~O~
Six Crows
Sofia stared at the slice of cheese.
Irina watched her bring it to her lips and taste a little bite. Sofia grimaced, reached for a cloth and spat out the cheese into it.
"It's not that bad, is it?" Irina asked.
Sofia cut up a piece, offered her a little bit of it and Irina took a bite. Then, her face pinched with disgust and she spat it right out into the cloth Sofia offered her. The other woman looked at her, chuckled and shook her head. She studied the notes nearby for a moment, then looked at Irina. Clearly, she had done something wrong with the fermentation process.
"N-Not long." Sofia told her.
"Oh. It wasn't long enough?"
A nod from Sofia. She sighed, studied the notes with disapproval. Irina watched her for a moment before she licked her lips, speaking carefully.
"The maids are talking," she told her, "They think you're a good chance."
Sofia wrinkled her brow, looking at her now.
"For?"
"For our lives to be easier." Irina continued, with a hesitant smile. "If the Lady of the Castle values you the most, maybe you could...speak on our behalf?"
Sofia thought about it. Then, she nodded. "M-Maybe..."
It made Irina smile with relief. "Thank you."
While they continued to talk, Alcina was preparing herself in front of the vanity mirror when the phone nearby rang. She paused in the middle of applying her lipstick, eyeing it apprehensively. A phone call from Miranda. After her discussion with her during her wine tasting.
She reached for the phone, hesitated for a few moments before finally picking it up.
"Mother Miranda." Alcina said, carefully.
O
Sofia was helping Daniela pluck feathers from her robes when Alcina made her way into the main hall. She had a hard, grim look on her face that had relaxed at the sight. Bela and Cassandra had even come down to laugh at Daniela's condition.
"They were trying to eat me!" Daniela snapped out. "Ugh, I hate birds!"
Sofia was smiling a little, unable to hide her giggle in her arm very well. Daniela gave her a funny look and shook her head.
"Of course, YOU find that funny." she quipped.
They noticed Alcina approaching and Sofia immediately frowned with concern; she saw the look on the older woman's face and knew that something was wrong. The three women at her side sensed it as well - their bond with their mother bled emotion through them.
"Mother?" Bela said, "What's wrong?"
Alcina looked at Sofia. "Mother Miranda has called for us to her sanctum." she told her. "She wants to hold a meeting."
"A meeting." Cassandra frowned. "What for?"
Alcina looked worried and that meant nothing good. "I don't know." She looked down at Sofia once more. "Let's dress our best and meet with her quickly. The less we keep her waiting, the better."
Daniela looked at Sofia. Her tone was careful and quiet. "Mother Miranda isn't known for her patience. You should probably go."
Sofia nodded, then looked up at Alcina; she noticed the tense way she'd smiled, the gesture with her hand to follow that felt too rigid at her shoulders. The two women made their way back to Alcina's dressing room to prepare.
Maids tended to them in silence and others didn't look at Sofia the entire time she was prepared; they were gloomier than usual when they worked in the castle and Sofia showed no fear, but acceptance. Alcina knew what this had to be about. She had always known, really. Perhaps there was a way to avoid whatever Miranda had planned, but she had no hope for that as it had always been difficult to sway her from her choices.
But Alcina had to try. She couldn't lost Sofia.
Once they arrived, they waited by the doors of the sanctum and Alcina turned to Sofia, smiling with pain in her eyes.
"Don't worry, draga. I will be here with you." she assured her.
A small smile on Sofia's face was her response.
Once they ventured inside, they found Miranda waiting on the other side of the great room, eyeing a folder with details inside.
"Mmm, Sofia Petrescu." she said, "Age, twenty-seven. Owns a Goat Cheese Farm at the village border. No living relatives in my village. Hm."
She smiled, eyeing Sofia with a ravenous look veiled behind a charming politeness. Alcina looked down hesitantly at Sofia, who seemed unusually calm in Miranda's presence.
"Now, come. Step forward." Miranda beckoned with one hand.
Sofia hesitated briefly before approaching her. Alcina watched the sight, the dragon behind the bars snarling to protect her. Miranda was a serpent, just as Hilda had always claimed her to be and it bit at the dragon's den to steal what it adored.
Sofia looked at Mother Miranda carefully, barely budging when a long hand lifted her chin. Her sharp eyes studied each detail of her and she sighed with regal boredom.
"So young," Miranda mused, "But Alcina is always one to prey after the young ones. After all, what else is she to do when I denied her such feelings? Poor thing."
Sofia winced somewhat when she was roughly released by those dangerous hands. Miranda was making her way to the nearby altar to study the file again and Alcina licked her lips, speaking carefully.
"Mother Miranda, may I - " she began.
"No, you may not, Alcina." Miranda interrupted, still calmly. "This is the little one who has you wrapped around her finger? Honestly. Did you believe I'd allow you to fawn after a little human like this? Distracting you from our goals? No. I hate to do this to you, Alcina; you know I loathe this sort of thing."
Her tone was insincere as she looked at Sofia.
"Do you believe you come to the castle, changing anything, little one?" Miranda questioned. "You, a simple mortal?"
Alcina looked at Sofia's face and the other woman didn't seem wounded by the words. She'd heard them so often before that it was like striking a stone wall. But it twisted Alcina within; she was torn between defending Sofia and remaining where she was.
"Still, perhaps there is something you can do to rectify this problem." Miranda eyed Sofia with a smirk. "Perhaps you can further the cause of the Black God."
Alcina's eyes widened in horror. "Mother Miranda - "
"Alcina." Miranda warned, her tone a vicious bite.
Sofia looked toward Alcina, saw the desperation and the fear now. She had known really; Mother Miranda did not enjoy the idea of Alcina's attentions focused solely on her. She didn't like that Alcina had been making something else of her life, drawn from her goals.
"The life I've given to the people of this village," Miranda continued, evenly now. "And they must give to me in return. You understand, yes?"
Sofia didn't, but she did not rebuke her.
"I will not allow Alcina to be distracted with such ridiculous fancies from a mortal," Miranda said, with a sinister smile, "Perhaps there is a way we both get what we want. You put yourself on my table and should you survive, I make you a member of my family. What say you...Little Goat?"
Sofia blinked, looked back at Alcina who was tormented by the thought.
"No, Mother Miranda," Alcina's tone quivered, "Surely there must be another way to do this. I will bring you more girls. More results."
Miranda sighed, rolling her eyes. "How many excuses have you given me? Hm? How many, Alcina?" She bared her teeth. "She will be my offering. There will be no conflict. There will be no excuses."
Alcina's eyes were bleeding yellow. "You would have many at your disposal and deny me my one companion?" Her tone became less human, more of a growl. "How cruel and selfish are you?"
That seemed to bother Miranda for a second to hear such words. Her icy tone melted to a degree and she furrowed her brow, staring at the taller woman.
"Cruel?" she questioned. "Why would you say such things? Have I not offered my soul to bring life to this village? To give you immortality and those three daughters? You know the gifts and lives I have sacrificed for all of you?"
Alcina snarled in her throat and took a step forward, but she felt Sofia's hand in hers, hidden from Miranda's view. She blinked, glanced down only briefly to notice the gentle, calming caress of her smaller hand offering comfort. It made her larger frame shudder, eyes misting as she bit back a growl.
Miranda looked at Sofia, smiling now. She approached and cupped her cheeks, lifting her to study each little detail.
"Mmm, such a plain creature," she sighed, "But I think I see the allure with you."
Sofia looked back at Alcina with a sad smile on her face. The other woman stared at her, horrified by the acceptance in her eyes.
"Do you deny me my right, Alcina?" Miranda questioned, her brows raised as she eyed the other woman like a vicious predator.
Alcina took another step forward, but Sofia's look halted her. She stared at her, features hardened, eyes misting and Sofia shook her head.
"Sofia." Alcina hissed. "You can't."
Miranda smiled at Sofia, her hand teasing little locks of her hair. "Little Sofia has little choice in the matter. I have made my decision and she will be an offering." she told her. "To serve the Black God in His name and to please Him. Quite the honor, truly. At least your pet is aware of her place in the world; don't make me remind you of yours, Alcina."
Nothing was said or done. Alcina knew what became of Miranda's experiments; most of them did not survive the process and only the Four had been gifted with her blessing. She didn't know if Sofia would survive.
It wasn't fair.
Sofia felt Miranda's hand on her shoulder, turning her and leading her away. It was a cold touch, devoid of any comfort. She dared a glance back at Alcina, who stood there with horror on her face now. The yellow in her eyes had brightened to a vibrant glow.
Sofia could see that Alcina wanted to do it; to snatch her away from Miranda and do something foolish. Something that would get her killed.
So, she shook her head and they left the chapel.
Sofia was alone again.
When they arrived at Miranda's lab, the first thing that Sofia noticed was the mess.
Sofia stared at the jars filled with peculiar creatures and fluid, notes that lined the tables and walls and photos of experiments. There were shelves of books, empty cells and something massive sitting on one of the tables - something black and damp, covered in a thin sheen.
She never expected Mother Miranda's work place to look so messy.
"I'm not without heart, no matter what Alcina believes," Miranda told her, those dark eyes lighting up with amusement. "To even show you, I'm giving you this."
She picked up one of the jars and set it on the table before Sofia.
The younger woman looked at it; a Cadou parasite, wriggling back and forth in the jar. It looked smaller than the others, but moved faster, as if it had more energy that couldn't be contained.
Sofia looked up at Miranda, who smiled at her with false warmth. "This little one had attached itself to Alcina's Cadou. Perhaps they were mates? One can never tell, with the Black God." she explained, "He works in mysterious ways, does He not?"
She let out a small laugh in response. Sofia picked up the jar to look at it. The creature had no face, but a little whip-like tail. Unlike the others in the jar, it was smoother in body texture.
"That one I will place inside of you," Miranda continued, "And if you adapt, you will be immortal."
Sofia looked up at her. "A-ad-d..."
She struggled with the words, earning an impatient look from Miranda. The woman sighed, took the jar and set it back down.
"Don't struggle to speak." she said, her tone unkind now. "I don't have all day. Now come, find yourself on my table and we will begin."
Sofia turned toward a table nearby, reached into her dress and clutched the necklace Alcina had given her for comfort. She closed her eyes with a small sigh.
She heard her father's cold laughter somewhere in her head.
O
Alcina's features were hard as stone as her daughters made every attempt to understand what had happened.
"Sofia's going to die?" Daniela looked horrified.
Bela shook her head. "We don't know that." she offered, embracing her mother's shoulders. "She might end up like mother."
Cassandra's expression was twisted. "So what?" she spat. "We just count on hoping? Look what happened to Hilda!"
"Enough!" Alcina suddenly shouted, startling the three of them. Her eyes were misted, her features red from the tears she'd shed earlier before returning. "Miranda's will is absolute. Sofia will pull through. She must. She absolutely must - "
She bit back a small whimper of pain and her daughters looked at each other, unsure of what to do or say. Their mother was hurting again and they were forced to watch it happen.
"We have to do something." Daniela bit her lip. "This isn't fair!"
Alcina smiled sorrowfully. "Fair? Of course it isn't, little bug."
"But..." Daniela protested, her voice smaller.
Alcina said nothing. She simply gripped the edges of her chair, nails shredding the upholstery. She couldn't imagine what Sofia was being subjected to. She didn't want to imagine it. The dragon was twisting about in the cage, clawing at the bars to free itself and snatch Sofia way from Mother Miranda.
And that was just it; she knew that Mother Miranda did this for the sole reason of her finding happiness in her family. She had neglected her duties to her all in the wake of forgetting what was important to Mother Miranda's cause. But even she was never truly aware of what it was. Miranda always worked in mysterious ways, after all.
Irina approached her and Alcina sighed, showing her teeth. "What is it?" she barked, angry.
"My Lady," Irina said, hesitantly. "Lord Beneviento has arrived."
Donna? Why had she come?
Alcina sighed and rose, patting her hair as she followed Irina out into the grand hall. Donna was sitting with Angie and waiting for her in one of the chairs. She was holding something in her free hand - an envelope.
When Alcina approached, she rose and looked up at the taller woman. "Alcina." she said. "You look distraught. I assume Miranda carried out her will?"
Alcina smiled, but it took effort to appear strong. "Sofia was taken to receive her 'gift'."
"Yes, I see." Donna looked down at the envelope. "I'm sorry, Alcina. But now, it seems I can finally give this to you."
She held out the envelope and Alcina's brow wrinkled as she took it. "What is this?"
"Sofia came to me yesterday," Donna explained, "She wished to express her gratitude, but she needed help to write a proper letter for you. She must have known her fate."
"She came to you?" Alcina found the notion strange.
"Yes." Donna nodded her head.
Alcina frowned now, stared down at the envelope before nodding. She swallowing thickly, struggled to keep her emotion in check. She could see how Sofia would want to see Donna for the help she'd been given; the tea had been useful, perhaps. Sofia had never spoken of it to her, however.
She departed for her chambers, set the letter down on her vanity and stared at it for the longest time. It wasn't marked with anything and she almost worried about the words written down. What sort of things would Sofia have to say?
Alcina shut her eyes, took a breath and finally reached inside, taking out a folded piece of paper and opening it.
She began to read the words in Sofia's voice.
My voice. I did not choose silence. I wanted so much to express the words I felt deep within me to you, Alcina. We always found a way to share words, but they were never a language, were they? Just bits of sentences from a voice stolen from me. Papa took my voice, but you gave it back. And I chose gratitude, not silence.
I was always alone when I'd lived in that village; my only companion pain and loneliness. I'd lived with it for so long, I never knew what life was until I met death. I know I've done a terrible thing to you; I know, perhaps I will never be your equal. I always feel so pathetic and ugly, standing next to someone like you. It's unfair, really.
I came to visit Lord Beneviento, today. She welcomed me and I thanked her for her help. It might be my last chance to finally tell you what I felt. I know what Miranda wants to to. I know that she hates your happiness. I know that she wants to hurt me. I see the look in her as the look I saw in papa. I think you know what I mean...
Even so, I'm happy to be sharing this with you. I'm happy my words are finally there and I can speak in the voice you'd given me. Whenever you come see me, touch me and kiss me, I see you light up. I feel loved and adored by you, even if I don't deserve it. Even if I know I will one day hurt you when I die. I'm sorry about that.
That's why I understand if you do hate me when I choose to do Miranda's bidding. I know she would hurt you and your daughters. I know that your lives mean something. And I know that my life will be forfeit and that's okay.
I want you to know though; I will always love you, My Dearest Lady.
Even if it had to end the way I do, I wouldn't change a thing. The way you loved me and cherished me... it was the most wonderful moment of my life. And I would gladly do it again if it means I get to feel wanted and needed by you.
It will be better one day. Maybe not today. But eventually, you will heal as you always do and you will feel love 've given me so much and I haven't been able to return a single thing. And for that, I'm so very sorry.
Well, for someone who has trouble speaking, this letter has gone on too long.
My love, forgive me.
Sofia Petrescu.
Alcina sat there, eyes filled.
She crumbled up the letter and let out an anguished shriek in her hands.