I'm legitimately surprised at the fact that this story has almost 1000 views with how short of a time span it has been up. Thank you all from all corners of the world for reading this story of mine. There will be one more chapter after this to wrap it all up.
Burned powder escapes from the muzzle brake of the Italian submachine gun. Golden brass cartridges ring like bells as they dance on the ground at his feet. The empty machine gun slings loosely against his chest as he draws his pistol to finish off two more Lycans with a bullet to the brain. The bodies of four more Lycans laid on the floor of the medieval torture chamber motionless. Gun shot wounds appeared like hot springs as the heat from their bodies escape into the cold world.
Even though they were just abominations, it still never seemed easy to kill. What unnerved him about killing these were their lack of emotion to being killed. They would growl and roar before attacking, but when shot they would ignore it and go down quietly when they finally went into shock, succumbed to blood loss, or simply dove into the abyss after a shot to the head. A man or an animal will go into fight or flight screaming in agony, terror, or malice.
But a Lycan? Nothing.
There were the last of the creatures from what he could tell by the number of blood-soaked tracks. He though this was due to the presence of the alpha he killed, that this had to be his pack or candidates coming to replace him. These were husky creatures, so his theory might have been sound. Maybe if he cut some of the alpha's fur or splattered some of its blood around the hole the rest of them would leave them alone out of fear.
He looks at the broken hole in the ceiling and all of the snow that piled up around the broken pillar. The whole night he managed to kill a handful of them and nothing else came to replace them. If he wasn't so tired, he could have come up with a plan to seal up the hole, but he just wanted to sleep. Looking down at the vest he counts out a few hand grenades and looks around to fine a few pieces of wire or at least some shoestrings.
"Fuck it." Karl says to himself as he walks back to the kitchen. Waltzing back to the kitchen he catches the sisters watching him again from the shadows. The clocks on the wall said 0431 but his body feels like he was up for days.
"Did you get them?" Daniela asks him eagerly. "Did you blow any of them into pieces?"
"A few." He replies tiredly as he walks into the main hall to sit by the fireplace. Taking a seat on the couch he puts the submachine on the table and leans back to get comfortable. The feeling in his hands began to return even after a few minutes. The girls surrounded him and looked him with more intrigue than before. Between the iron smell of blood on the bottom of his boots there was the aroma of rotten eggs from sulfur and explosives.
"Ugh Lycan blood." Daniela says disgusted at the odor of the blood. "I'm surprised this manthing managed to kill those things. They usually ruin the meat."
"What did he taste like Bela?" Cassandra asks as the sound of slumber. The three look over to see him hunched over on the couch sleeping soundly. His hat covered his eyes and his hands sat clasped together on his stomach.
"I'm not sure." Bela replies honestly. "I was in a lot of pain when he gave me his blood. He is right though about his blood type being O type."
"A pos tangy, A neg sweet, or what?" Cassandra asks, salivating at the thought of drinking his blood.
"Ooooh! I never had O strain before!" Daniela says excited at the idea of trying a new flavor. "What does O type taste like Bela!?"
"I don't know!" Bela exasperates.
"Then why don't we try?" Cassandra suggests.
"Oooooh! Naughty naughty!" Daniela teases.
"Mother told us specifically not to do anything to Mr. Karl." Bela says firmly.
"Aww you used his name!" Cassandra says venomously. "I just want a taste!"
"I'm so thirsty. I just need a little drink!" Daniela replies lunging for his arm. Bela swats her sisters' hand and grabs her intensely.
"Mother will starve us for days or worse if you harm him. I'm not going to be punished because you wanted to be brash." Bela scolder her.
"I can go without food for a week or two," Cassandra says dismissively as Bela manhandles her younger sister. "I don't care about that!"
Cassandra passes by the two and reaches for Karl, but for her she was surprised when he grabs her tightly. His head pops up to look her in the eyes in surprise, startling the girl, and uncontrollably yawns as he jumps to his feet.
"My apologize," Karl says in a gentlemanly tone, "I must have dosed off. Thank you for awakening me, Cassandra, is it?"
He eases his grip allowing her to recoil her arm back. "Manthing." She says contemptuously as she back up to the safety behind Bela.
Cassandra looks to her and back to Karl expectedly. Bela looks back at him once more to see him putting his machine on his back and began to walk away. The daughters follow him to the other side of the castle till he reaches the guest room. The trio stops as he closes the door on them. "Rude." Daniela says openly with slight disappointment in her voice.
"I wanted a taste." Cassandra growls.
The three daughters retreat from that side of the house to the bed chamber of their mother on the other side of the house. To their surprise she was awake with Claudia still. They were still drinking wine well into the night but were surprisingly not intoxicated in Claudia's case.
"Ah Daughters," Alcina says welcoming them in, "How was your night with Mr. Karl? We overheard some commotion from downstairs earlier in the night. He didn't break anything did he?"
"Absolutely not mother." Bela replies. "We spent most of the night observing him."
"Judging by the shots and the single explosion it might have been a small amount of Lycan." Claudia says, frankly.
"He knows we could have handled this ourselves, yes?" Alcina replies taking a hit off her cigarette holder.
"The men have to be entertained somehow." Claudia replies to which brings Alcina to laughter.
"At least he is house broken as he says." Alcina remarks. "If he wasn't yours, I would have made him into a stronger vintage or have him guard the grounds."
"I'll assume that's a compliment." Claudia says as she takes a drink from her wine glass. "At least he'll be a strong vintage."
"Where is Mr. Karl?" Alcina asks her daughters.
"In the guest room," Bela responds. "He attempted to sleep on the couch. But Cassandra woke him."
"Well at least he's asleep now." Claudia replies. "His sleeping habits have been strange for a long time now, but I guess this fit is from something else."
She looks over at Bela immediately. The blonde girl with bright eyes appeared like the ghostly reminder of life she once knew. Maybe that was what Karl was seeing in this strange girl, a ghost?
"Whatever it is, I'm glad he made himself of use." Alcina says moving on and looking at the rest of her daughters. "Neither of you laid a hand on him, did you?"
"No mother." They all replied.
Alcina doesn't push the subject any further, "When he awakes we can send him to the village to retrieve a horse to replace the ones the lycans killed. I'm sure the Duke has one for sale."
"Now remind me," Claudia interjects seriously, "Are these Lycans from the fishman or the man child Heisenberg?"
"They are the creations of that wretched merman from people of the village." Alcina says disgusted. "Those manthings are either eaten by his fish thing or are killed outright by Mother Miranda depending on her mood."
"I'm sure they keep to the village outskirts, yes?" Claudia asks curiously.
"Thankfully." Alcina replies. "From what I understand, due to her gift, the creatures can be controlled, roughly, by her. I don't think they will be an issue for us here, or you. I should be going to a meeting with the other lords sometime today to speak about matters less trivial."
"We'll be gone before that, I assure you." Claudia tells her.
"You can leave whenever you wish." Alcina responds. "After he awakens, send him into the village to see the Duke. I'm sure he may have a horse or two for a price."
"I'll be sure to tell him when he wakes up." Claudia finishes her wine and pulls out her cigarette case. "I have to ask though, why do you stay with Mother Miranda? The power portion I see, but you have enough wealth, influence, and personal power to leave her behind. What is keeping you loyal to her?"
"Birds of a feather flock together, Claudia." Alcina confidently replies as she takes a long drag of her cigarette. "We want the same thing: Power and a family to share it with."
"Family…. Hmmm." She sighs. "Such an interesting idea."
"Idea yes, but through Mother Miranda's gift, it is a reality." Alcina explains. "It was her gift I was able to confidently turn my back on the god that turned its back on me. My disease and my defect were defeated by a goddess. She made me immortal and gave me three beautiful daughters to rule this soon to be dynasty of house Dimitrescu. How can I not be loyal to a goddess who granted me these gifts?"
"I asked myself this many years ago." Claudia says quietly as she lit a fresh cigarette. Noting her use of the world immortal. Between her stature, retractable claws, and the abilities of her daughters. 'Is Miranda a witch as well?' She asks herself.
"And what conclusion did you come to?" Alcina asks curiously.
"My conclusion is still seeing itself out. For you? Well, it would be best to contemplate an exit." Claudia tells her, her voice hiding some fear.
"I can not just turn my back on the person who made me this way." Alcina replies calmly. "She is our mother, and I am her rightful heir. The other three are nothing more than in my way, but Mother Miranda will soon realize this."
"How sure of you of that?" She asks her pointedly.
"As sure as the sun rises and that I am her child." Alcina tells her firmly.
"Alright then." Claudia replies with a half-hearted smile trying to hide her disappointment. "I guess we all drink the punch at some point in our lives."
"And what does that mean?"
"It doesn't matter right now." Claudia says getting up from her seat and moving to the door. "I'm going to check on Karl."
As Claudia leaves the room Alcina stares into the fireplace watching the logs crackle and burn. She could feel the disappointment in Claudia's voice and it, as much as it pains her to admit it, hurt her. But what hurt her the most was insinuation that she should turn her back on Miranda. Why should she?
Granted Claudia was right, she has powers, some of which she hasn't told her, wealth, and influence. But what she didn't know was how powerful Miranda was or how in debt she was to her. Why should she bite the hand that feeds her?
Claudia walks into the guest room to see a snoring Karl. She rolls her eyes and goes to her duffle bag to pull out a yellow vile. Shaking it up she goes over to Karl when gently shakes him to wake him.
"I'm up I'm up!" He says shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.
"Drink this." She orders him.
"Oh god more of this shit." Karl groans, taking the vile and pouring it down his throat. The yellow drink tasted like old cough medicine and Jägermeister, but instead of making him sick or getting him drunk it revitalized his body like he had a full night's sleep. "I like to dream, you know."
"I'm worried about Alcina." Claudia says with a worried tone.
"She sounds fine to me." Karl replies. "Between this estate, her money, and those daughters of hers. She looks like she's doing well for herself."
"You and I both know that money isn't the only thing you need in this world." Claudia hisses. "She's spoke about this 'Mother Miranda' figure several times now, saying she gave her a gift that made her this way. I'm a bit worried about what she's gotten into."
"The gift of an impressive build, claws, and arrogance?" Karl replies in a snarky tone. "Or was all that prior to this gift?"
"I'm being serious. We might have stumbled on another witch if she has the ability to grant powers to mortals." Claudia says gravely. "I need you go into town and get a horse. Alcina mentioned someone named 'The Duke', if you can find any information in regard to this 'Mother Miranda.'"
"I'm not keen on introducing troops to this area if this is where you are going." Karl says flatly.
"This is a private affair." She assures. "The rest of the Order will not be informed. Leave the machine gun and grenades, only take your pistol. Take a small bag or two of silver coins if you need to bribe anyone."
"Gloves off or on?" Karl asks coldly referring to being forceful with the locals.
"On. I don't want to draw anymore attention than we already might have." Claudia cautions him. "Find out as much as you can. I just want to know what shes gotten herself in."
"You look spooked." Karl remarks, seeing the fear in her eyes.
"I am spooked! I'm more than spooked!" Claudia exasperates. "She's still there, but between the chambers in the basement, the vampiric tendencies, and this I'm afraid she might be taken by this woman."
"We can't know for sure that whoever this Miranda is, that she is a witch." Karl says, trying to reel her in. "Not till we have some intel. But even then, I don't want us involved in any form of anything here."
"Do you not see the danger in this?" Claudia questions him. "This woman turned my little Alcina into a vampire and three others into freaks, who are making more beasts! If she has this ability, then she has to have access to the vril and to our enemies. This could be paramount to our security."
"And what evidence do you have besides a hunch?" Karl counters. "We live in strange times, both here and in our world, were science and magic word hand in hand."
"Because I have a feeling, Karl." Claudia replies coldly.
"And I have feeling to but going after shadows isn't what I'm trained to do." Karl hisses. "We are stretched thin in more important places that WE need to get back to."
"Then go into town, get me a horse, and a FUCKING answer." Claudia growls, getting in his face.
Karl growls but swallows his pride and agrees, "Will do." He walks out the door with haste leaving Claudia alone in the guest room.
He grumbles through out the house till he reaches the main hall again. Checking his pistol before reaching the door, Bela stops him just before he opens the door.
"Where do you think your going?" She asks him curiously as she studies him.
"Going into the village to get a horse, maybe other stuff if this Duke character has anything good." Karl says bluntly. "Why? You want to come along? I'll give you my coat."
"You saw what happened to me in the storage room when the cold touched me." She says angerly.
"At least I offered." Karl replied. "You want anything? Jerky, ultra-rare meat extra bloody, maybe something sweet?"
Bela holds up the brass shotgun shell to his face, "I want an explanation."
Karl chuckles slightly, "What's to explain?"
"I've killed many manthings." Bela admits to him. "They've all told me how they would kill me as I cut them open, never has a man ever had the chance to kill me. But you did. Why?"
He looks to the door and back over to Bela. "Its not polite to ask awkward questions. I'm not going to put another sweet blondie in the ground, no matter if this one deserves it. The next time you get cocky with someone, that shell isn't just going to drop on you. It's going sends you right into the abyss."
Bela looks at him confused as she tries to understand what he means. Something begins to click in her mind, but before she could react, he walks out into the cold world outside the warm halls of the castle. She looks at the shell in her hand for a moment before closing it tightly in her fist.
A couple of hours pass as Claudia waits for Karl to return. She spends most of this time touring the halls till reaching atelier room of the castle. The workshop itself was connected to the first bell tower of the castle. Claudia had only been in this room once during her stint here as a handmaiden. To her surprise the room was left nearly unchanged besides a large, nearly life size, picture of Alcina in a grand dress holding a decorative wine glass.
"Oh Alcina." Claudia says as she steps back to enjoy the picture. "How I wish I was there to see your face after this was completed. You look so much like your mother."
"You're not to far gone yet. You'll always be my Lil Alcina, regardless of if another witch took you. I understand why you did it, why you gave yourself to her. I gave myself to something greater than anything I could imagine, and it brought me to where I am now. But I wanted my own life, just like you did. I hope you find your line in the sand, as did I."
Unbeknownst to Claudia, Alcina was listening in on her through the door. But instead of coming in she walks away, holding back a mix of emotions.
Claudia leaves the room to return to the main hall to be greeted by Karl. She looks around for any flies on the wall or anything else before getting closer to Karl.
"What did you find out?" She asks him in a whisper.
"The Duke informed me about Miranda." Karl tells her. "Cult leader found power in a cave and is using it to keep the village in line and closed off. Usual shit. Though its not magic, Duke says its something more natural and grounded. He recommends we get out of here as soon as possible before her spies find us."
"So shes human?" Claudia asks him as the sound of heels clicking echoes around them.
"Yes." Karl confirms. "I also have our horses. They are hooked up and ready. I'll pack our things."
Claudia nods and lets him go. Alcina enters the room and seems surprised to see Karl walking with a purpose away from her.
"I saw the new horses he found in the village." Alcina remarks as she approaches Claudia. "I assume your leaving soon then?"
"Unfortunately." Claudia replies sadly. "We were only here for a short while anyways, I feel like I've found what I've came for."
"Well…" Alcina begins, her voice hinting at some feeling as well. "I'm glad you were able to see me and that I was able to help you find what you were looking for."
The two looked at each other silently until Karl returned with the two duffle bags. "Everything has been packed and I even made the bed." Karl says as he passes by.
"Thank you for your hospitality Alcina." Claudia thanks Alcina, her voice sounding shacky as she tries to hold back her feelings. "I hope Mother Miranda treats you well and your family becomes what you want it to be. But please, take care of yourself."
"Cart is packed." Karl says as he enters the main hall again. "I can get us back, but we need to move quickly. The weather looks like it might turn again.
The two ignore him and look into each other's eyes as they both begin to turn red as they tear up.
Alcina breaks and kneels to hug Claudia. Wrapping her large arms around Claudia she cries.
"You'll always be my Lil Alcina." Claudia tells her with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you…" Alcina says to her sobbing. "Thank you for everything."
"We have to go honey." Karl says quietly as the two finish their goodbyes. The two reluctantly separate from their embrace and Claudia is taken by the hand to the front door. He pulls her away, but Claudia fights back to yell at Alcina: "I'll come back for you." Claudia promises her.
Alcina's looks up, her eyes bright red and dripping with tears, to see she was alone once more. She had left her alone again, but this time she felt a warm feeling in her heart: She felt love.