightly in her little arms.
"Perfect," Bellatrix placed her hands around the bucket relieving her sister of the load.
Together they crept toward Narcissa's bed and managed to climb on top of it.
"3" Andromeda grinned, and both sister's grey eyes sparkled in mischief.
"2" Bellatrix grinned back.
"1!"They both cheered in delight and tipped the bucket.
The cold water sloshed down the bucket tipping over and SPLASH!
Narcissa woke up immediately, "WHAT!" She shrieked.
Her hair was soaking and dripping wet,
The water dripped over her making, two oval shapes on her blanket, separate from each other.
For the second time that day Bellatrix and Andromeda burst into laughter.
"I hate you," Narcissa murmured, barely heard over her older sister's gasps.
"Your scream," Andromeda panted.
Narcissa rolled out of bed, stomping to the bathroom connected to her room, slamming the door with a bang.
"Oh, oh"Bellatrix smiled, "She's mad"
Andromeda shook her head, before promptly bursting into laughter again, Bellatrix joining her.
Narcissa had decided to sulk in her bathroom for a good half-hour before the other two hauled her out, Bellatrix promising to make it up to her.
"Can you read me Grandpa Green?"Narcissa asked, grey eyes, wide and pleading.
Bellatrix groaned, that book was probably her most hated,she didn't know why Narcissa loved the book so much. A boy finding memories of his stupid, dead great-grandfather, probably the worst plot in history.
"Fine," She relented, "But just this once,"
Narcissa's eyes light up and Andromeda rolls her eyes. Bellatrix always gives in to her sisters.
The three sisters clambered on Narcissa's window cushion, the book neatly placed on the window cushion, waiting expectantly to be read.
Bellatrix picked up the book, getting comfortable, before opening the book,
glancing at the first picture,
. . .
Fate smiled upon the oldest Black sister. She had plans—plans she was determined to see through.
She loved her children deeply.
Looking back at her second child, her heart ached for the little boy she saw, with his soft hazel eyes and golden brown skin, as he consoled his sisters. "One day," she whispered, "you'll be free."