I'm actually surprised on how many of you are actually viewing this. I at least hope some of you enjoy it.
I'm branching into some bits with the daughters for this one and for the next chapter. I think I'll have two more chapters and go from there.
The three daughters Dimitrescu watched with childlike wonder as the Manthing wandered around the castle's halls and ground in a strange pattern. He would start from the kitchen and patrol throughout the bottom floor till ending right back at the kitchen again. For about ten to twenty minutes every two hours he would sit in a chair facing the back entrance to their torture chambers with the large machine gun in his hand. To his credit, the manthing was clever and would always sit in the storage room near a open window to keep them away.
But when he would patrol the halls the girls would take turns trying to sneak up on him. Mostly this was for fun, but they did it to test him. Cassandra enjoyed the cat and mouse game with the manthing, even being caught by him a couple of time. He would point at her position in the corner or in the wall telling her "I got you, try again."
Daniela would try to either trip him or scare him with falling suits of armor. Though she began to lose interest once he started catching her and laughing at her attempts. She would mostly mutter to Bela how she wanted to cut his tongue out and cook it in a stew or some such nonsense. While Bela mostly watched him from afar.
"Why don't you try to get closer to him sister?" Cassandra asks Bela as they watch him from the hallway between the kitchen and storage room. He sat with his back to the open hall with the two windows wide open blowing freezing air on him. The trio never tread past the threshold for fear of the freezing wind.
"I've been the closest to the manthing since he began!" Daniela says boastfully.
"This isn't a game little sister!" Bela scolds her sister.
Daniela continues, "It is! I'm winning while you're in last! And I thought you were the better hunter!"
"Please, you failed to catch that unrulily handmaiden last week!" Bela replies. "Didn't mother have to kill her for you?"
"Shut up!" Daniela says childishly.
"Ladies, Ladies." Karl shouts from the safety of his chair. "You could wake the dead with your chatter."
"Stupid manthing." Cassandra remarks. "Your lucky mother is making us spare you."
The sound of heavy boots echoes around them as Karl stands up to approach them. He leans against the door frame with the machine gun hanging on a sling across his chest. His coat was wide open making him look much larger than he was intimidating the wise of the two sisters. Daniela ignored this and focused more on his exposed neck licking her lips as she imagines ripping it open with her bare teeth. The manthing smirks at the three as they looked at him with a mix of emotions from apprehension due to the cold to animalistic lust to devore him like a thanksgiving dinner.
"Lucky maybe." Karl says, staring at Cassandra. "I'll give you that."
He turns his attention to Bela and looks at her closed hand then at the crystalized corpse of the Lycan he killed.
Strangely he turns to Daniela next and points to Bela, "No, not even close. She's been the closest to me. Even had a taste of me. O positive if you were wondering."
Daniela growls and lunges forward to grab him, but he backs up just enough to make her fall forward into the cold room. She felt his surprisingly warm hands touch her to gently aid her back into the room with her sisters. Bela steps between her sisters and the manthing, "No one touches my sisters."
"I have no quarrel with you, Ms. Bela." Karl says to her softly. "I'm just hear to protect my leading lady."
"Touch my sisters again and I'll string you up like a pig." Bela threatens him.
"Don't threaten me with a good time." Karl chuckles, walking forward to close with Bela. "Care to walk with me again girls?"
The trio says nothing as he begins another stroll around the castle.
Alcina removes her hat and gazes at herself in the mirror. It was only a few years ago when she found the secret to ceasing her aging process all together. She was lucky enough to be blessed with great genes from the start, after all she aged like fine wine. But, unlike her wine, Mother Miranda's gift made sure her beauty was as timeless as her family's wine. Though there is always a price for a gift such as this.
'Sanguis Virginis', Maidan's blood, is the hidden example of this price. A fine red wine aged in handcrafted barrels made of the finest of berries the Dimitrescu family could grow on their grounds. Though the name of such a wine did not come from its red color, but from the fact that it was combined with the blood of girls captured by her or her daughters. As she sips her wine from a decorative glass, she couldn't help but wonder about what life would have been for her without this gift of hers.
She snickers and shakes her head. What was the point of thinking about such things such as mortality? If it wasn't for Mother Miranda and her gift she would have been cursed to the world of mortals. Maybe once Mother Miranda achieves her mission, she would bless her by letting take her rightful place by her side. The thought of receiving the recognition she deserved was sweeter than any thing she could have desired. To rule as the all-powerful matriarch of this realm felt so close, yet so far away. The newfound power would surely allow her to expand her influence across the rest of Europe certainty.
"Wealthy entrepreneurs, Royalty, Generals, and socialites." She says to herself as she takes another sip of wine. "All the branches of high society bowing down at my feet at the finest of establishments."
It seemed like a dream to her to recall Claudia's description of this place called 'Juno'. Maybe she would visit this place once Miranda finishes what she is searching for? The idea of having dinner with true royalty, dancing with uniformed military men, and finally being the true socialite, she was trained to be. With a heavy sign she lets down her perfectly curled hair.
A knock at her door caught her attention, "Alcina?"
"Yes Claudia?" She replies as she removes her necklace and three black roses from her dress.
Claudia opens the door to the beautiful room. The white and gold blended beautifully with the rest of the castle's aesthetics. She decided to drop her coat in the room leaving her only in her black turtleneck and stone-grey pants. From the imprints on her turtleneck and wear spot on her belt, Claudia usually carried a pistol and a knife of some kind.
"I wanted to check on you." Claudia says to her as Alcina begins removing the bobby pins from her hair.
"I assure you I am fine, Thank you." Alcina replies quickly as she takes another drink of wine. She opens the drawer to the dresser retrieving a hairbrush to straighten out her hair.
"Please Lady Dimitrescu," Claudia insists, "Let me do that for you."
Alcina pauses and looks at her from the mirror. Her expressions was Alcina's frequently used form of communication as it changed from closed off to frustrated to willing as she places the hair brush on the table.
Claudia approaches with caution to the tall woman. Even when sitting down Alcina's torso was as large as herself standing. She takes the brush in her hand and begins brushing the mistress hair.
The fickle expressions of Alcina change to that of comfort as she looks at the sight in front of her. She felt an odd calmness fill her as Claudia gently brushes her hair.
"I remember you doing this for me when I was a child." Alice says innocently. "Wither it was first thing in the morning, just before bed, or an outing with the family."
"It doesn't seem that long ago, honestly." Claudia remarks as she removes another bobbypin. "Do you want me to remove your earrings, or are you worried the help will steal from you?"
"I'm not worried about you, you know this." Alcina replies, frankly. "You may."
"Are these your mothers?" Claudia asks as she removes them.
"Of course." Alcina replies proudly. "Dimitrescu tradition is that the matriarch of the family is to wear them. Those along with the necklace, both this one and the other, have been passed down since the 15th century."
"Ah I always wondered how old it all was." Claudia remarks as she studies them before placing them down gently on the table.
"I noticed you never wore any jewelry." Alcina says to her as she retrieves a napkin to remove her lipstick.
"I use to," Claudia explains, "But as time went on I preferred not to."
"Before or after you received your gift?" Alcina asks, referring to her powers she demonstrated in the main hall.
With a jaded snicker she walked over to Alcina's side as the brush continued its task on its own. "When I was young I did. But it just didn't feel like me to wear such things. Only when I have to dress up I would, but only when necessary."
"A lady should always be at her best." Alcina replies sitting upright proudly. Even with her hair down and dressed down, Alcina Dimitrescu was still one of the most beautiful females Claudia had ever seen aside from her own daughter.
She smiles lovingly at Alcina's reflection and places her hand on her shoulder. "You never needed any of this to be at your best Alcina."
"Thank you, Claudia." Alcina replies with a slight smile on her face. With her hair free of tangles, she stood up and moved to the bathroom. "I'm going to take a hot bath. Please talk with me like you use to do."
"More stories or about my powers?" She asks.
"Just anything." Alcina replies flatly.
"I'll run your bath at once." Claudia turns to the bathroom door to begin prepping her bath.
"You know I have people for this, yes?" Alcina asks her.
"I don't mind." Claudia replies innocently as she opens the door to see a larger than normal bathtub.
Alcina gives a melancholy sigh as she takes another sip of wine holding it on her tongue to genuinely enjoy the flavor. Memories of days gone by fill her mind as she remembers a much younger Alcina sitting at a table with other upper-class socialites in New York. Between the tedious and grueling classes on etiquette, speech, and education. The times she could go out into high society with the rest of her classmates was her relief from the pressure. The aroma of fine wine and cognac, beautiful people in beautiful attire, and at the center of it all was her. She was the foreigner with the beauty and the exotic accent that everyone wanted to get to know.
"Are there parties where you are? At this Juno?" Alcina asks curiously.
"Of course." Claudia replies as she lays out towels and soaps around the tub.
"Where do you have them at? A fine ball room in a lavish hotel? Maybe somewhere else?"
"A chateau usually." Claudia says as she turns on the hot water. "I tend to be busy, so I don't usually attend unless I'm forced to."
Alcina sighs and shakes her head, "You have no idea how I desire to be at the center of such an event."
"I would trade places with you," Claudia remarks with a tired snicker. "Or at least bring you to one. But I'm not sure my compatriots would approve of your affinity for blood."
"And hear I was worried about my claws and height." Alcina says sarcastically. "If they are gifted like you, what would my taste for something stronger than wine have to do with it?"
"While we do have witches and otherworldly beings within our organization, you simply couldn't act like the blood countess and devour prisoners of war." Claudia replies boldly. "Your daughters are also an issue in that regard. Our current operations are in a colder than usual area."
"At least you have a good reason to deny me." Alcina laments, acknowledging the weakness of her daughters and her sickening habit. "But, even if my affinity for blood, would they accept me?"
"Why would that matter?" Claudia ask, genuinely puzzled. "Your bath is ready."
Lady Dimitrescu removes her dress and underwear handing it to Claudia. She dips herself into the bath slowly before sinking in slowly into the hot water. A relaxed sigh leaves her body as any stress begins to melt away from her mind.
"Humor me, that's why." She says playfully.
"Possibly." Claudia begins as Alcina begins washing her hair first. "Though I wouldn't want to be accepted by such children."
Alcina pauses dramatically, "You as well?!"
The two share a laugh together briefly, "Of course! Nothing but overgrown children! Who do you have to deal with? Your daughters are so well behaved!"
"Oh god," Alcina begins her voice giving off a tone of disgust. "Three of them. We rule this area as its lords for Mother Miranda, our matriarch. We all love her, but for some reason she insists we are all equal in her eyes. Me, equal to those three cretins? Please."
"Let me get your wine," Claudia says with a grin, even as old as she was gossip was always interesting. "Is there another class? I'm sure I can handle your maidans blood."
"There should be one in the drawer to the right. I have to keep extras just incase the help breaks it, or I forget to grab it."
Claudia retrieves the other glass, its matching other, and the bottle for them. She thought to herself how nice this was to speak to another female that wasn't her subordinate or someone trying to kill her.
Once she returns she pours them each a drink for another toast, "To the manthings in our lives." Claudia says sarcastically.
"May their bones be crushed." Alcina replies to which they both laugh.
"Now on to the children," She says with a disgusted tone. "First lets start with the ugliest: Moreau. Mother Miranda's special child and I do mean special. This fish man is the definition of an abomination. Bloody freak with the mind less of that of a toddler who lives in the reservoir experimenting with the plebians to make those Lycan manthings. Then you have Donna, the last of the Beneviento family, with her dolls"
The vampire woman shakes visibly as a chill runs down her spin at the thought of Donna Beneviento. She fights the chills with another drink of wine to straighten her thoughts.
"I hate dolls." Claudia replies as she sips her wine.
"Then you would hate Donna." Alcina continues. "She has this doll in a wedding dress named Angie that she carried EVERYWHERE. The cursed thing walks and talks! Donna herself is sweet though, She just wants a family again. But with that doll fetish of hers it just turns me away. Her gift is in everyone of her doll, according to Mother Miranda, the accursed things would deliver messages to me when Miranda wouldn't call me. I swear she does it to spite me."
Her demeanor changes from ridicule and relaxation to out right malice as the topic of the last member of their 'Family': Heisenberg.
"But no one spites me more than the last addition of this 'Family' as Mother Miranda calls us: Heisenberg. This pathetic, hammer wielding, traitorous, man child is the most loathsome creature to walk this earth! Out of the four lords of this village, the only two that held Mother gift the best was me and that child. Heisenberg dares to question all of Mother Miranda's decisions, challenges her wisdom, and dares to challenge me! If I wasn't as collected as I am, I would have ripped him to shreds years ago."
"So who is Mother Miranda?" Claudia asks genuinely interested about this figure she's referenced.
"She is the sun, the moon, and the end of all time." Alcina says, her words dripping with admiration. "The most powerful woman in the world, I'm sure of it. Soon I will be her hand as we take over, of course we need a candidate for this. But nothing so far. One day we will find who we need to make our dreams come true."
"And your dreams?" Claudia asks finishing her glass and pouring another.
"My dreams…" Alcina says as she begins to wash her hair. "My dreams are simple. I wish to rid the world of those three and take my rightful place by Mother Miranda's side. I dream of ruling over something greater than my humble slice of that pathetic village. I dream of attending the finest of parties with the finer people of the world. I dream of a life greater than anything I could imagine."
She ducks her head under the water to rinse quickly before continuing, "I hate to admit this, But I envy you in a way." Alcina says regretfully.
"There is nothing to envy," Claudia says taking another drink. "Nothing at all."
"How so?" Alcina asks as she washes her legs. "Between a loyal man as your husband and bodyguard, the gift of powers, and the upper-class life. You have it all. What is there not to envy?"
"Its never just fine dining, fine wine, and finer parties." Claudia says in a jaded tone. "We're above all a military organization where I hold a considerable amount of influence and power by default. Its taxing to say the least when you're constantly on campaign for months on end, administrational responsibility is tedious and unending, and the stress of death, not for you, but those below you weight on you. I wouldn't envy a life that is more like a parasite than anything else."
"If you find the parties to much, I will gladly take your place for you." Alcina jokes till shifting to a more serious tone. "I understand your suffering. That is how it was for me once I took over the family business. But it passed after I became use to it. Would you like to know how I learned to get use to things?"
"How?" Claudia asks her.
"I learned this from you." Alcina says with a honest smile.
Claudia could only smile and as Alcina as she offers another toast, "To the parasites in our lives."
"May their bones be crushed." Claudia replies toasting.
"And what are your dreams?" Alcina asks as she finishes her sip of win.
She sits back in the chair swirling her wine for a moment as she remembers what they were in the first place. "To be honest I don't dream much anymore. Everything simply goes black when I close my eyes at night. Though when I was younger, I would dream of being like you, a Dutchess. But now being a dutchess, in a sense, I can only wish to be a nobody. I don't want to be important anymore."
"Humble dreams I see." Alcina remarks. "Rather bleak if you don't mind me saying."
"I don't wish for death, if that is what you are insinuating." Claudia continues. "No, I don't wish for it. Death has a habit for running away from those who do wish to die and come for those who do not. If I must go into detail, I wish for a plot of land in the middle of nowhere so that I can be a housewife. I wish to cook and clean while my manthing goes out to do whatever it is he will do, so long as it isn't soldiering. He's done enough of that since we first met each other. If anything, my dream is to have a life in peace with my husband."
"Do you have any children?" Alcina asks curious about that topic.
"I had a daughter," Claudia says with a heavy heart as she takes a long drink from her wine. "But she died. I had her long before I met Karl, but he was there when she died."
"My apologizes for bring up the topic. You have my condolences." Alcina says, genuinely saddened by the news. "I don't know what I would do if my daughters left this earth."
"I sought revenge and got it." Claudia says bitterly. "But after it all it just felt hollow. I had to go find myself again, only to find my bitch of a sister and dove into my work. One of the reasons why I came here was to find myself again. Remind myself who I was."
"You're still the same gypsy I knew all those years ago." Alcina reassures her. "You haven't changed at all if that's what you are wondering."
"Sometimes I worry about myself." Claudia says to her. "With all the horrible people I have to work with, sometimes I feel their negative energy touch my soul. Karl worries about me sometimes, such a sweet man. Some days are just harder than others, you know?"
"I can only imagine." Alcine says to her as she washes off the last of the soap from her body. "So you did come here to see me?"
"You're from a better time in my life." Claudia tells her with a sad look in her eye.
The muffled rhythmic sound of Karl's submachine gun echoed though the halls. Alcina didn't notice the sounds as Claudia did as it began to be drowned out by the bathtub as it drained. Then a heavy thud startled the large vampire woman, "What on earth was that?!"
"Pest control by the sounds of it." Claudia says casually.