Bella stared down at the older witch as she fell, dropping the bloodstained glass onto the floor and shaking her dark hair from her face. While her expression remained blank, there was something of a riot going on behind that proud, icy expression.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Usually after such an act she felt a sense of achievement, a rush of adrenaline and power and excitement which kept her going for hours. It was that feeling that drove her to do it again and again. And although her heart was thundering in her ears and every nerve in her body seemed to be singing with energy, it wasn’t right somehow. Perhaps it was because Rodolphus wasn’t here (with that thought she glanced poisonously down at the other witch), but for some reason there was a bitter taste in the back of her mouth.
She couldn’t help herself from remembering all those years ago. Before Tonks had ruined everything, before her own husband had been anything but a name on an invitation. When she’d had two sisters.
Oh, for Salazar’s Sake.
With something close to a groan, Bella reached out up and grabbed at the sleeve of her own shirt with long, strong fingers. A twist of the wrist and the material tore, the sound causing her to grit her teeth as she ducked down to her younger sister. Bella didn’t say a word as she slid a hand beneath Andromeda’s own grasping fingers, her own quickly becoming slick with hot, thick liquid as she did her best to pack the wound with the fabric. Despite herself, a concerned frown battled its way onto her face, shining through the clenched jaw and exasperation as she looked around for something else to stop the bleeding.