~O~

Distracting Little Thing

Sofia dusted off the tops of the shelves with Hilda standing at the bottom of the ladder to hold it. She watched the woman with a small smile.

"Good work. Are you ready to learn how to prepare linens? That will be our next task."

Sofia nodded her head. Once she stepped down, Cassandra had appeared into the room with an impatient look on her face.

"Hey, I need you to get me something to drink and send it to my room." she said. "I've hunted every single mouse in this castle and I'm thirsty."

Hilda let out a light chuckle. "Mm, and here I'd considered getting a cat."

Cassandra's eyes narrowed. She didn't seem to like the joke. "I want something to drink. Now."

"Well, ask me nicely and I will."

Sofia's eyes widened and Hilda stood calmly when Cassandra sized her up. "Excuse me?"

"I've lived in this castle longer than you little flies have been alive." Hilda told her, with a smile free of fear, "I do not abide spoiled children."

Cassandra bared her teeth with a sharp hiss. "You do not speak to me like that, you wrinkled old toad!"

"Then how shall I speak to you?"

"WITH RESPECT! I - "

Daniela entered the room now in a swirl of flies, laughing at the scene. "Hm, maybe if you talk a little nicer to her."

Cassandra sighed impatiently. "No. They're the servants, they respect US."

Daniela appeared in front of Sofia, smiling at her. "Actually, I need this one anyway. Mother says you're good at your work and I want the best!"

Sofia blinked, smiling a little. "Okay." she said. "D-Do you..."

She stuttered with her words and Cassandra mocked her, speaking in the same pattern. Daniela shot her a look.

"Come on, Cass, don't be mean," she chided, "Get a drink from mother and play nice. You get what you want better that way."

Cassandra rolled her eyes impatiently. The flies around her body formed into a cloud and she disappeared from the room. Hilda made a face, shaking her head.

"Mmm, it's so disappointing being underestimated as you grow old." she said, dryly.

Daniela looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry. She's just upset because mother told her she can't eat everyone because we're short on staff. We have to have some of you around to do the work for us, after all."

Sofia looked at Daniela and the red-haired woman grinned at her. "Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you." she said, with a playful laugh. "Unless you ask me to."

A little blush lit Sofia's cheeks and Daniela studied her with a tilt of her head and a smile. "Aww, you're blushing. How cute."

Hilda sighed. "Did you need something, Miss. Daniela?"

"Yes, actually. Mother's been looking for that necklace." Daniela continued. "Have you seen it around?"

A look from Sofia and Hilda shook her head in response.

"No. I'm afraid not." Hilda replied.

"Aww. I was hoping to find it before Bela did." Daniela complained, with a huff.

Hilda shook her head. "Well, we will find it in time. I assure you." she said. A sigh followed. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm going to take this and I will see you when you're ready, little goat."

Sofian nodded in response.

Hilda muttered to herself, retrieving the ladder and making her way out of the room with them, turning into another direction. Sofia could hear a pause, followed by Hilda yelling at another maid.

"Girl, do you have snow in your ears?" she snapped. "Didn't your mother teach you how to properly polish silver? I swear it, I'm going to be dead in the ground before you learn how to do this properly!"

Sofia looked at Daniela, who smiled at her with a light giggle before departing, leaving her alone in the library.

O

Alcina read the story while her three daughters lay themselves around her on the chaise lounge. A fire crackled nearby, warming them all the while Hilda watched by the doorway, waiting for her to finish with her tale.

"...I would have just eaten her."

"Yes, me too."

Alcina let out a warm chuckle, shaking her head at her daughter's words. "Alright then, time for sleep." she told them. "Tomorrow, we have training. I want all of you refreshed and ready."

"Yes, mother." they said, together.

Alcina looked up at Hilda briefly and nodded once. The older woman understood the gesture and stepped toward a table to pour tea. The three girls departed in little clouds of flies. Hilda watched them go before approaching Alcina with a cup of tea.

"Thank you, Hilda." she said. "Oh, those girls are quite a handful. Today, I found Cassandra gnawing away at one of the maids. I had to scold her, of course. The girl lacks control, though her ferocity makes for a fine hunter. Still, I'd rather not go through the entire staff in one night."

Hilda smiled at her and Alcina gestured for her to sit beside her on the lounge. They watched the fire together in silence for a moment.

"I'm glad of it, Mistress. You have new blood to care for under your wing," Hilda said, "It's what you've wanted."

Alcina made a small note in her throat, taking a sip of the tea before setting it down. It was a point of pride for her and Hilda could see it.

"I've been teaching her," Hilda continued, "The girl you're avoiding."

A small start from the larger woman at her side. Alcina's brow wrinkled and she stared down at Hilda in dismay.

"What?" she snapped. "You believe I'm avoiding that little dull creature?"

"Mistress, I've known you for a long time," Hilda remarked, with amusement, "I was there when your mother birthed you. I know when you're upset or you can't understand something, you avoid it with other distractions."

A long, aggravated sigh was her response. "I should just have turned her into cheap wine and been done with it."

A small laugh in response. "What a waste of a good servant that would be."

Alcina frowned at her, but made no response. Instead, she sighed and rose. "I'm going to my study, Hilda." she said, evenly.

"As you wish, Mistress."

Alcina departed, making her way down the halls. Servants were parting for her, but she paid them no mind as she entered her study, taking a seat at the expansive desk littered with papers and books. She had a schedule to maintain; meetings after meetings followed her training with the girls.

Sighing, she reached into her desk and frowned somewhat, noticing a wooden angel laying inside of it. Her expression softened when she became familiar with the carving.

Oh, of course. What was this still doing here?

"'Cina?"

Seeing her face made her grin as she popped up from behind the horse. The farm girl, Miriam was stepping out of her house, features bright when she saw her. It always lit up her soft, gentle features in such beautiful ways.

"I didn't think you'd come." Miriam said.

"Hilda helped me sneak out." Alcina assured her. "Oh! Have you eaten?"

Miriam shook her head and she brightened when Alcina offered her a wrapped pastry.

"I ate mine on the way here. It's good. Hilda knows how to prepare food."

"Thank you!" Miriam began to eat the treat. "This is good. You get to eat this every day?"

Alcina let out a laugh. "Only when I want. Hilda's very kind to me."

Miriam's eyes lit up. "Oh! I've made something for you." she told her. "One moment. I'll go get it."

"A gift? For me?"

Miriam raced back into her house and Alcina followed her inside. Miriam had finished her treat rather quickly, wiped her mouth and appeared once again with a wooden carving of an angel in her hand. She offered it to Alcina and the other girl looked at it, surprised.

"I've been taking up making wooden carvings," Miriam explained, with a proud smile, "I plan to sell them and make enough money to leave the village. I thought you'd like this angel to watch over you while you're up there in the castle."

"You want to leave?" Alcina's voice had softened, almost wounded.

Miriam scratched the back of her head. "Well, I didn't expect you to follow me." she said, quietly. "You have your glamorous life in the castle and I'm just a farm girl who constantly seems to get you into trouble with your family."

"That is nothing. I would get into trouble simply because I exist." Alcina argued, with a frown.

Miriam sighed through her nose, then smiled hopefully. "Do you like it?"

Alcina looked down at the angel and smiled back in return. "I adore it. You have some skill. Perhaps I could always have a place with you if...you feel so inclined to have me."

Miriam lit up with a grin. "Really?"

"Yes, really. I would cherish the thought of leaving this wretched castle."

They embraced, laughing together and sharing a kiss.

Alcina stared at the little wooden angel carving before she looked at the fireplace. With a simple toss into it, the thing was burned in seconds.

She watched it with an empty expression on her face.

Why was her mother right?

Why was she constantly distracted by farm girls?

She would correct that. She would do that now.

O

Sofia was cleaning the room when she came upon the closet filled with various clothes and coats. They were far too small for her Mistress to wear and certainly not to her tastes. She assumed they'd belonged to her mother. Maybe this was a dressing room of some sort. Most of these rooms were unfamiliar to her and she was learning slowly what life was like with the upper class of Castle Dimitrescu.

It had been days since she'd laid eyes on Alcina; most of the time, she'd seen her daughters who had passed the halls, were trained how to kill and learn proper ettiquete. She found that they enjoyed tormenting the maids, but had grown bored of Sofia's lack of reaction and paid no attention to her. That was how it went throughout the passing days.

Alcina had never dared a passing glance in her direction. She didn't think much about it. Her father had died and she'd made it her point to kill him. Sofia had felt nothing in his death and she considered it a kind gesture. But Alcina had not spoken of it since then.

Are you broken, love? Why can't you say anything?

Sofia snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed a grey fur coat and smiled a little, tilting her head and running her hand across it. It was nice, reminding her of her mother's. It hadn't been nearly as fancy as this, but just as comfortable.

She couldn't help herself and retrieved it from the closet, putting it on and admiring herself in the mirror. It made her giggle as she lost herself in the sweet memories of her. The smell of it was old, musty, but the feel of the fur against her cheeks brought that familiar content.

My little hummingbird.

Sofia grinned, turning.

The joy fell from her face, replaced with wide-eyed shock and horror when she saw Alcina sitting at the bed, watching her with a thin smile and eyebrows arched at the spectacle. She hadn't heard her come in. She hadn't even sensed how long she'd been there. She had been so lost in her own mind.

Sofia quickly removed the coat, sputtering out nonsense that was an attempt at an apology. Alcina rose, shushing her with a soft laugh to follow.

"Grey isn't your color, draga." she said, still amused.

She watched her as she kept her gaze lowered, noticed the bright red flush on her cheeks. Licking her lips, she continued.

"I called for you. You didn't come. How unlike you, little goat."

"S-Sorry." Sofia told her. "I..."

Alcina retrieved the coat, returned it to the closet before turning to her. She made a thoughtful note and felt her jaw clench. The stirring in her chest returned when her voice emerged, though clumsy and weak as it was.

"You like to play dress up, I see." she said, clearing her throat against the dryness. She'd fed earlier. She didn't comprehend what it was.

Sofia smiled nervously. "M-Maybe."

Her eyes were focused on her more than they'd ever been in those days. Sofia wasn't sure why the look made her cheeks warm. She felt herself lowering her eyes, but blinked, stunned when a hand went beneath her small jaw, lifting her head to look up at her Mistress.

The flush of blood to her face. It made Alcina's eyes narrow, sharply focused on the redness of her cheeks and she marveled how red was a much better color on her. Her thumb had brushed across the corner of Sofia's mouth. The action had darkened her eyes and that look had returned to her; the same look from her bathing chambers. The one that wanted to know her, to understand.

Earlier, she had chosen to meet her in this room. Spill her blood from her pretty little neck and been done with the frivolous distractions. It would have been quick as well; no pain, no need for suffering. Just a quick meal and a clear head. She would sink her teeth into her flesh, drink every last drop of sweet blood that pulsed in her veins.

But when she watched Sofia look at herself in the mirror; she saw that dull creature light up the very room with her smile. Her laughter and her delight in such silly things had paused Alcina from her goal, watched her with a thin smile of her own. She had been astonished by it for a second; after all, she never looked that way before. Her heart had changed and now, she sought to know what it truly was that made her little maid special.

Removing her hand with a small note of frustration, she watched Sofia return to reality, a bit confused by the change. It didn't last as Alcina had put on that cool, glib persona once more.

Still, she didn't enjoy not understanding what it was that made Sofia different. Surely it was just her blood and nothing more.

Alcina looked at Sofia as she studied herself in the vanity mirror. She didn't know quite what had compelled her to talk with her, sit near her as she took in the soft, delicate scents of the younger woman. Whatever the case, the pounding headache had ceased, but the way her mouth watered had returned.

"Pretty." Sofia said.

Alcina had snapped out of her thoughts for the moment, giving a small laugh. "Well, yes. Perhaps there is a pretty look about you." she admitted, "I've seen much worse."

It earned a look from Sofia, perplexed by the compliment. "No. You."

Alcina's eyebrows shot up. There was an innocence to her words that made her chest clench, her eyes harden as she brought up walls around her. She had begun to feel far too vulnerable.

"I'm aware of my looks, little goat." she told her, with a small edge now.

Sofia's enthusiasm deflated and her expression was one that she'd had before when she'd arrived; acceptance and silence. Alcina found that she didn't like that. She didn't want to see that look again, especially when she was near her.

And that only frustrated her more.

Sofia had been writing something down and she frowned, watching the hand quickly scribble down the notes, then Sofia's expression. When the young woman held up the pad to her, she took it in hand to read her writing.

IT WAS BAD TO SAY SO?

Alcina sighed, rolling her eyes and slapping the pad back into her hands. "No, not necessarily so," she argued, "I don't... Well, there aren't many who deliver such genuine praise. I simply want to understand the things that make you...tick."

Sofia thought about it before she wrote something down on the paper again. This message was quicker and she held it up hesitantly to Alcina again.

I'M NOT SPECIAL.

Alcina's features smoothed out, taken by the self-deprecation. She frowned now, staring at her in silence as she attempted to understand the little goat.

She had drawn herself closer to her without realizing; her nose was barely an inch from her soft throat beneath her ear. Her breath was close enough to raise goosebumps along Sofia's skin and she listened for that racing beat of her heart; the way it happened always with the women she had claimed.

But Sofia's pulse was steady and soft in her senses; a quiet, rhythmic sound in her ears. Alcina had been able to smell and taste the slightest change in a woman when it came to being in her presence. It made her eyes close, attempting to find and comprehend what made her so calm in her presence.

Sofia's expression was difficult to see. But she did not seem to resist when Alcina reached up now with one large hand closing around her waist. Again, no resistance from Sofia and she frowned, confused by it. Her jaw ached, her thoughts filled with blood.

(Tear her apart.)

Her mouth watered. But Sofia didn't resist her.

Alcina hissed sharply, giving her a shove that nearly knocked her to the floor. She blinked, staring up at her and found the taller woman had already risen, rubbing her temples with one hand. She looked dazed, her eyes a brighter yellow as she fought control.

"Go." she hissed, voice thicker. "Now!"

Sofia nodded, immediately leaving the room without question. Alcina was left with dizzying sensations stinging behind her eyes, a throbbing headache and the creature twisting about in the cage.

She let out a scoff, unable to comprehend her own folly.

This was ridiculous.

O

Sofia was lying in the grass, listening to the wind, feeling the breeze on her face.

She saw the dark surrounding her, the eyes watching. White fur covered in blood, yellow eyes belonging to a bat-like creature stalking toward her. It watched with hunger in its stare, licking its muzzle of fresh red blood. Now it would have more.

But Sofia shed no tears for the fate soon to befall her. Instead, she reached up when she felt its shadow looming, hands threading through thick, wet fur. She was welcomed by the familiar scents of perfume and cigarettes. Such a creature shouldn't have smelled that way, but she yearned for it. She welcomed its embrace.

Its tongue trailed a long, aching path around her neck and collar, voice rumbling out, filling her head with its hungry fire.

"Little bird..."

She didn't know how it spoke, but that its voice was everywhere around her; in her head, all over her body.

"Please..." Sofia whispered, against the bat's large ear.

A roll through the creature's enormous frame, something of a tremble. It breathed shakily, letting out an almost human moan that would make the strongest men alive blush.

It seemed to shed its great fur, replaced with soft, white flesh and when Sofia looked up, it was Alcina staring down at her with dark, heavy eyes and fangs displayed in a hungry smile.

Sofia's hands reached up to cup her cheeks as much as she could and Alcina's lips parted, almost as if shocked by the gesture. She leaned her cheek into one, eyes glowing a bright yellow.

She leaned forward toward her neck, paused and looked at Sofia, eyes a question. She said nothing, but she didn't have to.

Sofia nodded her consent and simply urged her toward her neck.

Alcina's mouth smoothed over the softness of her skin, savoring that warmth and pulse thrumming beneath it. Her lips parted and she sank her teeth deep into the delicate flesh, drawing a soft grunt from Sofia. She tensed instinctively, but eventually relaxed with a soft sigh.

She smiled, body pulsating beneath the larger woman as she watched the moon above them. Throbs of heat filled her and she listened to the little moans from Alcina while she fed.

This was nice.

She never felt so content and safe.

Sofia shut her eyes with a smile, embracing her as much as she could while she let her take what she wanted. Alcina had cupped her cheek in one larger hand, as if to cherish her. She wanted to believe that, really. That she was worthy enough to be cherished.

It was a nice thought.

Even if she knew it never would be true.