Post Chapter Three - Belladonna (Patreon)

Belladonna ached. It was the type of ache that was bone deep and stripped her of every mask she held so dear.  Seeing her dear heart again had been harder than she expected. The effort it took to stand. To pretend. Her legs shook and her heart raced and yet she could do nothing but keep her carefully crafted control front and present as she gazed upon the one person she dreamed of at night. There was no room for mistakes. No room for a single slip up. Because the second Belladonna let anything slip, that was going to be the end.

She just had to hold on a little longer.

“Why did you go out?”

Gadora burst into the room full of fiery anger. In her younger years, Bella would have admired such an entrance. Especially into a Baron’s chambers. It was the type of spectacle that she once had done. Today, it just made her feel tired. Old even.

“You knew you were in no state,” Gadora continued, stomping around the room. “Yet you went anyway without a single mention of it. I had half the Pleasure District looking for you.”

Belladonna lowered herself onto the lounge, the velvet beneath scratchy and needing replaced. It suddenly felt like burlap, rubbing her skin raw and blotchy..  “You sent whores looking for me? Did they get distracted along the way because I saw none of them.”

Gadora stopped, taking a deep breath and releasing it through her nose.  “This is not funny.”

“Neither is your attitude. Check it.” She may have been in a weakened state but she was still a Baron. She was still Belladonna Malady. No one spoke to her in such a way.  

“I only mean–”

“May I remind you that you are a subordinate?” Belladonna snapped. Gadora was starting to get too comfortable. It had happened before. Someone getting too close. Thinking they were a part of a life that they couldn’t even dream having.  Yet, with Gadora, it wasn’t like she could just send her away. But she could threaten. “I could send you right back down to the pits, you know. Gabriel and the Guard may have forgotten about them but I have not. I will leave you there to rot if you cross me again.”

“I understand, m’lady,” she murmured. Though they were words spoken through gritted teeth.

The anger went out of Belladonna in a rush, leaving her arms trembling as she collapsed fully onto the lounge. She didn’t protest as Gadora came over, lifting her legs and situating her more comfortably.

“Gadora,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

The woman placed a blanket over her, shaking her head. “You have strained yourself. There is a Baron meeting in a matter of a week. You cannot show up there looking like this. There are hundreds that are ready to pounce. They are looking for a weakness in you, Mistress, and you are making it all too easy to find.”

Closing her eyes, Belladonna breathed through her nose. She just needed a few moments. A way to center herself again. She had tried feeding earlier but blood turned to ash on her tongue. It congealed in her stomach. It left her hungrier than ever before.

“I was attacked,” she said, hissing through her teeth.  “I went to the Star Sanctuary because I got word that my heart popped up there and low and behold, I was followed. Again. I thought you were going to take care of them.”

Gadora walked towards a cabinet, rummaging around inside.  The familiar clink of bottles and the metal click of a lock turning made Belladonna turn to her side. Away from the woman.  She hated this part of the day.

“I did take care of them,” Gadora was saying. “I did as you asked. I always do as you ask.” The cabinet slammed shut as the woman walked back over, the settee depressing as she sat down next to her mistress. “It doesn’t mean that more won’t come. They are endless.”

Wordlessly, Belladonna held out her arm, letting it rest in Gadora’s lap. She felt the prick of a needle and the cold rush of blood as it was shot into her veins. A coppery tang filled her mouth as her stomach collapsed in on itself for a moment, begging for nourishment.  But the moment passed and euphoria blessedly ran through her once more.

“How much do we have left?” she asked, eyes half lidded.

“You do not need to worry about it.”

“Gadora, do not make me compel you for the truth.” Her voice was slurred and soft around the edges. It was always a bit hard to speak after a treatment.

“Not much more,” Gadora said, wrapping a lace bandage around Belladonna’s arm.  “But I will get more.  It should not be hard.  I just don’t know who to entrust you with while I am gone.”

“I can take after myself,” Bella giggled. Was that her voice coming from her mouth? She sounded so young. Like Madeline. Yet, that girl had died so long ago.

“Today proved that you cannot.” Gadora rose, cleaning up the few little bottles that she had out. “I’ll look into it. Come up with a solution. Maybe we can take you someplace safe while I am gone. Or hire someone to look after you.”

“Hire the Guard,” Bella laughed. “I’m sure they are trustworthy. I helped put the Warden in position, after all. They owe me.”

Gadora glared. “You aren’t supposed to say those things.”

“What? That I got him his seat of power? That I pulled strings to keep lesser men from doing evils? Will it taint my imagine, Gadora?”

“Yes.”

Belladonna rolled her eyes and let them shut fully. “Fuck you,” she said before bursting out into a fit of giggles.  The blanket was pulled high up on her chin. “Fuck you and your love for me.”

Gadora sighed. “Yes, mistress. Whatever you say.”