~O~

Maternal Heart

Dark lips.

Pale flesh.

Alcina watched with awe as the flies took form, her features changing ever so slightly when the flies had begun shifting into human female shapes once more. The changes were extraordinary and she'd wondered if Miranda had been thinking on that as well after she'd made her report; how the flies had been born from the parasite that had been placed into their heads. So far, Miranda had little to say, but wished only to see what became of them in the passing days.

She dared admit to herself that she was filled with a sense of excitement.

Still, her other duties needed tending to. Between her wine business, her matters with Mother Miranda, there was much to do and distractions she had to keep from.

The little maid had passed her in the kitchen and she was welcomed by the scents of fresh powders and soaps. Typically, she wasn't so focused on how they tended to their morning routines. But after she looked at Sofia, the smell of her blood came rushing back into her mind.

The sweetness of it. The way it stirred fire and made her mouth water.

A little goat. An insipid thing.

And yet, she held dark curiosity in her eyes for her. Alcina had not been blind to the way she watched her bathe in blood. Maids and maidens alike looked away and feared it. They knew what that meant when she'd shown interest in them.

Sofia seemed to make an effort to read something outloud while in the main dining hall, but her voice came out in a most unfortunate stutter. Hilda had been there, gesturing to her own lips to help Sofia read them properly.

"That." she said, enunciating the word.

"T-Th..." Sofia attempted.

"That." Hilda said, with a little annoyance; as if she were an impudent animal needing to obey a simple command. "Come now. It's a simple word. Try again."

Sofia smiled nervously at that. She swallowed thickly, hissed out with frustration as she struggled to move her lips to the words.

"That...is...all." Hilda spoke the words slowly, putting emphasis on the way her lips moved.

Sofia seemed to focus intently on her lips and how they formed the words. It was startling to see on someone who normally had such a dull, blank and emotionless expression most of the time. Perhaps that, too, had been a part of her father's abuse.

"Th-That..." Sofia managed, with great effort. Her voice was softer. "Is...A-All?"

Hilda grinned. "Good! A suitable effort, I suppose. I - Oh, Mistress. Good morning."

She noticed Alcina standing there, watching them with an unreadable expression on her face. She stood up, gestured to Sofia.

"The little goat was making due effort," Hilda explained, "to learn proper speech."

"Has she now?"

Sofia managed an embarrassed smile in return.

Alcina gave her a toothy smile that made Sofia's cheeks darken.

Interesting.

The woman had been dull, though pretty in her own way; but Alcina had caught lingering stares, lack of fear and devotion to her work. She was curious as well, the smell of her blood filling her head so sweetly. What dull thing yielded such?

"Well, you're going to have to work at it, little goat." Hilda was addressing Sofia. "Until then, if you want, take this."

She offered a pad and pen, to which made Sofia light up with a smile. It drew a small titter of amusement from Alcina and she tilted her head. She watched the various emotions on the woman's face; the way she seemed to flush, her dull eyes lighting up.

"Well then, if I'd know a pad of paper was all it took, I would have given that to you sooner," Hilda quipped. "You farm girls, I swear it..."

Sofia immediately wrote something down and held it up to them.

THANK YOU.

"Alright then, off you go." Alcina dismissed her with a single wave of her hand. "I must speak with Hilda alone."

A bow from Sofia and she made her way off to carry out her duties. Alcina turned her attention to Hilda, raising an eyebrow.

"You've grown attached to the little one, haven't you?" she said.

Hilda let out a small laugh. "Well, she is rather pitiful." she replied. "Still, the girl works hard and has yet to fail me. She has far more use than some of these little lambs."

Yes, Alcina could agree that the girl did prove to be hard working and diligent. She barely paid much mind to that when her thoughts were distracted by that smell. The blood that ran through her veins. It wasn't often such sweetness lingered.

The fog in her head returned. She had to focus. She had to take her mind from the woman.

Fortunately, she sensed something else change within her. When she had changed from the Cadou, many changes and benefits had come with it. She could sense things and smell blood if it had been spilt from the other side of the castle.

But this? This was peculiar. This was a sense that something else was connecting to her. Something that she'd never felt before.

O

Mother Miranda and Hilda stood there, watching the three women breathing. Their chests slowly rose and fell in a gentle pattern. Their Cadou scars looked to have healed since being placed, though it left an unsightly discoloring to their pale flesh.

"Incredible..." Alcina whispered, in awe.

Hilda knelt down to the blonde-haired woman. "They will wake soon." she said. "Not much longer now. What is it you sense, Mistress?"

The blonde-haired woman's eyes opened and she slowly sat up. Alcina was silent, watching as the other two followed suit. They were looking down at their hands, their bodies before looking at one another. Their expressions were one of curiosity and awe.

Alcina felt it then. The connection with them. Many feelings came to her that she'd never believed were possible in her life; the bond of motherhood. They were hers and she was driven then to keep them safe and alive.

Her mother surely missed such a feeling. She would not.

"Who..." the red-haired girl spoke. "Where are we?"

The blonde looked up at Alcina. "Are you...are mother?"

Alcina blinked, eyes widening at the question. A warmth came to her chest and she smiled tenderly, nodding and kneeling down to reach out and embrace them. Her arms were vast enough to circle all three girls and bring them close.

"Yes, I am." she told them. "I am your mother."

A few laughs of relief from the girls made her heart swell. She looked up at Hilda, who smiled a little now. When she pulled away and looked down at them, she studied their faces; they looked at her like precious little newborns.

"Do you remember your names?" Alcina asked.

An exchange of confused looks from each of them; they murmured in confusion, shaking their heads. It intrigued Alcina that none of them remembered the women they had used to be. It would seem their transformation had changed them entirely.

"No. What's my name?" the red-head asked.

"Daniela."

A happy smile lit her lips. The other two looked at Alcina expectantly and she indicated the blonde with one finger.

"Bela."

Then, to the final girl. "Cassandra."

They grinned at one another, delighted at the prospect of having names now. And even more so that Alcina was their mother.

It made Hilda's expression soften in surprise.

Hilda watched Alcina writing that early morning. She was bringing the young girl tea on a tray as she sat down on the balcony.

"Little Mistress, I brought you tea." she announced.

"Thank you, Hilda." Alcina said. She looked up at her. "Are you tired? Do you want to sit?"

Hilda smiled and took a seat beside her. The younger Mistress of the house often cared for her wellbeing compared to the Lady.

"I was writing a song." Alcina told her.

"A song?" Hilda brightened. "How lovely. What is it about?"

"I'm not certain yet. Maybe about birds. It's easier."

A little laugh from Hilda and Alcina glanced at her before giggling as well.

"The Lady of the House is planning the Christmas party," Hilda told her, after a moment. "It must be exciting to meet your family after all these years."

A noncommittal shrug from Alcina. The thought of joining the party didn't seem to please her much. "I don't know anyone there."

"I see."

Then, she looked up at Hilda. "Do you have family?"

"Yes. I have a mother named Bela." Hilda explained.

"Where is she?"

"She died of cancer years ago." Hilda explained.

Alcina's nose wrinkled sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you, but you mustn't trouble yourself over it, Little Mistress."

"Anyone else?"

Hilda laughed softly. "You want to know about my family?" she asked, a little surprised. No one in the House seemed as interested in the staff. Only Alcina ever wanted to know.

"Yes. I like you, Hilda. I don't know anything about you."

"Oh!" Hilda straightened where she sat. "My parents are Bela and Karl Stratford. I was close to my mother. I had two siblings. Cassandra and Daniela. They took care of me when I was a child. I loved them dearly."

"Where are they now?"

"Dead as well. In the winter months, they succumbed to the cold."

Alcina looked at her sadly. "Really? So you're what's left?"

Hilda's eyes misted. "I'm afraid so, Little Mistress."

"That's sad."

"...it is."

"Maybe that'll change someday."

A light laugh from Hilda. "Perhaps."

Hilda's eye softened now and she chuckled quietly to herself. She said nothing on the names of choice. She didn't want it to be ruined. Perhaps a part of her Mistress remembered that.

A maid called for Alcina and it seemed to snap something within Cassandra. She looked up sharply with a feral hiss, vanishing in a swirl of flies that ascended up the stairs. They heard the hiss shoot up in volume to a snarl and the maid's scream, followed by ripping flesh.

Alcina quickly made her way up and found Cassandra in the middle of feeding from the maid's throat. Daniela and Bela stared at her, mouths salivating before they joined in for the meal. Alcina watched with a grin and Hilda wrinkled her nose with dismay.

"Ugh, messy eaters, these ones." she quipped.

Alcina approached them and Daniela looked up at her, wide-eyed and smiling with her mouth shining of blood. She held up her hand to her mother.

"Want some?" she asked, with a grin.

Alcina's look softened as she watched them feed. Hilda could see the genuine love and adoration in her eyes; a wonderful change to the woman who carried a forlorn expression on her face throughout the day.

Her children.

At last.

O

"Turn."

Bela turned upon her mother's request.

Alcina observed the girls now that they had been properly dressed in black robes. Hair combed, cleaned and properly ready to meet Mother Miranda. She had to confess a certain excitement now that she had them with her. Now that she was a mother.

Hilda was happy for her as well; it had been all that they'd talked about. Alcina had wanted something that was hers. Something that she could teach and extend to the bloodline of House Dimitrescu. But, of course, she could not conceive a child herself, under the circumstances.

"Hairstyle, it will do," Alcina murmured, "Hilda, take notes. I want to keep them ready for when Mother Miranda arrives."

Hilda nodded her head and retrieved another pad from her apron.

"Eyes? The same reaction as my own to hunger." Alcina said, "And lovely."

Bela smiled, happy with the comparison.

"And their appetites are the same," Hilda remarked.

Alcina was proud of that. Daniela grinned and seemed to shift where she stood, unable to stand still. Hilda caught sight of it.

"That little dance you're doing," she said. "Is that a sort of nervous disorder?"

"No!" Daniela told her. "I'm just excited!"

Hilda made a thoughtful note and scribbled notes down on the pad. Alcina had begun to see that each one had a personality all their own. They mostly shared physical attributes, but they were different in their own, unique way.

She dared admit an excitement. She had daughters now; three perfect daughters of whom she could mold and teach. She could surpass her mother in every regard. She would.

"I'm hungry."

Alcina looked up at Cassandra. Her ferocious little hunter. They were young, unformed and craved death with all the demands of a child. She admired that, but she sought to preserve her family image as well. If they were to learn how to kill, they would do so properly.

"Of course you want more, darling," she assured her, "But we do not blindly kill the staff unless they earn it. You must learn restraint if you are to feed."

Cassandra wasn't happy with the answer, but her mother's words were true.

She knew that. Good.

"After Mother Miranda visits us," Alcina continued, "You may have whatever your heart's desire."

"Yes, Mother."

O

Sofia struggled to practice the words on the paper.

Her voice caught, stuttering in the back of her throat as she hissed out "I'm...sorry". Irina had entered the servant's quarters when she had heard the words spill out from Sofia's lips.

"What are you sorry for?" she asked.

Sofia looked up at her, wrinkled her nose. She gestured to the paper, then huffed with disappointment. Irina didn't seem to understand until she approached and looked down at the written instructions in Hilda's handwriting.

"What, is it the work?" she asked. "I could help, if you'd like."

Sofia hesitated, then shook her head. She looked at her helplessly, scribbled something down before holding it up to her. Irina frowned, leaned forward to read it before she blinked, astonished by the words on the paper.

"Oh... I see." she said, "Well, that does explain a lot, really. I just thought you were shy."

She laughed a little, then made a face when she realized that Sofia wasn't laughing.

"I'm sorry, that was probably rude to joke like that."

Sofia shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice came out in a terrible stutter and her features twisted with effort.

"B-Bad." she stammered. "Per...son."

"What?" Irina laughed in disbelief. "No, you're not. You work harder than anyone here and you do such a good job. Not being able to talk doesn't make you bad. It makes your father bad for doing that to you." A pause. "News travels fast. We all heard about it."

Sofia smiled, anguished and somewhat at ease by her assurance.

"Don't worry." Irina offered, with a smile. "Maybe I can help. I had a little brother who had speech problems, too. It'll be okay."

Sofia nodded, her eyes misting. She wiped them on the back of her hand.

"Okay, so...let's try something simple..." Irina offered. "Colors."

A nod from Sofia.

Irina picked up a blue cup. "Blue."

Sofia squinted at it, watching her lips as she pronounced the word. "Blue." she attempted.

Irina smiled brightly. "Good!"

She reached over and retrieve an apple, holding it up to her. Sofia nodded, her eyes darting around hesitantly before she opened her mouth.

"A...App...le." she managed.

"Good!" Irina laughed. "I think you should start with smaller syllable words first. Before you know it, you'll be fluent in no time."

A hesitant smile from Sofia. "Th-Thank...y-you."

The sound of the bell came and the two women immediately rose to make their way into the great hall. Alcina was there waiting for them with her three daughters standing beside her. They were eyeing the maids with smiles that were no means friendly.

Alcina had begun addressing the crowd, but Sofia hadn't been listening this time. She only watched her, smiling a little and distracted with how she glowed with warmth and pride. Something had changed in her Mistress now that she had daughters. It made her glow in such a way that brought a beauty to her she had never seen before.

It also brought the flush to her cheeks again and she couldn't help but lower her eyes.

The action was caught by Alcina in the middle of her discussion and she wrinkled her brow somewhat, but didn't stop speaking.