I'd like to say thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read this story!
Evolution-500. Thanks for letting me know about the spelling mishap. I also realized after that I forgot to mention that this story will be an AU of sorts. It's gonna be some cannon and some not.
"My dear, you've earned my kindness."
Alcina left the room, leaving the pair in silence. Bela pulled her hood back up as she looked to the redhead. "Please follow me, girl." Turning around, she motioned for the other girl to follow her.
"The name's Theo."
Bela stared for a moment, but nodded. Theo followed, one step behind the blonde. The pair entered back out into the hallway. Instead of returning to the first floor, Bela walked past the winding staircase. Turning to her left, they entered the upper balcony of the main hall.
The blonde was the first to break the silence. "Thank you, for saving my sister."
"Hey, it's not a problem. A bunch of guys against one girl isn't what I'd call fair. What's with those losers anyway?"
"They're hunters from the surrounding villages." Bela explained. "They'd like to see us dead, especially Mother."
"Why do they hunt you?"
Another figure leaned up against the wall at end of the hallway. As they got closer Theo got a better look at the feminine figure. She wore a cloak like the others. Her dark hair stopped just below her collar bone. She twisted an old rusted sickle in her hand. Dried blood clung to the blade. "They're just mad that they send their women here to die. Yet, they call us the monsters."
The dark-haired girl got closer to Theo, their faces only inches apart. Her senses were nowhere near as sharp as her mother's. However, she could still tell that the guest's scent wasn't human. Humans had a sickly-sweet smell. The woman in front of her had her own aroma, much like their mother and the other Lords. A hint cinnamon hovered in the air around her.
"What about you? You don't like humans, do you?"
"I've never really thought about it, honestly." Theo thought about the question for a minute, unfazed by the girl's proximity.
Even after everything, it was a question she hadn't stopped to ask herself. She'd met her share of decent humans. Most people that actually interacted with her seemed nice enough. That raised the matter of those humans though. Did she hate them? Absolutely. Did her experience with them make all humans bad? No, of course not.
"I don't hate them all. Some of them aren't bad."
"Humans do have some uses, Cassandra." Theo could tell from Bela's tone that this wasn't the first time the pair had had this conversation.
"Ha!" Cassandra threw her head back and barked out a laughed. "Humans? Useful? The only thing they're good for is food or pleasure. Right, uh, what's your name?"
"Theo," the redhead said, offering her hand out to shake. The girl took it, shaking it twice before letting go. "I wouldn't know about the food part, though. I'm a vegetarian."
Dark brows furrowed as she pulled her hand back and looked at in concern. "What's that? Is it contagious?"
The oldest rolled her eyes. "It's not a virus. It's someone who doesn't eat meat, idiot."
Cassandra bared her teeth at her sister. "I'm not an idiot! How am I supposed to know that? Unlike you, I don't like sitting in that dusty ass library all day. I like to do fun things." The middle sister turned her attention back to the redhead. "And you! What's wrong with you? Meat's the best part! Especially when it's fresh man-meat."
"Think of it this way, if I don't eat it, then there's more for you."
A wide grin spread across her face. "Then that means I can have your meat at breakfast tomorrow, right?"
"Sure, it's all yours."
The brunette's eyes lit up with excitement. "I like you!"
"Stop pestering her, Cassandra. She's Mother's guest, not yours." The blonde snarled as she nudged her sister away from the door. "Now shoo before I tell Mother you're bothering her guest."
"Tattletale." The girl growled before dissolving into her own swarm of insects.
"I apologize for my sister. She's not very bright."
"It's no problem." Theo chuckled. If she were being honest, she had enjoyed having a conversation with the pair. "It's been a while since I've had some good conversations."
A small smile formed on the blonde's own face. "Here is your room." Pushing open the door, she entered the room. Theo entered behind her. The room was aglow from the burning fireplace. A large, elegant, canopy bed sat in the center of the wall to the left, sandwiched between two mahogany nightstands. A matching vanity sat on the opposite wall. An overstuffed chair sat off to the side of the fireplace. A double glass door led to the rain soaked balcony. "If you need anything just ring the bell on the night stand and one of the maids will come." Bela said before she left, leaving Theo alone for the night.
Deciding she was ready for bed, she shed her jacket and sat it on the chair. She removed her boots, leaving her only in her socks, jeans, and t-shirt. She pulled back one layer of the thick blankets and crawled into the bed. Laying on her back, Theo sunk down into the mattress. Taking a deep breath, she let herself drift to sleep.
"This place is huge. And expensive looking." Theo said to herself as she turned down another hallway. She wanted to find the kitchen, in hopes of seeing one of the daughters. And to get some food.
Footsteps approached her from behind. Theo could tell they belonged to the Lady of the castle. "I would hope so, it is my home after all. I do not settle for less than extravagant."
Theo turned around and greeted her hostess with an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wander. I just wanted to find the kitchen and got sidetracked looking at everything. Your home really is beautiful."
"Allow me to show you around. Come, walk with me."
The pair wandered the halls. Theo listened intently as Alcina spoke of the history of the castle. She spoke of all the various rooms they passed. "I gotta ask. How do you get a place like this?"
A small smile formed on Alcina's face. "It was a gift."
Theo let out a whistle. "That's a nice gift."
"Yes, Mother Miranda is very generous."
"Mother Miranda?" Theo questioned. When she arrived, she had heard a group of villagers reciting a prayer to that name. She had just thought it was a local deity, not an actual person.
"She's the overseer of the Four Houses and the one who gave us our gifts, along with our positions as Lords of the areas." The taller woman gestured around. Theo hummed, filing the information into the back of her mind.
Entering through an archway, Theo recognized the main hall. Alcina took a step forward. Looking around the room, Theo knew something wasn't right. Movement above caught her eye. Quickly, Theo stepped in front of Alcina, with her hand outstretched. A thunderous bang echoed throughout the room as a monstrous fist connected with the hand.
"It's not nice to punch people." The redhead said, pushing the monster's fist back. The beast fell backwards onto the floor. As it pushed itself to its feet, Theo got the chance to examine it. It, at one point, had been a human. That much she could tell. Its skin had turned a leathery gray. It was taller than herself, yet shorter than her hostess.
It looked to the taller woman who stood beside her. The taller woman gave a small nod, so small that it was practically unnoticeable. For anyone except Theo, that is.
She's testing me, huh? Let's give her a show then.
Theo knew the monster in front of her was nothing but a muscle-bound corpse. She'd seen, and bested, plenty like them. All muscle and no brains. Bending her knees slightly, she readied herself. It raised its fists above its head as it stomped over to the challenger. Theo waited patiently until it got close enough. Its fist flew towards her. With inhuman speed, Theo shot forward. Her fist slammed into its stomach, the force of the impact sending it straight up into the air. Its momentum stopped just short of the giant chandelier. It crashed to the ground. Theo appeared beside her fallen opponent. She slammed her boot down into its head. After a second, its body crumbled into a large pile of dust.
"Your strength is impressive, Theodora."
"Thanks. I work out." Theo flexed her muscles, pleased she had passed her test. She watched as Alcina's attention focused on her biceps, staring for a moment longer than it should have. "Sorry about the mess on the floor."
The girl's strength had definitely exceeded Alcina's original thoughts. She had never seen someone stop an attack from one of her creatures with just one hand! It was new. It was exciting! The redhead could be stronger than Mother Miranda herself. Alcina wanted… No, she needed to know more about this girl and her abilities. Realizing she still stared at the girl's bicep, she cleared her throat. "Nonsense, the maids will clean it up. Let's get some breakfast, shall we?"
Theo nodded excitedly. The pair began walking again.
"What are your plans after you leave?"
Theo hummed to herself. "I haven't really thought about it. Probably just wander around some more. That is, unless you're in the market for a taste tester."
"Sadly, I am not." Alcina chuckled. "I am however 'in the market' for a personal guard. Would you be interested?"
"A guard huh? That doesn't sound too hard."
She leaned down and placed a finger under Theo's chin. Gently, she tilted her head up towards her own. A smug smile formed on her painted lips. "I wouldn't be so sure, little one. Where I go, trouble seems to follow." Theo returned her own determined smile.
"Oh, I'm sure I can handle anything that comes your way. I like a challenge."
"Very well, campionul meu. We shall see. Come, our day begins after breakfast."
All five women sat around a large dining table. Alcina sat at the head of the table. Bela and Daniela sat off to her right. Cassandra and Theodora to her left. The maids placed a full plate down in front of the women. Theo stared at the plate in front of her. Two very large pieces of meat sat on her plate. Cassandra reached over, she plucked the first piece of meat off of the plate. "Darling, why are you taking the food from Theodora's plate?"
Cassandra laid the piece down onto her own plate, undeterred by her mother's questioning. "She said I could have it."
Alcina raised an eyebrow. "Did she now?"
Cassandra finally looked at her mother, giving her a confident grin. "Yeah! She's a vegetation."
"What's that?" Daniela said as her razor-sharp canines ripped into her own piece of meat.
"It means she doesn't eat meat." Theo had to give her credit for her confidence. Had she not already known what the word meant, she might have believed her.
Bela sighed and rolled her eyes as she slowly slid her knife through her own food, before picking it up with her fork. "The word is vegetarian, dumbass."
A knife flew at the blonde, who dissolved just in time to miss it. She reformed a moment later, glaring at her sister. "Come over here and say that to my face, Nerd!" Cassandra snarled at her sister.
"Fight!" Daniela shouted as she bit into another chunk of her meat. She excitedly looked over at Theo, who watched the exchange with a growing fondness. It had been a long time since she had felt so comfortable around anyone. It was nice.
"Darlings." Alcina called out, taking a drink of her wine. "The table is not the place to fight."
The girls settled down instantly. "Sorry Mother." Bela resumed carefully slicing her food. Cassandra started to dig into her own, much like Daniela had.
"So, Theodora. You're a vegetarian?" Theo nodded. Reaching out, grabbing one of the non-blood covered pieces of fruit from the bowl in the center of the table. "Very well. I will let the cook know that you will give him a list of items you are able to eat."
"Wait!" Cassandra shouted. She turned to Theo. "You're staying with us?"
Alcina nodded. "Yes, my sweets. I have hired Theodora on as my personal guard. I expect you to treat her accordingly."
"Yes Mother." The trio agreed as everyone returned to their meals.
"Hey, Theo."
"Yeah?"
"Can I have your meat tomorrow too?"