Feverous Morning [open]

[brett]

"You do enjoy that phrase don't you?" Regulus smiled as Bella once again threatened to 'slug him.' It was an interesting term and Regulus assumed she was using it to mean she would hit him, but he had also read about a hex that would cause the victim to vomit slugs...now that was really slugging someone. Of course once again Regulus made no formal agreement. Charming people was what he did and whether Bella knew it or not he already had charmed her. The fact they were still sharing a bench and talking was all the proof he needed.

Of course she didn't trust him, but she did need to. Most people knew better than to trust a snake, but Regulus always seemed to get what he wanted in the end. Perhaps that was the reason he always longed for what he couldn't have or what he didn't have. "Well I did, but I've been doing it since 3rd year so making first years do my bidding has long since ceased to put me in a charitable mood," he corrected her. That was the best part about charm, Reg could get other people to do his bidding without having to use the Imperious Curse.

"No, my generosity was caused, by my amazing night with my new girlfriend and your housemate, Indigo Grace," Regulus said his face lighting up in a brilliant smile at just the mention of the name. Being around Indi was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Even as he talked to her and joked with her he could feel nervous butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He wasn't used to caring so much what one person thought about him, or caring so much for that person in return.

[bellbell]

Bella smiled, the rain was so refreshing and cool. 'You do enjoy the phrase don't you?' said Regulus smiling, Bella hid her anger but her eyes still turned light green. Why was he smiling? Hadn't she made her point clear enough? or did he really think he was charming her? "I do like that phrase, because it makes it much more obvious on how much I want to wipe that smile from your face" replied Bella, with a touch of malice. Great, her temper was back. Bella stood up, the rain was drizzling now. He obviously didn't notice the rain, or was ignoring it. Bella stuck out her tongue. And upon feeling droplets of water fall on it, brought it back in. It tasted good. The rain.

Bella knew her eyes had changed to blue, because she could feel her anger slowly ebb away and also because she could see it in a puddle. Blue. It hardly ever changed blue, only on special rainy days. Bella smiled, and twirled in the rain. It was normal for her to that when it rained. She had done it since she was child, and it had become a habit. The twirling made it more cooler and made her feel happy. The cold wind blew against her damp clothes, making her shudder. It was so soothing. She remembered when she was with her true parents. They would always dance in the rain.

Bella looked up to the sky, opening her mouth to let more rainwater fall in. So delicious. 'No my generosity was caused, by my amazing night with my new girlfriend and your housemate, Indigo Grace,' said a voice interrupting Bella's fun. It was Regulus. "A Girlfriend?" asked Bella cooly, she had heard that Indigo was dating Regulus but she hadn't really thought it was real. He seemed to be much to heartless to actually love someone. "You have a girlfriend? But you're so heartless.." said Bella again, turning to look at him with her blue eyes.

[brett]

"Ah, so my charm is working then," Regulus smiled again. This was the way he really got to people. Based on earlier experiences Bella was expecting him to be a complete jerk, which he was. Yet now he was constantly smiling and his comments had turned from scathing to playful, almost as though Bella was an old friend. Obviously she wasn't, so he could only guess she was rather confused and even more mistrusting of him. Just the way he liked it.

It was raining, not hard, but still Regulus was getting wet. Reg liked the rain so the light drizzle that brushed droplets of water over his smooth skin were more refreshing than annoying. Reg an a hand through his dark, now semi wet, hair slicking it away from his eyes where it usually hung with cool confidence. A smile once again grazed his features as he watched Bella twirl in the rain. It was a bit strange as they were in the midst of conversation, but as long as she continued to keep up her end of their little chat it didn't bother Reg.

"Why thank you," Regulus smirked taking 'heartless' to be quite a compliment from a girl he had just met...usually he had to work much harder to be described with such a hurtful adjective. "And while I'd deny it under almost any circumstance I do have a heart and it now belongs to the lovely Indigo Grace," he smiled once again being whisked into the sappy romantic that mentioning Indi's named turned him into. In truth though, Regulus had no idea how or why a beautiful, funny, smart, girl like Indi had decided to be his girlfriend. She kept claiming she had some flaws, but if this was true he certainly couldn't see them.

[bellbell]

The rain was terrific, but Bella couldn't understand why Regulus had turned from a schmuck to a friendly person. But his smiles were certainly getting annoying, "You are really pushing it you know"answered Bella, her green eyes darkening. Her alter-ego was becoming unstable. At any moment she could instantly lose control and she'd go berserk. Bella closed her eyes and shuddered, remembering the muggle boy she had killed. The image of his corpse floated into mind. He had been burnt crisp. Even though the rain cooled her, it wasn't working anymore. She opened her eyes, she could feel the gray creep into her green as her alter ego fought to be free. "I apologize if I do anything that may hurt you."said Bella dully. She really didn't have to apologize, he was making her angry over and over again and she had tried to calm down over and over again.

The rain began to pour more and Bella found it hard to listen to anything. She could only hear a few words but the rest was drowned out by the rain, 'I do have a heart.....to the lovely Indigo Grace...' Bella didn't really care whether Regulus had a girlfriend or not. She was just trying to not kill him so she wouldn't be put on bad terms with Indigo. Indigo was very nice person and Bella really didn't want to get on her bad side. Bella looked around for something to preoccupy her anger. The flowers were amazing, the water gleamed off their petals like a million diamonds. A tear fell from her eyes, as she slowly lost concentration. Her alter ego was coming out. And she couldn't stop it. She felt her desire to hit him grow faster and faster. Bella couldn't hit him, if she did Indigo would certainly hate her. There was only one option.

It happened fast. She hit herself with her own hand. The force took her by surprise, she hadn't known that she was so strong, and her knees gave out casing her to hit the soft grass. It was painful. Bella could see blood on the clean grass. Blood. A wave of nausea knocked the air from her lungs. Blood. Just like that time. There had been blood when she hit by her foster parents. Bella closed her eyes, and put her hand to her mouth to muffle out her own cries. The image of her muggle foster mother floated into mind. Mother....don't hit me....I'm be a good girl....please don't hit me..... Bella opened her eyes, trying to get the memory to leave her. The ground beneath her began to move, as she slowly drifted away...the world darkening.

[brett]

"Am I?" Regulus smirked raising an eyebrow. Usually people didn't get quite so upset at him, at least not while he had converted to 'nice' Reg. Still the self proclaimed reigning Prince of Slytherin was not about to back down from a scrawny little fourth year girl. "Apologizing in advance now, someone certainly has learned their manners," Regulus teased, clearly still not threatened by the girl who stood before him. How could she hurt him?

It wasn't until Regulus looked back to Bella's ever changing eyes. They had once again turned green, they were dark green now and getting darker. Something was very wrong and Regulus knew it, but he was struggling with just exactly what. Still watching Bella with a mix of fear and concern and he rose slowly from the bench. What happened next, was completely unexpected, rather than lashing out at Regulus Bella hauled off and hit herself...hard.

"What the hell'd you do that for?" Reg cried in shock as he moved to the now fallen Bella. The grass below her was now stained red with blood. The rain seemed to be washing the blood away from her face, making it run more as it did so. "Bella...are you ok...?" Regulus asked concerned and confused. Not only did he not understand, but he knew full well that any passerby would have a hard time believing the fourth year hit herself, especially when the words came from the forked-tongue of a serpent.

[bellbell]

Bella moaned, her face hurt like hell. Then she opened her eyes, shocked to see that she was on the ground. She looked around, it was so dark she could hardly make out the figures in front of her. Why was she on the ground? The she remembered that instead of hitting Regulus she had hit herself. 'Bella...are you okay...?' said a concerned voice. Bella whirled around to see Regulus near her. "I didn't hit myself to be pitied by the likes of you," spat Bella "And I only did it so Indigo wouldn't hate me...."

She turned away from him looking at the grass.....red grass. As Bella's vision cleared she noticed, much to her horror, that the grass was painted by her blood. All at once a metallic taste filled her mouth. Blood. Bella couldn't breathe. She was surrounded by blood. She hated blood. In her ears Bella could already hear herself screaming. Blood. Bella looked away from the grass to the sky. It was red. Everything was red. Blood. ".....Blood...." Bella gasped

The rain was falling down hard, but Bella didn't notice. The blood....the stench.....it was horrible. Bella tried to stand up, to run from it but she fell back onto it. Blood. "Black...go away.." she said, she didn't want him to see her like this. Rumors would spread. She would humiliated. She felt her eyes turn darker. Her alter-ego still fought to be free. "Black, go away....if you seriously care about your safety--" Bella gasped, her words drowned out, as the stench of the blood filled her nostrils causing a wave of nausea. Her alter-ego was almost free. And it would be as blood thirsty as ever.

[brett]

"And I only did it so Indigo wouldn't hate me...."

"Touching, I'm sure she'll be thrilled," Regulus said rather off handedly. How many more times would he have to have an attempt at being nice, blow up in his face before he realized that the world wanted him to be evil. It was insane, he was destined to be nothing more than a snake, with no compassion for anything...coldblooded. Fine, whatever, he was only looking out for his best interest making it look like he was trying to help if anyone happened by, but clearly Bella didn't need or want his help.

"Well you punched your self in the face, what did you expect?" Regulus asked bitterly. Still though he reached into his pocket for his wand. Lucky for Bella, Reg had learned minor healing spells in his first few years at Hogwarts...maybe second. It wasn't much, but he could wrap wounds and heal cuts, which tended to prove useful in situations like this. And last year Reg had punched enough guys in the face to know how to stop the bleeding. But really how could the girl haul off and punch herself and then not expect blood...something weird was going on, for sure.

Regulus heard Bella's words, though they were muffled by the now heavy rain. Did she really think threatening him would work? Still Regulus' gut was telling him to get the hell out of there and quick. "I can take care of myself," he insisted. "It's your health I'm concerned about right now...at least let me stop the bleeding," Regulus added deciding to settle for one final act to cover his tracks before leaving. Muttering the incantation as he flicked his wand towards Bella's face. The cut should begin to heal quickly and be sealed in about 30 seconds. The rain could take care of the remaining blood.

[bellbell]

Bella could feel the pain ebbing away as the blood topped. She looked up at Regulus, surprised that he hadn't left and that he had helped her, "Look, I know we got off on a bad start. But I don't hate you in particular--" said Bella, wincing at the pain in head. Her alter ego was angry. "its just that I have a bad experience with Slytherin students....and its so nice of you to be concerned but right now....I...." Bella spoke in quick breathes "Cannot. Hold. On. To. My. Alter-ego. Any. Longer...." Her head throbbed as her alter ego fought harder.

She stood up and turned away, clenching her fists. This was going to be hard. She turned back to Regulus, gray eyes darkening, "I'm serious.....I don't want to kill you like I did to that other boy..." She whispered, shuddering at the memory. It was hard for her to control her temper. The burning desire was strong, but will was strong. Come on, Bella....you can do it... she thought Don't give in....

Her head wound had healed completely, but Bella still winced in pain. Kill him....he had made her angry it was his fault....he is a Slytherin...he is one of those who caused her to be miserable during her first year....his blood will be shed as revenge.....There shall be no death, today she thought fiercely I am no monster... She clenched her fists tighter, not noticing that they had begun to bleed. The cold wind blew against her, making her shiver. Concentrate, Bella In her mind, she saw the damage she had done. She remembered the boy's parents crying. She had promised herself to never defile her hands again with such impurity.

[brett]

"Don't worry about it," Regulus shrugged. Most Gryfinndors did have bad experiences with Slytherins, and still his concern was more about whether or not he could be blamed for any of this. "Alter ego?" Reg asked skeptically raising an eyebrow for effect. Seriously, Was that even possible? Well she had just hit herself in the face he answered himself. If not though, she was damn sure committed. Either way Reg's heartbeat had quickened and he was suddenly quite aware of it.

Backing away slowly Reg kept his wand held out feeling safe in the fact that his magic would protect him. "Bella, your freaking me out," said still backing away, but somehow unable to turn and run. Had the movies taught him nothing? "I'm gonna go," he said finally hoping this would appease the alter ego she seemed to be struggling with. Regulus was almost positive now that this wasn't a prank, part of him remained skeptical, but if Bella was willing to go through all this just to watch Regulus run, she deserved it.

The rain still fell heavy and Reg was soaked, it was a good time to leave regardless of Bella's presence or state of mind. "I'll, uh...see you around," he managed trying to sound normal as he made his way out of the courtyard. He wanted to help Bella, but he also wanted to live, especially now that he had found new reason for living in his relationship with Indigo. Bella's words were repeating in his head though 'I don't want to kill you like I did to that other boy' The words spun in his mind as he made his way back to the commonroom. Had she really killed someone? Reg didn't want to believe it, but the more the words repeated the more certain he became that she had been deathly serious.

[bellbell]

Regulus had his wand out, he thought that he could fight against her alter-ego. What an idiot. ....I shall not kill....thought Bella, concentrating harder. 'Bella, your freaking me out,' She saw that he was backing away from her but not running. What the hell was he doing? She could tell from hesitation that he thought she was joking about her alter-ego and that the entire thing was a prank. Bella bit her lip, ignoring the metallic taste of her blood. Her eyes were dark gray, she knew because she could feel her concentration slowly fade. Her alter-ego certainly was trying hard. Bella's head hurt as if it were on fire...'I'm gonna go' he said. Bella smiled. At least he wasn't that stupid.

Still fighting against her alter ego, Bella worked hard to listen to any surrounding sounds, 'I'll, uh...see you around,' he had said. Maybe, if he lived. The blew roughly against her shaking body, making it even harder to concentrate as her hair whipped harshly against her pale neck. At first Bella couldn't hear any footsteps, and tried harder to listen. The cracking of grass as he ran could be heard. "Colloportus!" Bella shouted, hoping that the fact the doors were sealed would give him enough time to run. Her concentration loosened. Her alter-ego was out and she could not control it.....at all.

Now as her alter ego and no longer Bella, Ella whispered a fire spell and sent a fire ball hurtling where Regulus had just stood. She looked around for her victim. He was no longer there. Ella screamed in frustration. "Accio!"she whispered, a bench flew to her hand and she threw it with full force at a tree. The tree broke along with it, the bench. ...Revenge is sweet, don't deny it...thought Ella wickedly.

Giving a last look around, Ella stomped away from the courtyard, blasting away anything and everything in her way as she made her way towards the Gryffindor common room. If anyone got in her way, she'd kill them straight without any hesitation. As she walked, her anger slowly faded. Bella returned. She had to find a way to apologize to Regulus for putting him in a death situation. She sighed, her gray eyes turning back to calm purple. Her alter ego could get so annoying at times.

(OOC: The end...lol)