Via Non Captus

Quispiam Penuria

Daniella stood at the window, watching as the blonde girl fled towards the gate. Daniella's face remained expressionless, but inside she felt a twinge of resentment and bitterness towards Fiona. Daniella was homunculi...an artificially created human. At first glance she appeared to be a normal woman in her early twenties, albeit an exceptionally beautiful one. Her skin was flawless, her eyes an attractive grey, her dark brown hair, tinted purple (something to do with the alchemy involved in creating her), was smooth and shiny and tied neatly in two French plaits which fell to either shoulder. Her build was slim; in fact everything about her seemed unnaturally perfect. But Daniella had a serious flaw, the process of creating her had not been a total success, she had been created without an Azoth...the essence of life and soul, and because of this she was incomplete.

The lack of an Azoth left her unable to taste or feel pain. Not only that but certain emotions were inaccessible to her as well, she could not feel pleasure, or love, or happiness. She couldn't feel sorrow or empathy for others. Neither could she feel fear. She was loyal to her creator Lorenzo, in fact she had protected him even when Riccardo had begun hitting her round the face and demanding she reveal where he was hiding...the fool! He knew she couldn't feel pain. Still, her loyalty to Lorenzo was an instinctive thing, in-built; perhaps, because he had created her, she felt no affection for him...she was incapable.

For years Daniella had worked meticulously as maid, cooking the meals and cleaning the castle, and following orders without question, that was her sole job and purpose after all, then...then that spoiled little princess had shown up and everything had changed. Fiona, although pretty with her soft blonde hair, curvy figure, and blue eyes, was not beautiful the way Daniella was, yet she was alive, and feeling and everything Daniella was not. Lorenzo and Riccardo seemed obsessed with her, and Daniella found herself becoming increasingly jealous...and acutely aware of her incompleteness...for the girl, Fiona, was brimming with Azoth, Daniella could sense it, and apparently so could the other inhabitants at the castle. It was like a starving person being presented with a feast and yet told they must not touch the food. Daniella had found herself obsessing more and more over the girl, or more precisely her Azoth... and after Riccardo's comment about making the girl's Azoth his own she'd finally come to a decision. Why not go after Fiona and take the girl's Azoth for herself? The lack of an Azoth was slowly driving her insane, Daniella could feel it, she was an artificially made human machine, and she was breaking. Of course, going after Fiona would mean disobeying her master, and taking the Azoth would result in Fiona's death, but with the Azoth Daniella's torment would finally be over, she would, at last, be complete.

The maid continued to watch with cold contempt as the girl reached the gate, assuming Fiona would be thwarted... the gates had been locked to keep the unwilling guest from escaping, but to her surprise the girl pulled a key from her pocket and proceeded to try and place the key in the lock..., Daniella could see, even from where she stood at the window, that her hand was shaking so badly that she kept missing the keyhole,

Daniella stepped back, preparing to go down and confront the girl herself. A small flash of white in the window made her pause, that infernal dog that Fiona had befriended appeared and ran to Fiona's side.

For some reason, the dog's appearance seemed to steady Fiona, she said something to her companion and tried the lock again, this time more calmly. The gate swung open, and Fiona made to walk through, but paused and half-turned to look back as the dog barked a warning. As she watched, Debilitas came shuffling slowly out the door, Daniella waited for him to attack, or give chase to the escaping prisoner, but instead he and Fiona just stood staring uncertainly at each other...then, to Daniella's further confusion, Debilitas actually bowed to Fiona before moving away to trim the hedges. Fiona slowly turned and walked off, calling to the dog who raced joyously ahead as they passed through the gate, he was probably as glad to escape the castle as Fiona. Daniella let out a low, angry hiss, how could that stupid goon have let Fiona just walk away...he had betrayed their master...and worse Fiona was walking away with what was surely Daniella's only chance to gain an Azoth...

With a frustrated scream, Daniella collected the shard of glass she'd broken off another window earlier, it was roughly the size of a small spear and very sharp, it was also slightly bloody from her previous attempt to catch Fiona. Daniella examined the shard for a moment, then turned, and ran out the room, she sped down the corridor her footsteps echoing through the halls.

As she reached the stairs she heard a commotion and a feeble male voice shouting "Fiona, Fiona, Fiiiiona, don't go Fiona, my life, my Azoth."

She reached the stairs and saw Lorenzo sprawled at the bottom, his wheelchair on its side close by. Daniella slowed and walked down the stairs to her masters' side, despite her desperation to go after Fiona and snatch the Azoth before it was too late, she found herself momentarily undecided, for she also felt compelled to help her Master. With a sigh of resignation she leant the glass shard against a wall before carefully righting the chair and heaving Lorenzo back onto it, he seemed weak so she quickly ran to the kitchen and shoved a drink into his hands but she didn't wait any longer. She retrieved the glass shard, sped out the doors and straight down the path, once she reached the gate she hesitated again as the distant shouting of Lorenzo demanding she return reached her. Daniella bowed her head for a second, torn once again between two impulses, then with great effort she forced herself to ignore her master and hurried through the gate, following the direction Fiona had taken. Fiona had a massive head-start but surely the girl would assume she was safe now and be in no hurry, and besides Daniella was determined.

Fiona was walking briskly with Hewie trotting jauntily just ahead of her. She was feeling a mixture of relief and slight exhilaration at escaping relatively unscathed, and exhaustion from all she'd been though. Still she made herself hurry, not so much because she felt under threat...although she had found herself checking over her shoulder a few times, but because she wanted to put the castle and its strange inhabitants as far behind her as possible. Also there was the fact that she would need to find both herself and Hewie food and shelter at some point, and a phone to contact the authorities and arrange for transport home, so the more ground they could cover the better.

It was just past dark by the time Fiona and Hewie finally found their way to the road. Fiona's legs were aching and her pace had slowed considerably, even Hewie seemed tired, he was lagging slightly behind now, panting and stopping every so often to sniff at the ground.

Fiona paused for a moment, and then began walking wearily along the road, careful to keep Hewie on the grass; surely a motorist would pass soon who would be willing to help them? She was almost on the verge of utter exhaustion when she saw something up ahead, it looked like a car surrounded by fluttering tape...summoning up a final bit of energy she forced her protesting legs into a run, and as she drew close to the car she realised to her horror that she recognised it.

She slowed and walked over to the car, ducking under the police tape.

The windscreen was completely smashed, the front of the car crumpled in, her parents' bodies had been removed but there was dried blood everywhere.

Fiona stood in numb shock for a moment, she remembered the crash, and she'd been told by Riccardo her parents were dead, but it hadn't really sunk in, a stubborn part of her had refused to believe it and she had been so busy trying to survive herself that she'd no time to either dwell on it or grieve.

Now the harsh reality of what had happened to her parents and the nightmare she had recently been through suddenly hit Fiona all at once and she sank to the ground sobbing into her hands. She heard Hewie whine and felt a cold nose nudge at her hands, she lowered her hands from her face and petted him, Hewie wagged his tail slowly and licked her hands. Fiona found herself smiling slightly despite her sorrow. Hewie was and had been a great comfort to her. He had been her one friend in that insane castle, and her protector. Even though nobody could change what had happened, or lessen the pain of losing her parents, at least Hewie made her feel less alone.

Drained both physically and emotionally now, Fiona crawled forwards and turned to lean back against the wreckage of the car, calling Hewie over she hugged him close, both for comfort and for warmth against the night air.

She was almost drifting off into a semi-doze when Hewie suddenly tensed and pulled away from her. He walked a short distance away and stood listening intently.

Fiona, dragging herself back to alertness just stared at him confused and worried; a worry which increased as Hewie slowly crouched and let out a warning growl. Fiona got to her feet and cautiously walked over to stand beside Hewie, straining her eyes into the darkness to try and see what... or who he was growling at. At first she could see nothing, and then slowly, a figure emerged out of the darkness...a female figure.

Fiona gasped and began to back away as she recognised the castle maid. "You must not escape," Daniella said quietly but her tone was edged with contempt "I need your Azoth...then I will be complete, I am not complete..." the maid began to laugh and shake her head wildly, a hysterical, crazed laugh that held not a trace of humour. Fiona looked around desperately for some source of help but it was just her and Hewie once again facing the danger alone. "Oh please let someone come" The maid's laughter died down as suddenly as it had erupted, she fixed Fiona with an evil grin and began advancing, brandishing the glass shard she'd threatened Fiona with earlier. Fiona screamed and ran.

It had taken Daniella longer than she had anticipated to catch up with Fiona, and although she did not suffer from the cold air the way the girl did, she had been starting to tire of the chase and seriously question if she might be too late...perhaps she had delayed too long at the castle and the girl had escaped her for good.

Now, she finally had her quarry in her sights again and as Fiona ran Daniella tightened her grip on the glass shard slightly and gave chase. ..this time the Azoth would be hers.

Fiona ran as fast as she could, but she was already tired and although she dared not look behind her she could feel her pursuer catching up to her. "Hewie!" she screamed in desperation, but Hewie didn't seem to need her command, even as Fiona said it she half-saw a white blur dart out of the darkness to her left and leap on her attacker.

Daniella was thrown off balance by Hewie's attack and fell sideways, instantly Hewie was on her snarling and biting at her arms...blood began to flow but Daniella felt nothing.

She fought back viciously struggling to her feet and hitting him with the glass shard, finally Hewie yelped loudly and released his grip, Daniella shoved him aside and hurried after Fiona...

Fiona became aware the maid was after her once more and screamed again for Hewie...but this time Hewie did not come to her rescue...where was he? What had this monster done to him?

Grief mixed in with her fear and exhaustion ...now what was she going to do...she had no weapons, no real means of escape, and now she didn't even have Hewie ...there was a swishing noise directly behind her, and Fiona felt a sharp sting across her shoulders and blood beginning to trickle down her back .

This was too much, fear overcame every other emotion and broke through her exhaustion. Fiona bolted in a blind panic. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her vision became blurry, her lungs burned, and she found herself tripping and stumbling over her own feet which only fuelled her fear further. Finally she caught her foot in something lying in the grass and fell, twisting her ankle in the process.

Turning she saw the maid advancing, her face cold and emotionless... "Don't" Fiona pleaded "please!" The maid didn't falter and Fiona screamed in fear and despair, covering her face and cowering as she waited for the final blow. ..

"NO!" a voice shouted in alarm.

Daniella paused a moment on hearing the voice...it was definitely male...perhaps Riccardo, or even Lorenzo, had followed her? But no...the voice was different from either of them, dismissing whoever it was she raised her arm once more to deliver the blow, but before the glass shard struck Daniella found herself knocked sideways and tackled away from her quarry. In a fury she fought back as hard as she could as the man tried to restrain her and forcibly take the glass shard from her hand. "Kye help!" the young man called and another man ran over and grabbed her arm, Daniella gripped the shard till her fingers bled, but between them the two men managed to pull it from her grasp. "Try to keep a hold on her Kye, I'll check the other girl's all right, the police should be here soon..." The first man let go of Daniella and went to kneel beside Fiona. Daniella began to struggle again, frustrated at having been thwarted so close to success.

The first man gently tapped Fiona on her shoulder "Are you okay?"

Still shaking Fiona slowly uncurled herself and turned over to look at her rescuer..."I, I think so..." she stammered, then winced as she sat up and moved her leg "I hurt my ankle though...".

"Don't worry...we saw what was happening and Kye called the police and ambulance...they'll hopefully be here soon" he looked at her "what's your name, and who is that woman who was after you?"

"I'm Fiona Belli...my parents were killed in a car crash here a day or so ago...it wasn't an accident...after the crash I was hurt, a man, Riccardo, took me to a castle, it's not far from here. They kept me prisoner there and..." Fiona broke off and shook her head "I don't know her name but she was the maid at the castle...I'm not sure why she's chasing me...she says she's not complete and needs azoth...I think she's insane, and I mean that litera..."

She was interrupted by a yell from Kye, she looked over in time to see the maid finally pull free of him and run off, Kye gave chase but lost her in the darkness...he came back to the others with an apologetic shrug. He had a cut on his face and slightly swollen eye. "Don't worry" he said to Fiona," I saw the direction she went in, the police will find her..."

Fiona looked dubious but said nothing. A whimper caught her attention and Hewie came limping painfully out of the darkness and lay down beside Fiona, licking at a nasty looking wound running down his side and along his back leg. Fiona was worried but relieved to see him. At least the maid hadn't done anything permanent to him...she sat talking to the two young men and fussing over Hewie as they waited for the ambulance and police to arrive. Kye and his friend, whose name she learned was Marcus were college students like her (although unlike her they were both into their 2nd year).

Marcus had an old run down car, and they'd been on their way back from visiting friends when Kye had seen her being chased by the maid and fall. Concerned they had pulled over and...well as they said, she knew the rest.

She thanked them profusely for their help. Kye asked if she wanted them follow her to the hospital and stay awhile to make sure she'd be okay. "No, thank you, but I'll be fine" she said with a slight smile "you've already saved my life...and I've probably caused you both enough trouble for one night."

"No trouble" sad Kye , winking at her "it's not every day we get to play hero and rescue pretty damsels in distress."

"Kye!" Marcus said , clearly embarrassed

"Seriously though..." Kye went on "are you sure there's nothing we can do?"

Hewie whimpered beside her and Fiona gasped in realisation, "There is one thing...I don't know if it's possible, but...Hewie, saved my life too, several times in fact at the castle...and he got hurt just now defending me...I won't be allowed to take him into hospital...I don't want him to be taken to the pound or end up a stray again...could you look after him, or find someone who will...just until I get out of hospital...and he needs a vet too"

"Oh.." Kye looked sympathetic but shook his head " We'll get him to a vet for treatment but I can't take him in...the dorm I stay in doesn't allow pets. Marcus's and his parents live not far from the college though... "..

"Umm...I'd have to ask obviously, but I guess it should be okay. We'll take him with us anyway, if my parents say no or it upsets my own dog, I'll work something else out. At the very least I'll help you find a boarding kennels for him to stay until you're better.."

The distant noise of wailing sirens reached them and flashing blue and red lights lit the area. Fiona was carefully checked over by the ambulance crew, and briefly questioned by police, the police officer talking to her said they'd interview her properly once she had been treated and had had a chance to rest properly. The ambulance crew got her on a stretcher and settled her in the back of the ambulance.

Marcus and Kye checked which hospital she would be taken too and encouraged a reluctant but exhausted Hewie into the back of the car.

They gave their details and account of what had happened to the police as well and with a final wave to Fiona drove off The ambulance doors were closed and the ambulance pulled away and sped down the road.

At the hospital they ran some tests, treated her swollen ankle and the deep gash across her shoulders, and since she had no night-clothes with her got her a hospital gown and settled her into a bed. Fiona soon drifted to sleep, exhausted by the past few days events.

Daniella had fought viciously as the two men tackled and pulled her away from Fiona, between them they had forced her to let go of the glass shard and managed through brute strength to restrain her from escaping.

Then the first boy, the darker haired of the two, had gone over to Fiona, and left his friend to subdue her on his own, Daniella had taken advantage of this and struggled even harder finally getting a hand free and clawing him across the face, this had caused him to loosen his grip and Daniella had finally gotten free of him. Instantly she turned and ran away from the scene, she could sense the boy pursuing her but did not concern herself with it...her attempt to gain the Azoth had failed, and she'd been so close...she was now condemned to spend the rest of her "life" as a beautiful human sculpture, animate and sentient...but empty inside, without spirit or true emotion, neither alive nor dead, a living doll. '

The thought was enough to push her completely over the edge once more and she began to laugh quietly to herself as she ran. Finally she realised the man was no longer chasing her...somehow she had lost him, or maybe he didn't want to risk being lost in the woods? He was wise if so...he wouldn't be the first to get lost and those who became lost and were taken to Belli castle rarely left again. She paused awhile to catch her breath then slowly began to walk back in the direction of the castle, she was too outnumbered now to make another attempt to take the Azoth, empty and disturbed she might be, but Daniella was not stupid.

It was almost morning by the time Daniella got back to the castle. As usual everywhere was quiet, Daniella went to her room to clean herself up and change her now grubby and bloodstained clothes, she rested for a few hours then set about her usual castle duties. , sooner or later she'd have to answer to her master she knew... after all, the girl's Azoth was for him and he would not be pleased she had tried to take it for herself.

She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor when...

"DANIELLA! HERE NOW!" Daniella got up and walked slowly in the direction of the shout. She found her Master sitting weakly in his wheelchair, but he looked up sharply as Daniella entered the room and one look at his face told her he was livid with her...she was in no doubt she would be seriously punished for her actions the previous evening.

"Daniella, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING YESTERDAY!" he spat, trembling in his fury "That girls Azoth was not for you. I created you, you are bound to serve me forever, or as long as I choose keep you here...I created you, Daniella...and I could destroy you too just as easily, remember that! ...Did you catch up to the girl?"

"Yes Master"

"Where?"

"By the road, Master"

Lorenzo fists clenched and Daniella was certain that if he had been able he would have leapt out of chair and thumped her at this point "So...not only did you disobey my orders yesterday by going after Fiona in the first place, and not only did Fiona get away with my Azoth, but you went and made the situation worse by going after her and attacking her by the road where anyone passing by could see you! Is there no end to your stupidity? Did you kill the girl? ANSWER ME YOU DAMN HOMINCULI!"

"No Master" Daniella said quietly "she's alive, two men came to her rescue"

"Two men?"

"Yes Master, they were young, like Miss Fiona"

"And did they see you?"

"Yes Master, they pulled me away from Miss Fiona and tried to keep me there until the police arrived, but I escaped."

Lorenzo swore angrily "and did they follow you, you fool of a maid? Because if you've led them back here, I swear I'll..."

Daniella was mildly surprised, her master normally welcomed the chance of any source of Azoth to sustain him...although only an Azoth from a blood relative could be of any use long term.

"WELL?" Lorenzo's voice brought her abruptly out of her own thoughts

"No master, one of the men chased me but I lost him."

"Well we best hope they don't track you back here..."

"Couldn't you use their Azoths if they did, Master?"

"You idiotic woman. If they send even one detective here and he goes missing we'll probably have the whole force on our doorstep. Fiona will tell them everything and they will investigate...and after your little escapade yesterday, now she has witnesses who saw her being attacked...at least before what she told them would have seemed far-fetched and might have been put down to the emotional trauma of the crash or something...now her story will be a lot more believable because you couldn't follow orders...you are NEVER to leave the castle grounds without permission, you will follow all orders I give you EXACTLY from now on, and if you ever dare to disobey me again, even slightly, you will not live to regret it...understood?"

"Yes Master"

"NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

Daniella obediently hurried off and resumed her work in the kitchen...she had never seen her Master so angry and decided she'd best keep a low profile for the rest of the day..still, for all his rage at her, punishment wise she had gotten off lightly...perhaps her Master was too preoccupied with other things to bother right now? Or maybe he would think of something later? Either way it would be a very bad idea to provoke him further...feeble old man he might be, but as the one who had created her he was right about one thing...he could have her killed anytime he wanted, the same instinct and compulsion that drove her to help Lorenzo and, until recently, obey his orders without question also prevented her from harming him.

After reaching the hospital Fiona had been checked over by the doctors, the gash across her back had been bathed and bandaged, and an ice pack applied to her swollen ankle (which she had indeed sprained in the fall). Once her injuries were dealt with Fiona had been taken to a hospital bed and given a nightgown to wear. She had got herself washed and changed and got into the bed. Exhausted she had quickly fallen asleep.

Now Fiona awoke in darkness and found herself lying on a cold, hard stone floor. She got slowly to her feet, an icy feeling of dread creeping up through her stomach. She looked around and began to walk slowly around, trying to work out where on earth she could be. The room appeared circular and devoid of any furniture there were four pillars and the room had a magnificent glass ceiling. She heard footsteps behind her and spun round, the maid stepped out of the shadows.

"You vile creature" she said coldly, her eyes full of hatred. She raised the glass shard she was carrying to strike Fiona, Fiona leapt back, and turned to run but the maid was right behind her and struck her hard across the head, Fiona fell to the ground and instantly the maid was on her striking her and ripping at her clothes and skin, shrieking and laughing as Fiona screamed and struggled to get away. Fiona awoke with a scream and sat bolt upright in her bed. She was in a dimly lit hospital ward with nothing out of the ordinary except that some of the other ward patients she had startled awake were fixing her with stares that ranged from concern to annoyance. A nurse bustled in "Who screamed?" she asked.

"I did" Fiona admitted "sorry, I had a nightmare."

"Anything I can get you?"

"No, thank you. I...I'm sorry to have woken everyone." Embarrassed and still slightly shaken by the dream Fiona laid back down again, but this time sleep did not come so easily

Fiona was awoken by a nurse to be checked over next morning and soon after a trolley was pushed into the ward and she was given some breakfast. Fiona took a shower, then, having no other day clothes to wear put on the outfit of the previous day. She sat in the chair beside her bed and withdrew into her thoughts. What was she going to do now? Her parents were gone and except for Hewie she was alone now. Although she had recently flown the nest to go to college, she had been sure that her parents would always be there to give support and advice when she needed it. Although sometimes mildly embarrassed by their open displays of affection Fiona and her parents had been very close and she had cared for them a great deal (and vice versa), now they'd been snatched away from her for reasons she still did not fully understand. Why had that man deliberately caused their car to crash? What was this Azoth they had all seemed so intent on taking from her, even though doing so apparently meant killing her? What was she going to say to the police? The truth, she supposed, but would they even believe the truth? Or would they just think her crazy? And what next? Return to college? Act like nothing had happened? She was still trying to find answers when she heard a polite cough and looked up to see a police woman and a man standing in front of her...