The fine line...

The Sacred and Profain


11 days had passed since Malfoy had presented his chilling ultimatum and try as Bella might, she had made absolutely no progress with Ava at all. She’d spent time with her in the library even just hung out with her around the school grounds, not mentioning sex or hitting on her once, but Ava still didn’t appear to be willing to give in at all. The stupid girl was being so infuriating that part of Bella just wanted to give it up and throw her to the boys, that’d teach her a lesson alright. But she couldn’t let that happen. As much as she refused to acknowledge it, she actually cared for Ava on some small level. She only had a few days left and decided to just bite the bullet and explain what was going on.

Ava was on her way up to her room when she felt someone grab her arm. “What the hell?” She screamed.

“God you’re loud!” Bella’s voice came from the darkness. “Come with me.” She said, and began dragging Ava back down the stairs.

They walked for a while, Bella stalking along in front and Ava jogging occasionally to keep up.

“Where are we going? It’s almost curfew.”

“Just shut up and follow me.”

Once they reached the dungeons Bella stopped at a portrait of a menacing looking witch, holding the head of a dead wizard up by the hair. Ava looked upon it in disgust as Bella whispered something in what sounded like Latin, causing the painting to swing forward.

“What the hell are they doing with paintings like this up in a school? That’s vile.”

Bella just smirked at her and backed into the door, dark eyes gleaming and disappeared into the darkness. Ava swallowed hard as she followed her through the new doorway. She heard the portrait slam behind them and all the candles in the room magically lit themselves.

“I should have known…” Ava looked around the room they had entered, mouth gaping slightly. The room was heavily decorated in black and Slytherin green, everything from the floor and walls, to the lounge in front of the fire and finally the huge four poster that was located in the centre of the room which Bella was currently lying on.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less of my bed chambers, huh?” She said, raising her eyebrow as she smirked again.

“No, no I wouldn’t,” Ava answered as she looked around in awe, amused that she referred to her room in such a way.

“Yes, it is quite fantastic. One of the luxuries of being a Black.” Her smug look sobered as she got off the bed and walked over to Ava. “I bought you here for a reason though, and unfortunately it’s not for fun. Actually, I doubt you will feel the need to speak to me after I finish telling you this. Sit. That wasn‘t a suggestion.” Ava, who had ignored the offer at first, sat on the edge of the bed. “You need to stay here the night.”

Ava scoffed. “Uh-huh. Stay the night. And why would I need to do that? You think if I stay I’ll finally give you what you want? And I didn‘t think you ever let anyone stay in your room overnight.”

“Well shouldn‘t you feel special?” Bella replied sarcastically. “I’m not trying to seduce you, you stupid girl.”

“So you’re trying to protect me again? Think if you can convince me that you have my best interests at heart then I’ll give in to you?”

Bella let out a frustrated cry. “You are insufferable. Would you just shut up and let me explain? You could end up really hurt.”

“Fine, what’s going on?”

“You know what I’m like when it comes to sleeping with people?”

“That you’re a whore, yeah I get it.” Ava grinned, any chance she got to insult the girl she would take.

Bella clenched her fist, ready to strike, but held back. As much as she hated being insulted, punching the ignorant twit wouldn’t help her cause at all. Not yet, anyway. “I am not a whore, I have perfect reason for what I do and maybe one day if I feel so inclined I may explain it to you. Well anyway, Lucius Malfoy is pretty much the same. We screw whoever we want, whenever we want. We generally keep out of each others’ way and don’t interfere, but occasionally someone will come along that we don’t want to share. We call it claiming them. He did it with that sixth year, Madreski. Said he wanted her to himself so I agreed not to have a go at her. Then if I don’t want him to touch someone I’d claim them and he’d stay away. It’s as close to getting along as we ever get.”

“That really is quite terrible you know.”

“Yes, it is. But I’m getting what I want so what makes you think I care?”

“Point taken. So let me guess, you ‘claimed’ me and he got pissed off over it?”

“Exactly. You are actually the first person I’ve ever bothered putting a claim on.” Bella said. It wasn’t a confession, there was no emotion behind it, just a stated fact.

“Really?” Ava said, a little surprised. “You always struck me as the type of person who would hate other people touching their things.”

“I am, but these randoms that I fuck with, they’re nothing to me. Besides, I’ve never had to claim anyone. Once I’ve had them they never go back to Lucius no matter how hard he tries. But you, you were different. You’re better than Lucius and he doesn’t deserve to touch you. I didn’t want him spoiling you before I got a chance.”

Ava was horrified. “We really are just pieces of ass to you people, aren’t we.”

“Don’t be so cut up. Don’t you realise how much trouble I’ve gone through to keep you away from him?” Bella sighed. “In the beginning, that’s how it was, I’m just being honest with you. So Lucius wasn’t happy that I’d claimed you first, but he had to respect the fact that I had. At the start I was trying so hard to get to you but you wouldn’t let me have you and yes, it did only make me want you more. You were so different and that started appealing to a different side of me. I didn’t want Lucius to think I couldn’t break you, so I played the ‘get to know you first’ card, just like you wanted, to try and win you over.”

“I don’t see how any of this is supposed to be helping, it’s just making me feel worse. Did you ever actually like me?”

“I don’t like anyone, why would you be any different? I thought you knew that? But I must admit, as I started to get to know you, I started to respect you and I stopped just trying to screw you cause I actually find you an interesting person.’

Ava half-smiled. “I guess that’s the closest thing to a compliment I could ever expect from you.”

“Pretty much. Don’t get used to it. So here’s Lucius, getting all frustrated that he couldn’t have you but aside from the odd snide comment, he never said much. That is, until that little confrontation by the lake. After you walked away, he gave me an ultimatum; I sleep with you, and prove it, by exactly two weeks, or he would get the boys together and they’d show you you’re ‘rightful place in the world’.”

Ava was stunned. She didn’t know wether she should believe Bella, but she also knew Malfoy was an egotistical wanker. It did seem like something he would say…“So, how long til the time is up?”

“Three days.”

It was silent for a long time. Finally Ava spoke. “How do I know this isn’t just some scheme for me to sleep with you?”

“Cause I don’t want to. I mean, I would kill to have a go at you but you’re just too bloody stubborn. Besides I don’t plan on attempting to do so tonight. I just need it to look like I have.”

“Fair enough,” she answered, still sceptical. “So how do we make this work?”

“I’ve been thinking it through, and I figured you could just be naked on the bed and I’d get Lucius up here to see.”

“You want that slimy git to see me naked? Besides, how do we know he won’t think it’s a set up?”

“There’s nothing like a strategically placed sheet. And I figured we’d just rough you up a bit, make it look like I’d really taken it out of you.”

Ava chuckled, “good old bed sheet. I suppose he’s stupid enough to buy it.”

Bella hesitated before she spoke again. “I was also thinking of the long term as well.”

“What long term?”

“That even of he does buy this that he won’t try for you later. I need to make a permanent claim on you but for that I need a good reason, other wise it will look like I actually like you. I thought maybe I could tell him that you’re a complete tomcat in the sack who enjoys letting me do things that the other randoms don’t let me do and I intend on taking full advantage of you. Sound alright?” Bella hoped that Ava would agree, she really didn’t want Lucius to lay a hand on her.

“You make me sound like a common whore.” Bella just raised her eyebrow but Ava didn’t take the bait. “Won’t that just make him want me more?”

“Yes, probably. But I hoped that if that’s what I told all of them then I’d get to spend more time with you without it looking like I’ve gone soft on you or anything like that. I’d have a reason for being possessive of you without them thinking I‘ve gotten involved with you any more than on a sexual level, or God forbid gotten emotionally attached.” She shuddered at the last few words.

“Everyone knows that you are incapable of feeling anything for anyone. Why should I be any different?”

“That’s what you don’t understand. I run this whole school- don’t give me that look, you know I’m right- and Lucius’ too scared to try anything against me. But he could easily start telling everyone that I’m involved with you, wether he actually believes it or not, and that is exactly the kind of leverage he needs to overthrow me. I’d be completely fucked.”

“Why is owning this school so important to you? This rivalry between you and Malfoy, what‘s it actually about?”

Bella scoffed. “Of course you don’t know. You’re a Ravenclaw, probably not even a pure blood,” she shook her head as she said this. “Lucius and I are not fighting for the school, you daft girl. Why would we possibly give a shit about this dump and the people in it? No, this is all about power and earning ourselves a reputation worthy of our Dark Lord.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “So this is just one of your ‘Death Eater’ things? If this Dark Lord is so important, why can’t you say his name? I sometimes doubt if he even exists.”

Bella look scandalized and murderous. “How dare you insult him and our beliefs in such a way. You are naive, Mendez, a fool even, to think this is just a amateur school gang. One day my Lord will rule this world and I will be right by his side, the only female to ever join his ranks. I will be his most loyal servant, and Lucius will cower at the sight of me.” As she spoke, her voice became slightly maniacal, more excited. It scared Ava, but she wouldn’t let on.

“So you and Malfoy are already fighting for the top spot on the ‘favourite Death Eater’ list?”

“Our Lord is all we live for, and one day, you will all live for him too.”

Ava was still a little scared at the way Bella’s demeanour had changed, but managed to stay sceptical. “Uh-huh, sure we will. And what makes you think we’ll follow this so called Dark Lord?”

Bella moved forward so her face was just inches away from Ava‘s. “You won’t have a choice.” Her eye’s darkened as she smiled. It looked wrong on her face, twisted and evil.

Yet Ava could not look away. The darkness in Bella had stirred something in her, something she didn’t want to know existed. She felt a change of subject would be best. “So um, back to convincing Malfoy that I’m yours…”

Bella sat back. In an instant her momentary insanity left her and returned to normal, leaving Ava to wonder if it had ever been there in the first place. “Remember, I have no intention of touching you tonight unless you ask for it.”

“Why would I possibly ask for it? You won’t try anything at all?”

“No, I won’t. And stranger things have happened. Take it all off. Now.”

Ava had to trust that Bella wouldn’t take advantage of her, and given her apparent honesty so far this evening, she didn’t feel the need to argue and began to strip off.

Bella watched, a slight smirk tugging at her mouth. “There’s a good girl… So obedient…” She said in a soft voice that had turned slightly husky.

Ava shuddered. She had never heard Bella speak in such a manner. She liked it. A lot. She didn’t want to say anything for fear of betraying herself to the dark temptress but suddenly a thought occurred to her.

“Bella? What is it you meant when you said that I let you do things to me that no one else would? Bella?” Ava backed away slowly as Bella rose and began to approach her, feeling incredibly vulnerable in her now naked state. Ava’s naked body and Bella’s fully clothed one were so close to touching it took all Ava’s will to restrain from giving in to her. “Seriously Bella, what are you going to do to me?”

Bella chuckled softly into her ear. “I can smell your fear…”

Ava swallowed hard and suppressed another shudder, her insides squirming at the closeness and the hot breath on her ear. She wanted her bad, but would never let on. “B-Bella?”

The body contact was suddenly gone and then all she could feel was the cold sharp slap of the back of Bella’s hand across her face…