- Day 81 of 366 Days of Writing Challenge: Power

- Year Long Scavenger Hunt: B-28 (pairing) Bellatrix Lestrange/Lucius Malfoy

Pairings/Characters: Bellatrix Lestrange/Lucius Malfoy

Word Count: 399

Gasoline

I'm trying, I'm trying, to let you know just how much you mean to me.

Right after Narcissa Black had accepted Lucius's proposal of marriage, the pair embraced stiffly. Over her shoulder, Lucius's pale eyes met the dark ones of his new fiance's older sister.

It was as though no one else was in the room. She was the one Lucius wanted to marry. She was the one who exuded power and allure and darkness, and would be a fitting wife and a fitting matriarch for the new generation of Malfoys. He would be proud for her to bear his children, and as his gaze lingered on her wide hips, he knew that she would certainly be able to carry strong, healthy heirs.

But unfortunately, Narcissa was his only choice. The princess who was made of glass, whom Lucius was terrified to hold too tightly for fear of shattering her. He almost dreaded consummating their marriage, for he knew that she would be cold to the touch, and hollow once penetrated.

Warmth simply radiated from Bellatrix, even though he knew her heart was blacker and colder than anyone else's, possibly even challenging the heart belonging to the Dark Lord. It was as though burning gasoline pulsated through her veins instead of blood, causing every pore to boil.

Lucius allowed his gaze to slide along Bellatrix to the man who stood by her side. Rodolphus Lestrange, the one who had the pleasure to call her his wife. Lucius ached with jealousy as he watched Rodolphus and Bellatrix stand together, clapping in the aftermath of Lucius and Narcissa's engagement. The only thing that provided him slight relief from the jealousy was the knowledge that Bellatrix had only married Rodolphus with the intention of keeping her family name pure, and for Rodolphus, the marriage meant that he was now linked to the exquisite House of Black. Their lack of children caused Lucius to hope that their marriage hadn't been consummated, but Lucius knew better than to hold such hopes. Bellatrix wasn't human, she was animalistic in nature. She would need the primal intimacy of sex to keep her blood boiling.

But Rodolphus simply couldn't appreciate her, not like Lucius could. It was too late for him. As he looked at his future wife, with her ivory skin and pale, slender limbs, he knew he had to grin and bear his fate.