The changing behaviour of Madame

Bellatrix woke up but was too exhausted to get out of bed; she has had the same nightmares for the last three nights. Nightmare! No, why does Bellatrix think that this is not a dream but rather reality? Seeing her own reflection in the mirror, she was shocked to see two sharp stains near her neck. Her skin was pale, and her eyes had dark circles. She screamed in fear on the first day but couldn't scream for the next two days. But in the morning, she couldn't remember anything. Madam had asked her about this several times, but Bellatrix couldn't answer properly. Madam was very busy these days with the young guests. Bellatrix didn't meet Nicholas again. Madam was saying that after fainting that day, he had been sitting in a chair beside Bellatrix for a long time. 

Sitting in the room, she could hear the voices of Madam and Nicholas. Madame was laughing! This was the first time Bellatrix had heard Madam's laughter. They have developed a good relationship these days.

"Bellatrix?" Madame knocked on the door.

"Madam."

Madame went in. Her face was no longer serious; this was the first time she had smiled at Bellatrix. Madam was worried when she noticed her flabby face. She had been busy with Nicholas for the last three days, so she couldn't care for Bellatrix properly. Seeing Nicholas, Madam remembered her son, Ivanovich, who had gone to war! The boys who went to war with him came back, but Ivanovich did not return. The loss of her only child was a heavy burden. It was this grief that made her lonely and serious.

"Madam." Bellatrix's call entrapped Madam's thoughts. She said in a tearful voice,

"Bellatrix, Nicholas knew my son. Nicholas was by my son's side at the end of his last breath. My Ivan… my son remembered me before he died." 

Madam's throat became wet. She didn't know why she was saying those words to Bellatrix. Madam had waited so many years in the hope that he was alive, but the news of his death came at the end of the day. Bellatrix gently squeezed her hands. Madam wiped her eyes and said,

"Nicholas promised me he would take me to see Ivan's grave. You know, Bellatrix, Ivanovich loved a girl. The morning before going to war, he came to me and asked,

"Mother, how do you feel about Anna?"

I replied with a smile,

"She's a sweet girl. I like her so much."

He hugged me and said,

"I love her, Mom. I'll propose to her very soon."

"My Ivan was very happy, but the happiness vanished in the morning. My son was forced to go to war. And he didn't come back." Madame burst into tears. Bellatrix hugged Madam, who was crying, too. Madam found her son in Nicholas; he was just as sincere as Ivan was. Breaking the silence, she sighed and said,

"How have you been these three days? You know, Nicholas is a very eu-boy. That day, you fainted, screaming that I was nervous. Nicholas came running to this room with his weak body. You were senseless; your body was burning with fever, and water was needed to wipe it off. There was no water in the house, but I didn't have the courage to go out at midnight. In the middle of the night, the boy went to the forest and brought water. Sitting on your chair, he poured a bucket of water on your head until morning. He told me not to worry. Bella will be fine. A little while ago, he asked if you were okay." Madame put her hand on Bellatrix's head.

Madame looked into her eyes and checked her pulse. Her face immediately turned black. She said in a loud voice,

 "I see your body getting worse again. You're not eating, am I right? When Sister comes, I will complain in your name. You don't take my word seriously." She sighed and added again, "I will give you sleeping pills today. Those strange dreams have made you even sicker.”

Madame became as serious and angry as before. When Bellatrix wanted to say something, Madame stopped her and commanded, 

"Come with me right now." 

Madam went first, and Bellatrix followed. Madam murmured in a regretful tone, and her head turned to get closer to the kitchen. Bellatrix saw everything become blurry as she stumbled; a muscular hand caught her. Bellatrix held onto the man's chest shirt with both hands, breathing heavily. Her head spun, and her vision became blurry.

"Bella, are you okay?"

Hearing the worried masculine voice, she looked at his face in amazement. Bellatrix had never seen such a handsome man before. Was he an earthly God or a God in heaven? The man's chest was so broad, and his blue eyes were fixed on hers.

"Bella."

"Yes."

Bellatrix lowered her gaze and turned around. This young man is a wizard, she thought to herself. "Be careful, Bellatrix, be careful. He will destroy you," she warned herself silently. Nicholas was looking for an answer. Bellatrix took two steps back and replied gruffly, embarrassed again,

 "I'm all right."

Madame emerged from the kitchen,

 "Why are you two just standing there? Come, Let's eat," 

Nicholas smiled and shook his head, then went back to the kitchen. Bellatrix quickly followed, observing his outfit: a traditional Russian Kosovorotka shirt and trousers that belonged to Madam's son, Ivanovich. Bellatrix had heard that Madame never let anyone touch her son's things, but Nicholas is wearing them. Although there was a significant age difference between Nicholas and Madam's son, Bellatrix wondered how they became good friends. 

Nicholas noticed Bellatrix's gaze on his clothes and bit his lower lip as he looked into her eyes. Bellatrix felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Oops! How annoying!" she thought.

Meanwhile, Madame and Nicholas exchanged a few more comments about Ivanovich over dinner. Nicholas shared many fond memories of Madam’s son, who had died thinking of his mother and beloved Anna. He had written letters to Madame and Anna while he was at war, and Nicholas promised to bring them to her. As Madam became emotional and started crying, Nicholas comforted her. Bellatrix had been eating silently with her head down. She quickly sat down next to Madam and put a hand on her back to offer silent support. Nicholas looked at her curiously. Why are this boy's eyes always fixed on her? Bellatrix felt uncomfortable and stood up. Madame frowned and looked up. 

Madame said in a surprised voice, "Why did you get up?"

"I'm done eating," Bellatrix replied with a resentful voice.

"All the food is on the plate. By doing this, your body is getting worse again. Sister came and saw your condition and said to Father, 'Will I have respect? How much they believe in me!' Sit down. After finishing all the food, get up," Madam said in a slightly threatening tone, the last words spoken in a low voice. She said this in front of Nicholas, so Bellatrix was ashamed. Nicholas looked at her and asked Madam, 

"Isn't she your relative?" 

Madame shook her head and said, "No, she is an acquaintance of Father Jalonov."

"Father Jalonov?" asked Nicholas. Madam smiled softly and said, 

"Father is a great and virtuous man. He was once in charge of the church in the village."

Nicholas looked at her and asked again, 

"What's Bella's relationship with Father?"

Bellatrix did not like the use of "Bella" by Nicholas at all. Only her parents or people close to her called her that. She didn't want anyone else to call her that name. 

"Are you saying he is shameless? Keep in mind how this shameless man took care of you that night. Saved you from falling a little earlier. "Ungrateful, girl", Bellatrix scolded herself. 

Madam drank a drop of water and said, 

"Sister Valeria is a special confidant of Father. And Bellatrix is Sister Valeria's sister. The girl's heart…"

Bellatrix interrupted Madam before she could finish. She stood up from her chair said, quiet loudly in an embarrassed voice, 

"Madam, please. "

"What happened to Madam? Why would she tell Nicholas about Bellatrix's personal life? Without pausing for a moment, she ran to her room. Madame sighed, shook her head, and began to eat. She didn't like Bellatrix's behavior. Nicholas was still sitting in the chair, deeply thoughtful. He whispered something with a smile.