Through the Looking Glass
Author's Note: I couldn't help myself and decided to make a multichapter fic of Alcina and her Maiden. It's going to take parts of "My Fair Lady" since I decided I liked how that went. LOL. I'll also be exploring Alcina's past a little more because I find her to be really interesting and I always wondered where she was before becoming the creature she is now.
"Beware the darkness of dragons,
Beware the stalker of dreams,
Beware the talons of power and fire,
Beware one who is not what she seems."
- Tui T. Sutherland
"Maybe we're all just broken inside. Unable to really grasp the difference between fictional people and people we just don't know. They're all just abstract ideas we're happy to have suffer for our enjoyment."
― Jonathan Sims, The Magnus Archives: Season 3
By: VampireQueenAkasha
~O~
A Warm Welcome
The carriage wheels were grinding against the snow, slowing down to a halt before the great Castle Dimitrescu.
The large man existed the carriage and was welcomed by two handmaids. He was warm, friendly to them as he offered a few coins for their help to unload his cases of product. The girls were careful with everything he brought and there was a fear in the air that was constant in the castle.
"Thank you, you've been most helpful!" he told them, once they'd unloaded the offering. "Now would you please inform the lady of the castle that I have new product available for her to peruse through?"
"Mistress is working at the moment," one of the maids said, head low and voice soft, "She's dealing with a transaction for new servants."
"Of course, of course," he said, with a dismissive wave. "As she does. Well, be sure to let her know and I'll be here waiting."
"Yes, sir."
Within the castle, women were being lined up by a personal attendant - an older woman with a scowl on her face and a black dress. She had a missing eye and black hair tied in a bun. Her wrinkles made her look terrifying to the women huddled there for warmth.
"Lady Dimitrescu will be here shortly. She is handling a personal affair." she told them, "I am Hilda of House Stratford, servant to the noble House Dimitrescu. You will stand when she approaches and you will not speak unless spoken to, am I clear?"
Uneasy nods from the women there.
They clearly knew what to expect when they'd arrived at the castle. They had known the stories and the rumors about the lady who governed it. What she did. The people she had harmed and even eaten. Everyone whispered the horrible tales. But the ones who had lived? The ones who had pleased her? They told of another person entirely. It was all so utterly confusing, but they were given no better life outside of it.
"Good. Now that we understand one another, let's have a look at you."
Hilda studied each woman with a murmur of disappointment; a touch to their jaws, hair and waistline. One of the women looked hopelessly confused by the examination and looked to another. That one shrugged her shoulders, unsure as well.
The one on the far end hadn't uttered a single cry or whimper since she'd arrived. She simply held herself in smelly animal furs and scarf. Her trousers looked to be in rips and patches. She had long black hair, nearly black, dull eyes and thin lips.
Such an unsightly thing in the presence of nobility; Hilda had no idea what she was even doing here. She was suited to farm work, not domestic work. Still, meat was meat as far as her Mistress was concerned.
Hilda smiled a little now. "You are here at Her Mercy."
Meanwhile, Alcina was strolling into her chambers; dressed in her weathered gown and wide-brimmed hat. She passed a fireplace where a man was hanging nearby, danging from the ceiling in chains. His face was swollen, mouth shining of blood. A gash had begun to bleed through his side and he was whimpering with renewed distress when he saw the nine-foot tall woman enter the room.
Short black hair in curls, ghostly pale skin, white shimmering pearls at her ears. Everything about her spoke volumes of elegance and grace, so carefully hiding the monster within.
"Well, let's try this again," she said, in a sinister smile too wide, "My treasure is gone. Where is it? I assure you, it's worth more than your life."
He let out a few broken sobs and Alcina sighed, rolling her eyes as she reached for a jeweled goblet sitting nearby on a table. She took a drink of the warm, fresh blood within it, stared at him with cold eyes nearly glowing yellow in the dim light of the room.
When the man started to pray - to his God, surely - she rolled her eyes and smacked his face. "Enough. That never helped anyone."
It took him a moment to calm his voice before he spoke.
"P-Please, I..." he sobbed, "I didn't take it! It was Adam! Adam took it and left for the village! I swear it!"
Alcina tittered with amusement. "Oh, you simple little man-thing. Always selling one another out to save yourselves." she said, "Hm, too bad."
She raised her hand and the fingers stretched into four long, dangerous claws. He barely had enough strength to muster a scream before she swiped them across his belly, splitting him open and spilling his innards out onto her floor in a pool of steaming crimson.
His body shook in uncontrollable spasms; blood poured from his mouth, he struggled to speak and Alcina smiled, making a note of amusement as she reached in, dipped one hand into the pool and took a little taste before curling her nose.
"Hm, can't even have the courtesy to taste good," she said, with dismay, "Such useless dreck, you are."
She looked up toward the door when she made out the sounds of Hilda discussing business matters with the new arrivals. It made her smile, eyes glittering with delight.
"Ah! They've come!" she said. "Good." She turned to him and watched with disgust. "Do have some grace to die with a little dignity."
It took only a few moments before the man finally stilled, hanging there lifelessly with his innards spilled all over her floor. Alcina hummed and glanced down at the mess before sighing.
Well, she would have to have this cleaned up. No use in wasting good flesh.
O
The sound of heels turned their focus to the grand staircase.
A black, gloved hand sliding on the banister.
Alcina smiled, her gaze oddly welcoming as she regarded the row of women; they were a new treat she couldn't wait to indulge in, but she would appear welcoming as need be. Hilda stood nearby, crossed her hands in front of her and gave a bow, gesturing once to her.
"May I present Lady Alcina Dimitrescu." she announced. "Stand straight and look proper for her."
They were alert almost immediately; all but the woman at the very end. She just stared down at the floor in silence. No one made any indication of it.
"Rednic brought them early this morning, Mistress." Hilda was explaining to Alcina. "They may require some training and education, but they will learn quickly."
Alcina's graceful expression faltered somewhat and she eyed the row of women with disapproval. "I asked Rednic for clean, athletic, and smiling," she said, "not gawping, dirty and paunchy..."
"I know. Good women are hard to come by."
"Aren't they just..."
The jokes were somewhat playful, but no one laughed. They didn't dare to.
"Well, there is a father of...that one," Hilda gestured to the quiet woman in the corner. "He had asked to speak with you personally."
Alcina crowed with laughter, the high notes ringing through the air like little bells that earned blushes from most of the women. Her eyebrows rose at the presumption. "Did he now?"
"I'm sure he meant no insult, Mistress." Hilda replied. "Men are foolish and presumptuous to ask for you. They rarely think with their heads."
"Of course."
The women stared at the other one on the end. She was just standing there in silence, listening at the discussions as Alcina strolled with Hilda to the front doors of the castle. There were few conversations barely heard outside.
"...did he sell you?" one of the girls asked her.
She didn't answer. Her dull eyes simply focused to the floor. The women were looking around, but refused to move from their places. Servants were preparing supper, it would seem; trays of food and drink were pushed toward the dining hall. The smells were absolutely wonderful.
"...he gave his word, didn't he?"
"Well, as they often do. But I don't see the daughter of a pig farmer functioning well in high-society."
"She could do all the heavy lifting. Most of them look as if they haven't a single idea what responsibility means."
"They can learn. They always do."
They could hear Hilda and Alcina talking to one another as the two women were returning to the main hall. Alcina had taken little interest in the discussion and gestured for the women to enter the dining hall.
"You must all be hungry," she said, with an inviting smile, "Eat, then we work."
They were confused by the offer, clearly. But of course, they were quite hungry from their journey and had little room for argument. Alcina was still smiling as she let the women pass into the dining hall. Hilda exhaled, shaking her head and looking up at the larger woman.
"You always have to - " she began.
"Yes, can't leave room for runts, can we?" Alcina crooned, with a dangerous look on her face. "Look at them. They're skin and bones."
The hungry look came and went into her eyes like lightning. Hilda knew what that meant. She'd lived in the castle for long enough to understand her Mistress' routine.
O
Physical evaluations were typically the first step.
The women would be cleaned, properly dressed after that and groomed to perfection. The only one who remained after the entire night was the quiet one. Hilda had smiled when she saw her sitting there, straight and proper for a farm girl.
"Well, you understand manners enough to sit there quietly and properly. I suppose you've had some training after all. Your father constantly reminded us that you were perfect enough to sell." she said. She looked down at her paper nearby on a table of examination tools. "Sofia, was it? That's the name your father gave us."
The woman looked up at her, then gave a small nod in response.
"Let's have a look at you and then, you can get cleaned up," Hilda continued. "I will put you in cleaning duties for the time being until I have need of you elsewhere. Maybe you could always find work in the stables since you're so inclined to it."
She gestured with one hand for Sofia to rise from her seat; the woman did and stood there as Hilda felt her arms and shoulders, measured her waistline and studied her teeth. Gums looked healthy and teeth looked strong. A few minor cavities, but that was typical.
"Hmm, good teeth. Yes. Ah, no lice as far as I can see. Skin? Surprisingly flawless," she said. "You're remarkably healthy for a peasant girl."
Once she arrived at Sofia's ribs to squeeze them, the woman audibly grunted with discomfort, wincing briefly. Hilda frowned up at her and when she did it again, Sofia had to bite back a cry of pain.
"What's wrong?" Hilda asked. She backed up and gestured with one wave of her hand. "Come. Lift up your shirt."
Sofia looked worried and didn't do what she said.
"You're not in trouble," Hilda said, with disapproval. "Are you a goat or a girl? Just lift your shirt. I can't have you weak while working."
Sofia nodded and weakly bunched up the bottom of her shirt, lifting it slowly. Hilda leaned forward to study the pasty white skin of the woman and the left side of her ribs. There was a muddled, black bruise with little green splotches.
She frowned up at her. "Who did this to you? Was it Rednic? Was he too rough?"
Sofia shook her head, features still blank of emotion. She looked like a beaten dog now in the poor light of the candelabrum. Her eyes were heavy and sad. What a pitiful creature she was.
"Someone else did this to you," Hilda confirmed, with a sigh. "The bruise is almost a week old." A pause and she smiled, though with some kindness than she had before. "Well, keep that in mind when you live here and try not to make a big deal of it. I don't need to remind you of what happens to a horse with a broken leg."
Noted.
Sofia said nothing.
The Mistress of the House called for her and Hilda looked up briefly before waving Sofia away with one hand.
"I'll have you here later. Go to the main hall and wait until I summon you." she ordered.
Sofia, once more, said nothing. She simply walked away.
Hilda made her way up the stairs where Alcina had called for her. The Hall of Pleasure - which hadn't been opened in a few months.
Alcina was studying the statue before her with a displeased frown on her face; it was of a woman twisted in the throes of agony, pinned by two other women with spears running through her shoulders. It was one that had resided in the castle for far too long.
"Every time I think I've seen the ugliest possible statue, a new one turns up that surpasses my expectations." Alcina said, with dismay.
Hilda chuckled with amusement. "Hmm. Cover it in gold leaf and it wouldn't be terrible."
A light, airy laugh from Alcina.
It was intriguing how such a small, old woman spoke to Alcina with such comfort and familiarity; none of the staff who worked there had seen anyone who could boast such a thing. Hilda was a woman who was even given some manner of respect from Alcina as well. She had served her family with the utmost loyalty and honor.
"I think I shall keep this ugly thing covered for now," Alcina said. "What do you think?"
Hilda tilted her head as she studied the statue. "It has history," she told her, "And such things shouldn't be so carelessly tossed away."
Alcina watched her impassively for a few moments before nodding. "Mm, perhaps you're right." A pause and she tilted her head. "Are the girls ready to work?"
"Yes, Mistress."
Alcina's smile was dangerous now and she made a low, thoughtful note before gesturing with one hand. Hilda followed alongside her as she had been trained to do her entire life.
"Come. I will take my bath. I want four of them there and ready."
"As you wish."
O
Sofia sat in the tub, quietly watching the water as it turned a murky brown from the filth she'd accumulated during her trip. Hilda was humming to herself as she trimmed Sofia's hair, ran a brush through it and cleaned her shoulders. The more Hilda looked, the more bruises she noticed on the woman's body. They were marks from fists, possibly. She knew enough of those kinds of marks.
"Someone's been through a bit." she said.
No response.
Well, at least she cleaned nicely; a proper black dress of plain material, hair in a bun and dirt wiped freely from her cheeks. She was thick around her shoulders, built for heavy lifting and farm work. Still, she was healthy and capable, even if she refused to speak a word. Perhaps that didn't matter in the long run.
"Now, if you value your spine, you'll wear these oxfords here and not those broken boots." Hilda offered her a pair of shoes, to which she slipped on right away.
Once Sofia was prepared, Hilda handed her a bucket and several cleaning tools. "Your first task is to clean the main hall floors down to the bare bones." she told her. "You know enough about cleaning, yes?"
Sofia looked at the bristles on the brush before nodding.
"Good. You have two hours before the waiting maid finishes with our Mistress. She is meeting with Mother Miranda then and expects the hall to be pristine."
No questions. No hesitation.
Sofia just quietly made her way to the hall to do as she was told. Hilda made a thoughtful note, shook her head and walked away to perform her own duties. Despite her thoughts about the woman's silence, it was still somewhat curious.
The hours went by quickly and when she returned, she was astonished to find Sofia waiting for her in silence to evaluate her job. Alcina was also making her way down the grand staircase; dressed in her wide hat and white gown. A pampered lady of the castle wearing bright red lipstick, that contrasted sharply with her pale skin.
"Hilda, Mother Miranda will be here in..." Alcina paused, marveled over the cleanliness of the banisters; fingertips rubbing together to find evidence of dust. She looked surprised, as if she didn't expect the girl to have finished and finished so well. "Hmm... Has that girl cleaned this entire hall herself?"
Hilda looked at Sofia, who gave a small nod in response.
"Well, she's a hard worker after all," Alcina lost interest in the discussion as soon as a servant entered; her smile disappeared and she looked severe, perhaps even a touch concerned. "Mother Miranda."
Sofia looked up, watching the woman in question enter the castle. She was dressed in peculiar robes made up of feathers and gold. The little band behind her head resembled a halo. For all her mystery, she radiated power the likes of which everyone bowed down to. She gave gifts and healed the villagers of their sicknesses; if the stories were to be believed, anyway.
Sofia had never seen her before, but she had know of the woman who spoke to the Black God. She was revered by everyone who had forsaken their Christian faith.
Her voice was smooth, her face hidden behind a peculiar mask shaped like a crow's beak. "Alcina." she addressed the larger woman in a professional, though nearly bored manner.
Alcina smiled when she saw her. "Mother Miranda, I have the results for you."
Miranda gave a small nod. It was hard to see her expression.
"We could discuss them over tea, perhaps?" Alcina offered.
That was a hint for Hilda to make her move; she approached a tray with a porcelain tea set. She began to prepare a cup for both Alcina and Miranda as they took a seat by the crackling fireplace. Miranda ran a hand across the couch and made a thoughtful note before focusing her attention onto Alcina.
Yes, she seemed to approve of the cleanliness of the room, at least.
Hilda poured tea for her first and offered it. Miranda took the offering with a thin smile and removed her mask to properly drink it.
"Three girls failed the test," Alcina explained. "Though an interesting change resulted from their physiology and blood. One, however, is unstable, but she seems to demonstrate a constant alertness. I sent her below. She spilled soup."
"Soup." Miranda found the notion curious, albeit disappointing.
She took a sip from her tea, wrinkled her nose with disapproval and rolled her eyes before setting the cup down. Alcina glanced down at the cup, lips parted with uncertainty before she smiled. She didn't seem to like it.
"I have new offerings. Perhaps if I had more to work with?" she questioned.
Miranda seemed to consider that for a moment, her eyes clouding in thought. Something about the idea she seemed to favor; she gave only the smallest of nods and Alcina was happy with that.
"Prepare better tea and we shall see," Miranda said, with a thin smile. "I'm certain I taught you better manners than that."
"Of course, Mother Miranda."
Alcina looked uncomfortable by the words and Sofia knew there would be hell to pay in the kitchen. She was certain of it. The larger woman rose and departed after a nod, ducking beneath the door to make her way toward it in question.
Once she was gone, Hilda looked at Miranda with dismay. "You didn't teach her anything, Vrăjitoare." she said, coldly.
Miranda's eyes were harder than stone. "Pardon me? Are you aware of whom you speak to?"
"I am well aware of what I speak to."
Miranda didn't seem offended by that now and just gave her a sinister smile. "What exactly is your role in the castle? Aside from being an irritant?"
"My family has served the masters of this castle for generations," Hilda continued, evenly. Despite her short size and age, she would not back down from the woman. "I do not take orders from a serpent who worms her way into the garden."
Miranda crowed with laughter and glanced toward Sofia, who seemed interested in the floor all of a sudden. She snapped her fingers toward her and Sofia looked up sharply, alarmed by the attention.
"You! Kindly keep your pet toad under a leash."
"She does not command me and nor do you." Hilda told her. "No matter how much you pretend I'm nothing more than a common animal, I'm a person - with ears. That can hear and see you for what you truly are."
"You recognized yourself there? Good." Miranda said, with a sneer. "Just keep cleaning things, my dear. Don't worry your little head about the rest."
Sofia's expression was troubled, Hilda could see it.
Silly girl. She'd learn eventually what life was like here.
O
There were screams below.
Sofia calmly slept through them, which baffled the other women in the servant's quarters. They couldn't fathom how she slept knowing something terrible was happening right below them. Hilda entered the room with a candelabrum in hand.
"Tomorrow morning, you are to prepare for state dinner." she explained, "Everyone is expected to be awake at four AM and ready to perform their duties. Any later, well..." A thin smile lit her wrinkled face. "Well, don't be late."
And with that, she was gone, casting the room in dark.
While the girls were put to sleep for the evening, Alcina spent time alone pondering in her chambers her next plan. She was surrounded in books, papers and texts. She reached for a roll and the movement of her hands knocked it to the floor.
She cursed out a small "La naiba" under her breath and leaned down to retrieve it. But she stopped at the familiar hand of the old woman, Hilda.
"Ah," Alcina made a small note in her throat, "Hilda. Thank you."
Hilda offered the paper to her and Alcina took it with a nod and a half-smile. Her features were filled with thought and exhaustion.
"You seem troubled, Mistress." Hilda said, evenly.
"Yes, I do have much on my mind as of late," Alcina replied, distracted with a piece of paper.
"Miranda asks too much of you."
Alcina sighed, quite tired. "I don't want to discuss Mother Miranda right now, Hilda."
"As you wish." Hilda made her way toward a tray containing a tea set. "Evening tea?"
Alcina pursed her lips, then her features relaxed and she gave a genuine smile when she was offered the cup by her. "Yes, thank you."
"I added a dash of your favorite stock." Hilda told her.
Alcina murmured with pleasure. "As you do."
She took a sip, shut her eyes and exhaled afterwards. Hilda smiled her approval and gave a nod, pleased to see her Mistress satisfied with it. She returned her attention to her papers with another tired note and Hilda put a hand on her armrest, but no further.
"Don't worry, Mistress. Hilda is here."
The servant's quarters were filled with the new women as they prepared for sleep. Sofia had been laying on her back, watching the ceiling while the others were chattering away. The chambers had been simple, but better than her own farmhouse in the village. The beds were surprisingly comfortable and it wasn't as drafty as she assumed it would be.
"It's going to be hard to sleep."
"Not really. I never had a bed this nice."
"These beds are nice?"
"I used to sleep on the floor."
"Oh..."
Sofia ignored the chatter between the women.
It didn't take long before she found her sleep.
