Bad Romance

Chapter 35

Bellatrix smiled. "You're welcome. No one will ever trifle with you because of us."

"Thanks," Lyra drawled ungratefully. "They won't like me either."

"Of course they will," Bellatrix said. "If they're worth anything at all, they will, and if not, they are utter idiots, and you don't need them anyway."

Lyra sighed. "I'll keep that in mind."

With breakfast over, they went their separate ways for the day, Lyra to the Ministry and Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan to Azkaban. Bellatrix always hated returning to the place, to some degree, even if the Dementors were gone. The memories those walls held were complete shit. Walking free on the island, and being the jailers rather than those imprisoned, was obviously an improvement, but it still wasn't good enough for her to relish her new job in any way.

Of course all three of them enjoyed walking down each line of cells with their heads high, and the power in their hands. Sure, it was a rush, and one had to take their kicks where they could get them these days. Perhaps eventually the shit memories would fade enough not to plague them, at least a little, at the mere sight of the prison.

"So how is this going down," Rabastan asked. "Are we splitting up and taking various cell blocks, or having family fun time together?"

"Family fun time is best, I think," Rodolphus decided. "It's better for the intimidation factor if each prisoner sees all three of us at once while they are being...convinced."

"Alright, let's play!" Rabastan said, eyes dancing eagerly. Bellatrix was sure her own eyes looked much the same. Rod's were hard and cold, but that intensity was only there when he was enjoying himself. All three Lestranges were ready for the game! They stopped at the first cell, and Bellatrix smiled at the gaunt young man inside as she struggled to remember his name before realizing that it didn't matter.

"Good morning," she crooned as Rodolphus hit him with a nice hard "Crucio," that had him doubling over and puking a little as he sobbed out in pain. Bellatrix gave a dreamy sigh. That was hot!

"I always appreciate how my husband likes to get to the very heart of the matter," she murmured.

"What did I do?" the young man screamed. "I ain't done nothing! How the fuck am I supposed to do anything locked up in here?"

"Come again," Rabastan asked, flicking his wand idly to cast a body bind on the man. This would effectively rob him of the pleasure of thrashing around in his pain. Bellatrix smirked. Nice. A tried and true move of a psychological nature, but no amount of times something was applied made it less beautiful to behold.

"It isn't about what you have done," Rabastan explained. "Crucio," he added casually, then waited politely for the gaunt young man to finish screaming and soiling himself. "It is about what we do not wish for you to ever, ever do. If you do this very bad thing, we will inflict things like this, and more, on your nearest and dearest. Now isn't that something to have on your hands? Knowing that you hurt everyone who loves you...hurt them so very bad, because unlike with this little situation here, if you do the very bad thing and we get at your loved ones, we won't stop."

Bellatrix leaned forward toward the bars on the cell door, a happy smile on her face. "We may not even kill them. No, I think we'll leave them alive and richly wrathful. Then we will send them out on your trail after letting them know that you wanted them to be hurt so very much!"

"What are you talking about?" the man demanded. He was crying. Bellatrix sighed, lip curling in disgust. Weak...so weak.

"We are speaking of the potential betrayal by you of your nearest and dearest," Rodolphus explained. "Weren't you paying attention?"

"How would I do that from in here?" the young man demanded.

"Well, you probably won't," Bellatrix said almost soothingly. "But if a blonde girl named Delphini, or anyone coming in her name ever happens to offer to spirit you away if you would only serve her, very bad things will happen. You can't save everyone from us. We have too many resources," she promised.

"Why would I serve this Delphini bitch, whoever she is?" he demanded.

"Because she will probably offer you freedom and a better world or some rubbish," Rodolphus said dismissively. "But you must remember that we offer you something far better."

The man blinked. "What's that?"

Rodolphus smiled. "We offer you the knowledge that you will never play a part in ruining those you love with a great deal of pain and suffering."

"Sounds good," the man said quickly. "I'm in."

Rabastan cast a doubtful look at Rodolphus then Bellatrix. "I don't know," he drawled, drawing out each word slowly. "Do you think he really means it?"

"I swear I mean it!" the man screamed.

"Good," Bellatrix said. "Delphini is an insane Maledictus who is all for Dementor rights in her perfect world agenda."

The three visited every cell in the prison, having a similar conversation with each prisoner. They took turns taking the lead in the torture bit. This was no problem as they always played well together and knew how to share their toys. The process took the entire work day save for a break for lunch. It was a job well done, though, because by the end of the day, the Lestranges were quite certain that no one there would follow Delphini even if she offered them a golden goose to do so.

The Minister would be pleased with them. That was good, but even better was the knowledge that they were striking back at the Dark Lord in ways they never could before. What made it all the sweeter was that they were doing it in style...their style!