Ares: Thanks for your review! Theo's about 5'10/5'11. Which would put her around the same height as Ethan. So, if I've read the size charts right (because I had looked them up before hand) she should come to somewhere around Alcina's mid to lower waist.

Sorry this chapter is shorter than the others. The next one will be longer to make up for it! Enjoy~

Theo and Alcina watched as Duke's carriage pulled away, the shorter of the two waving. Once he exited the gates, Alcina turned around, heading back to the castle. The pair passed by the new maids as they made their way back up the winding staircase. Glancing down, Alcina could see Ana standing in front of them, explaining their roles and what was expected of them.

Leaning down, she entered her study. Assuming her position on the couch, she turned her attention back to the redhead. She hadn't missed the exchange between her and Duke about the 'items' she had requested. Alcina's curiosity peaked. Theo hadn't mentioned anything about needing any items. That meant that they weren't something that she could get her hands on herself, nor something that could be found in the village. Which begged the question, what did she order?

"You requested more items from Duke?"

"I did!" Excitement brimmed in the mismatched eyes. She hoped that the items would arrive in time, and surely enough, Duke hadn't disappointed her. Now, all she had to do was wait. "It's a secret. You'll have to wait for the twenty-third!"

A dark eyebrow arched, but a small smile formed on blood red lips. Theodora was up to something, that was certain. Whatever it was, she seemed to be exceedingly excited about. "Why that date?"

"It's 'Friendsmas'!" Theo exclaimed as she stepped in front of the vampire, throwing her arms into the air excitedly. A blank stare greeted her in response. Alcina had never heard of such thing in all her time. Theo seemed to pick up on her confusion. "It's a celebration that one of my old friends used to do every year. It's basically Christmas, but with friends. Since some of us didn't have families, we got together and celebrated. Nothing too big. We had dinner, did a gift exchange, and just spent time together. I'd like to celebrate it this year, if that's okay."

It had been far too long since she and the girls celebrated anything. The last holiday she recalled participating in had been long before Mother Miranda gave her the gift of immortality. Her first three decades of her new life had been spent alone, only surrounded with maidens. Gradually, her siblings had come into the picture. However, in the beginning, their relationships were far too tense to even think of having holidays. By the time she had been blessed with her daughters, the idea of celebrating any form of holiday completely escaped her.

Miranda's ever-growing workload was beginning to take its toll on her. The priestess had taken full advantage of the slower months, piling more work onto the eldest lord. She knew that her siblings' tasks were also steadily growing. Alcina had suspicions that their mother had something planned, but the woman rarely disclosed her plans. Only small bits of information would be given if she deemed it necessary to her cause.

"I think... It would be beneficial for everyone to celebrate this 'Friendsmas'. It has been far too long since we've all come together for anything other than meetings." Alcina said. Mismatched eyes brimmed with excitement. "Seeing how you are the only one who has the knowledge of the holiday, you will be the one to see to its arrangements."

"Right away My Lady. Do you have any requests on the guest list?" She assumed that Theo had meant her siblings. Or rather, if she objected to having any of them over.

"Do not let Karl bring his mutts inside the castle."

Theo walked through the halls, getting a mental list together of everything she would need. She would have to find out what everyone ate, or rather, what they didn't. The only items that they had in the kitchen were vegetables or body parts. She was fairly certain that the other Lords didn't share House Dimitrescu's need for blood.

The guest list was simple, just the other Lords, Duke, and possibly Mother Miranda. Theo didn't expect the woman to show, but it would be polite to at least invite her. From the few interactions they had, Theo picked up that the priestess only seemed to care for herself.

Theo watched as Ana turned the corner. She wanted to sit in on the meeting with the new maids, but by the time she and Alcina reentered the castle, Ana had already begun. They locked eyes, and Theo gave a smile. Ana came to a stop in front of the redhead. "How did it go with the newbies?"

"I think it went well. I gave them their schedules and their tasks. The begin tomorrow."

"That's good. Hopefully they last longer than the others."

"Yes." Ana agreed. Being the sole maid in the castle made it much more difficult to keep it up to par. Granted, Theo had stepped up in the past weeks and helped out whenever she could, but she knew it wouldn't last forever. The House guardian had her own tasks. Which meant she wouldn't always be around to help out.

"How are they holding up?" Theo asked. She knew the rumors that came with the castle and how people viewed its inhabitants. The group of girls had been terrified when they entered their new home.

"They've calmed down." Ana assured. She had given the maids a rundown and explained the rules and expectations. She also told them some tips about how to please the Lady and stay off of her radar. Afterwards, she had dismissed them for the night. "They're still scared, but that's to be expected. It was strange though. The one, Gabrielle, wanted to be shown around tonight. She seems very eager to start. But I decided against it and sent them to their quarters for the night to get settled in."

"Gabrielle?"

"Yeah, she's the one with reddish blonde hair. She's around my height?"

Theo instantly recognized the description. It was the girl that had stared her down earlier. Something about her didn't settle well. Asking for a tour of the castle was a very eager thing to do for a mere human. Especially for a villager who had been told nothing but horror stories of the place. No, something wasn't right here, and Theo was going to find out what.

"Hm. Do me a favor, keep an ear out for me. I want to know everything you know." Theo hoped that Ana would do as she asked. Unlike the past maids, Ana put effort into her work without having to be told, which earned her respect with Alcina. The matriarch had even gone as far as telling her daughters that they were to leave her alone. Hopefully it was enough to earn the girl's loyalty.

"Of course."

"Also, we'll be having guests next week."

"Guests?"

"The other Lords will be arriving for a dinner. I'll let you know more of the details as I figure them out myself. Thank you, Ana." With a nod of her head, Ana excused herself for the night. Glancing at the clock, she decided that she should head to bed. Tomorrow, she would track down the Lords and give them their invitations.