(All OC's are of my creation. And I do not own or claim to own any of the characters from Resident Evil.)
(Please and thank you for reviews!)
Chapter 7
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Two days after Alcina gave me permission to go see Donna, I am down in the kitchens baking my little heart out. Having started a little later then I planned because a clingy vampire goddess didn't want to let me out of bed. The staff have all thankfully left me alone in the kitchen for the moment. It is just plain annoying having people trying to be sneaky when looking at me. One of them did lend me an apron and brought me most of the ingredients I need. Tying my hair up into two tight buns I quickly get to work. Humming softly to myself while I work to fill the quiet room. My hips swaying gently to the gentle lullaby-like song. A giggle escaping me when a bit of flour makes a cloud when adding it to the bowl. While I am mixing the muffin batter some of the cooks come back to get started making breakfast. They each look at me but only to see what I am doing before starting their own tasks. I ignore them for the most part, only speaking to them when I had to ask them to open the oven door for me. While I wait for the muffins to bake I start on another batch. But this batch is miniature sized for Angie. The doll may not be able to eat but I would feel bad not giving her anything.
"There we go." I say letting out a sigh as I place the mini muffins in the oven. "Now I just have to wait for them to finish." Glancing around makes me scrunch my nose up. "Now for the not so fun part of cleaning up." The staff all look at me like I have lost my mind as I start cleaning up my own mess. 'In their eyes I am a noble of sorts and shouldn't be doing this. It isn't hard to believe that my status as Alcina's lover hasn't spread throughout the castle. ' A tick mark appears on my head when I notice half of the dishes I was doing have disappeared. One of the maids having taken them to another sink. "Alright you all win." I grumble holding my hands u in defeat and walking away from the sink. Rolling my eyes at all the relieved sighs that leave the staff. The smell of muffins hits me letting me know they are done. " Finally." Quickly, but carefully, I take the muffins out and set them on the counter. Letting them cool a bit while I prepare the basket to carry them in. I start humming again as I place everything in the basket. Having made raspberry and blueberry butters along with the muffins.
"Hopefully they turned out alright." Picking up the basket and saying bye to the kitchen staff, I leave to go get changed. When I pass through the dining room the triplets and Alcina are already there. "Good morning Alcina, girls." I greet them all with a small wave, stopping next to Alcina to kiss her cheek. Having to stand on my tiptoes even though she is sitting down.
"You are to be back before nightfall am I understood." Alcina says taking a sip of her morning 'wine'.
"And I will not go anywhere other than Donna's home. " Smirking I place a red muffin on Alcina's plate. "I made some for you and the girls too."
"Like we would ever like something you made, prey." Cassandra scoffs while flipping some of her hair over her shoulder. "
"Then Bela or Daniela may have your share. " Daniela giggles and takes the muffin I offer her. Bela taking her and Cassandra's muffins and placing them on her plate. "I even made them to suit a vampire's tastes." Turning back to Alcina with a smile as Cassandra fumes. "If you like them I can make another batch later. But I need to hurry since someone made me late getting started."
"I have no idea what you are referring to, draga mea."
"Is that so? Well I shall see all of you when I return." Turning on my heel I walk out of the room. Giggling behind my hand when I hear Daniela squeal in delight about the muffins. 'Yay! The blood muffins are a success!' My pace quickens as I head to Alcina's room to get changed. Getting a little surprise when I see a beautiful fur lined white coat left out for me. A note from Alcina telling me to stay warm is next to it. "I love that woman."
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"Well this is...creepy." The guard accompanying me is shaking like a leaf as we stare at the small graveyard in front of us. A thick fog has started to settle around us along with the softly falling snow. Sighing I wave the guard away as I walk forward. " You may wait here if you like. The path is easy to follow from here."
"Oh thank Mother Miranda." The guard mumbles before kicking her ass into high gear and running back to the crossroad.
"I wonder if Donna controls the fog..." As I walk down the creepy path towards the rope bridges, I get the feeling of being watched. The scattered dolls along the path not helping in the slightest. My pace quickens to try and get to House Beneviento as fast as I can. The sound of my heeled boots crunching the snow echoing around me. Shifting the basket in my hands to rest over my arm, I blow hot air on my cupped hands. "I need to thank Alcina for the coat when I get home. Huh..." A sad smile crosses my lips at that thought. ' Barely been here a month and already feel this is my home. Not like I had anyone that would miss me in my world.' When I come to the bridge I slow my steps, not wanting to slip on the ice covered bridge. "Don't look down. Don't look down." This stupid little chant is what got me across the bridge. Childish yes, but if it works who cares. My hand slips into my coat pocket to pull out the directions Alcina had written down for me. Squinting my eyes as I struggle to read the calligraphy esc writing in the fog.
"Okay. Next land mark should be the garden." Looking back and forth to the paper as I walk in case there are any prying eyes. Miranda can shapeshift into anyone, be they person or beast. And she is the last person I need knowing I have knowledge of the area. 'If she finds out what I know there is a high chance she will take me from Alcina. And I would like to keep from being lycan chow anytime soon.' A cold shiver goes through me at the thought. "I need to hurry before the muffins become popsicles." Luckily the path has been cleared of snow making it easier to move. When I pass the gardeners hut the man waves at me before going back to tending to some yellow flowers. The rest of the path up to the elevator is no different than the game was. But when I get to the faded red doors there is no plaque telling me to 'offer my memories'. Looking at the directions again I facepalm myself. "Why did she hide the key there?" Backtracking to the large grave of Claudia Beneviento, I grab the doll wearing yellow shoes and take the key from its back. I unlock the door then put the key and doll back how they were. As I step into the cave my vision goes completely dark until I adjust to the dim lighting. Blinking a few times helps enough that I can make my way to the elevator. Once I am in the elevator I let out a tired sigh. "Please don't let this elevator trip be very long." Not gonna lie, I hate elevators with a passion. Got stuck in one when I was a kid and have hated them ever since. I'll use them if I have to but if stairs are available hat is what I use. "Come on- Thank god." Just as I started to groan in annoyance the elevator stopped. The doors opening to reveal the breathtaking view of the mountains and waterfall.
"I wish I had brought a sketchbook with me. Well there is always next time I suppose." My eyes keep wandering back to look out over the cliff side. 'My head feels kinda fuzzy...' Shaking my head to try and clear it, I run the rest of the way to Donna's house. When I get to the front door I take a moment to catch my breath. After a few deep breaths I knock on the door, frowning when no one answers after a few minutes. "Did she forget I was coming?" Hesitantly I reach out and turn the door handle. "It's open..." Deciding it best to get out of the cold I step inside quietly. Shutting the door behind me and calling out for Donna only to get silence in return. "Oh dear. Perhaps she really did forget I was coming over." Looking around the cozy little foyer I notice the rocking chair is moving slightly. Brushing it off as it moving from the wind when I opened the door, I set my basket on the table next to the door so I can take off my coat.
" I wonder where that big sister of mine has run off to. " I mumble to myself before picking my basket back up. Something brushes past my legs making me jump forward away from it. "D-Donna? Angie?" My heart is starting to beat rapidly as a sudden wave of fear hits me. The door leading to the living room opens with a slow creak. "Come on Serilda, its just your mind laying tricks on you." Taking a deep breath I slowly walk over to the door. "Hello?" Stepping into the room my heart drops to my stomach at what I see. "N-No...please not again... " I try to back out of the room but the door has locked behind me.
My eyes burn like fire as multiple visions hit me all at once. Each one worse than the last as I am forced to watch death after death. But the one that keeps showing up most has sent me into a panic attack. I feel something hugging my legs but can't make myself to look down. My shoulders shake as tears stream down my cheeks. Ethan is holding tightly onto Donna's wrist as she struggles against him. Her free hand hitting him weakly on the chest in an attempt get him to release her. Donna's pain filled screams fill my ears as I watch Ethan shoot her in the stomach. Blood spurts out her mouth as she falls to the floor. But even through all the pain she is feeling, Donna is doing her best to get to Angie. The poor doll has been trapped in the lit fireplace and is screaming for help. Around me different versions of Donna appear, each one having died in different ways. And all of them are screaming in pain or yelling things I can't understand. All of their voices meshing together to the point it just sounds like radio static.
"Please no more...Donna..." I sob into my hands, falling to my knees on the floor. As I am crying the sensation of something warm wraps around me. The smell of wood shavings and lavender surrounding me.
"Wake up."
"D-Donna?"
"Please just wake up..." Hesitantly I reach out as if I am hugging someone, my eyes closed to try and block out the scene still playing in front of me. A scared whimper escapes me when I actually feel the person holding me. When I open my eyes again I am greeted by a familiar black veil.
"Donna please tell me this is really you." I sob into the other woman's shoulder. Holding onto her for dear life while she hugs me tightly.
"I'm real. And I'm sorry..." She rubs my back in an attempt to help me calm down.
"Why a-are you 'hic' sorry?" I blush a bit when I start to hiccup between words. My crying having subsided but my breathing is still stuttering.
"You were affected by our flowers." Angie explains, hopping into my lap to hug me around my stomach.
"I 'hic!' don't understand. Oh why must I 'hic!' ..." Donna laughs softly when I hiccup. "Please don't laugh 'hic!' big sister!"
"Awww you sound so cute when you do that!"
"No I don't 'hic!' Angie." I poke Angie's cheek while pouting angrily. " No treats for you."
"Huh? Wait what treats!?" Angie starts waving her arms around frantically while shouting she's sorry. The dolls actions make me giggle as I watch her run around the room.
"Good." Donna murmurs as she pulls out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from my face.
"I take it you're relieved I am smiling again?" She nods her head at me. "How...how long was I out this time?" She holds up three fingers instead of speaking. "Three hours?" Another nod. " I'm sorry big sister. I just seem to cause trouble for you..."
"I found them!" Angie giggles madly as she runs past us with my basket. "The treats are all mine!"
"o . o Uhh...Can Angie actually eat?" Donna shrugs her shoulders as she stands up. I sigh as I take her offered hand and get up as well. " We might want to catch her, there are glass jars that could- " A loud crash from the other room cuts me off. " break..." Donna rushes off to make sure Angie is okay. Leaving me time to collect my thoughts.
'I need to find a way to keep Donna and Angie safe. Because of how Donna split her cadou between her dolls, she doesn't have another form like the other lords. She is basically just a human that has stopped aging. She doesn't even have healing abilities or immortality as far as I know. Maybe if she took back some of the cadou from her dolls she would be stronger? Angie seems to have the biggest piece compared to the other dolls. And the flowers! How could I be so careless to forget about the damn flowers!' I pinch the bridge of my nose as a headache starts to form. 'She even keeps some of those yellow flowers in vases around the house. One of which is right next to the living room door.' I send a glare at the innocent looking yellow flowers before following after Donna. 'Maybe if she had more of her cadou back, she could control the flowers better. In a best case scenario she would be able to use the power anywhere. We could plant them around the village so she won't be limited to her territory.' With that thought in mind I start making plans in my head on how to accomplish this.
"No way in hell am I letting that bastard hurt those I love."
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(This is actually true. ; w ; In house Beneviento there are vases with the yellow flowers Donna's hallucinogenic powers come from. There is one on the table in the foyer, next to the living room door, in the hall for the elevator, and I believe at least 1 is in the basement area. This little detail helps insure anyone visiting would be affected by the flowers pollen. XD )