~O~
Coventry Carol
The meeting took an age and Alcina had grown weary listening to Karl speaking. It was like enduring the chatter of a stupid animal. Salvatore was offering something, but her mind was on returning to the castle. She didn't like leaving her daughters alone when they couldn't venture out with the weather being as cruel as it was.
Once the weather warmed, she looked forward to the passing season filled with hunting and blood. She would be glad to share that with her daughters.
Meanwhile, Sofia had found herself buried in boxes of things and old decorations. The three Dimitrescu daughters had watched her while she worked, offering their own opinions on the matter, but little in the ways of help, of course.
"This is a mess." Cassandra griped.
Hilda nodded her head. "Indeed. Well, these old decorations were used often during parties the older Lady of the House would host."
"Parties?" Daniela grinned, interested.
"Yes, quite lavished ones." Hilda explained, with a small laugh. "I've seen many come and go, and many drunken dukes attempting to court your mother. To no avail, of course. One instance, she pushed a man into a pool and several of the Lord's dogs chased him soaking wet through the courtyard."
"Oh!" Bela plucked a string of decorations made up of feathers. "What's this?"
Hilda looked up at it. "Those are Christmas decorations." she told her. "Mistress wasn't fond of the holiday seasons, so we haven't really looked at them in some time."
"What did you do on Christmas?" Daniela asked, sitting beside Hilda.
"Well, host feasts," Hilda explained, with a small shrug of her shoulders. "I was in charge of preparing Mistress for the events, though she hated them. I baked a lot of good dessert for the guests. There were gifts and stories."
Sofia smiled at her. "A-Ask?" she questioned.
"Hm? Ask what?" Hilda wasn't looking at her, but a list in her hands. She frowned up at the other woman and made a face. "Oh. Oh no."
"Mother wouldn't want it." Bela admitted, making a face. "But a party does sound fun."
Hilda looked at Sofia when she picked up a leather-bound book with several markings of birds and stars. She watched as she turned it in her hands for study.
"That was the old storybook." Hilda told her. "I used to read it to our Lady when she was little. Her mother was usually drinking off somewhere."
Sofia's smile warmed a little.
"Maybe we can ask mother for a party." Daniela suggested, with a smile to her sisters. "We've never had one before! It might be fun!"
Hilda made a face, rolling her eye. She gestured to Sofia. "I've much work to do planning another meeting with the Duke about the wine deliveries. You four can waste time with this nonsense if you'd like."
Daniela grinned at Sofia. "Come! Let's go find her!"
She took Sofia's hand, earning a grunt of surprise. The other two followed her as they made their way through the castle to find Alcina. They nearly ran over several maids in the process and Sofia tried to sputter out an apology before they found themselves in the dining hall. Alcina was there, studying the breakfast preparations of the table.
Alcina glanced up at them, smiling when she saw her daughters. "Girls, you look excited." she said. "What are you up to?"
Sofia glanced down at the book in hand and held it up to her. "Christmas." she told her.
Alcina frowned and took the book, studying every detail of it. The memories were clearly coming back to her and she pursed her lips, as if tasting something foul. Bela glanced briefly at Sofia and rolled her eyes before speaking.
"What our wordsmith here is trying to say," she said, "Hilda told us about the parties you used to have and we were hoping we could have a Christmas party here."
Alcina looked up sharply at them, as if she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. The look came and went quickly and she cleared her throat delicately, offering the book back to Sofia without so much as a second glance to her.
"I don't care to engage in such things," she admitted, "However, you girls haven't had a chance to experience it. It would be remiss of me to deny you the simplest pleasures."
They were happy with the idea, but Sofia could see her Mistress was not. She hid it well behind a forced smile. Something did not make her happy about it.
O
A simple stroke of the brush soothed her.
Alcina worked on the painting of a woman astride a large white bat; a closer look revealed that she was without clothes. Hilda had walked in just in time to witness her painting nipples. She gave a small, short laugh.
"Still at it with those finger paintings?" she quipped.
"The difference between my mother's taste in art and mine is that I have some." Alcina said, with a funny face.
"Yes, of that we are of one mind."
Alcina looked down at her briefly, wrinkled her brow somewhat. "I had a dream."
"Really?" Hilda's brows rose. That wasn't something that happened often.
"I was flying," Alcina told her. "I saw my wings. Felt the air on my face." Her tone took on a softer, reverent pitch. "I don't dream as I have no need of sleep. But I simply felt myself relaxing and closed my eyes for a moment."
Hilda listened intently, watching her Mistress' thoughtful expressions as she painted. The warmth came and went quickly; she shook her head and looked down at Hilda again.
"My daughters are excited for Christmas." she said. "I suppose I owe you a debt of gratitude for the hideous decor in my kitchen?"
Hilda laughed a little. "Yes. But they're happy. They're working on gifts as we speak."
"Oh! Well, I certainly cannot wait to see what they have planned."
Alcina sat at the dining table, fidgeting in her chair.
She wasn't listening to her father's discussion with several of the men at the table. She was focused now on the decorations of the holidays; the maids had done quite well with everything and the food smelled delicious. She just hated being there.
"...something Picasso." her mother was saying. "He won't amount to much. Really. Well, at least they were cheap."
Hilda approached the table and poured out a glass of wine for her mother. A dismissive wave when she was finished. She continued making her way around the table and caught Alcina's stare. She smiled reassuringly, making the young girl feel better for it.
Once they departed, Alcina was cursing with irritation while Hilda led her into the kitchen. "What I wouldn't give for some proper wine." she huffed.
Hilda chuckled. "Yes, our steward is a sadistic little man who is trying to kill us."
"It's more like vinegar, really."
"It could be worse. It could be a Cabernet Sauvignon."
Alcina wrinkled her nose. "Disgusting. I'd be forced to hurt someone for that."
When she entered the kitchen with Hilda, she looked outside the window and noticed the snow. It looked rather lovely.
"At least that is something calming." Alcina said, quietly.
"Yes, little Mistress." Hilda agreed. "Oh! I...have a gift for you."
Alcina lit up at faced her. "Really?"
"Yes, in the spirit of the holidays, I thought I'd give you something," Hilda turned, departed for a moment. When she returned, she was holding a cheaply made box. "I understand it isn't elegant, but I had this made and saved quite a bit of my earnings for it."
Alcina grinned, opening the box. A necklace was stored inside of it; a band with charms and a stone. Two of which resembled swords and a few charms that looked like they were missing something. Still, it was a nice gift.
"Thank you, Hilda." she said. "It's quite nice! Oh, wait. I have an idea."
Hilda followed her up the stairs to her chambers and watched as she retrieved a choker from her jewelry box. She fitted it to the necklace and gestured for her to clasp it around her neck. Hilda did just that and Alcina grinned, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Perfect!" she said. "I like it."
Hilda beamed with pride. "I am happy to hear that!"
O
"No... No..."
Sofia was holding up several different ornaments to Bela, letting the elder Dimitrescu daughter choose from them to place on the walls. One was of an owl and the other a goat and Bela wrinkled her face at the sight of them.
"Ugh, neither one." she said.
Sofia smiled a little, amused and deposited them back into the chest.
"Pretty things." Sofia eventually said, when she noticed something in the chest. She held up two dragon decorations adorned with gemstones.
Bela smiled and took them. "Well, these are lovely. I will show them to mother. Come along."
Sofia was confused, but followed Bela without question. The two women walked down the halls and Bela looked briefly to Sofia, watching her scribble something down on a pad of paper.
"Words are still hard for you." Bela replied.
Sofia nodded her head. "S-Sorry."
"Well, something about you has my mother's attention." Bela said, her tone dry and bordering on condescending. When she caught the look, she sighed. "Please. The rest of us have noticed it enough. She doesn't act right around you. It's like you're diseased or something."
Sofia looked pained by that.
"Wait, you're not diseased, are you?"
"No."
"Good." Bela looked pleased with that.
Sofia didn't speak now and simply tucked the notepad back into her pocket. Bela noticed the thoughtful look on her face. There seemed to be a shred of guilt there, though the eldest daughter didn't understand why that was. She didn't even know why her mother didn't just kill her and call it a day. But then again, Sofia was a useful and hardworking maid. It would have been a waste.
"Oh, it was a tawdry affair really." They could make out Alcina's discussion with Daniela and Cassandra in the main hall. "An attempt to bed the Viscount and mother went redder than this Château Lafite when I herded away the Viscountess for the evening."
A chorus of laughter from her listeners. When the two women entered the hall, they found Hilda there as well, sharing a laugh.
"I would get it quite often at court." Alcina continued, "They get used to disappointment. Courtiers always do."
"Mother. We've found these little bat ornaments." Bela presented them to her by gesturing to Sofia. "Can we use these for the decorations?"
"Oh!" Alcina lit up now at the sight of them, grinning and approaching. "I remember these! They were custom made by a jeweler in London. I loved dragons. They are darling creatures, aren't they?"
Bela smiled and Sofia was happy to hear that as well. Her Mistress seemed in better spirits for it.
"Why do you have two?" Daniela asked, when her mother handed her one to look at.
"Oh. One for me and one for..." She trailed off now, her features clouding in deep thought as a memory clearly came to her regarding the dragons. Lips pursed, eyes darkening and mood souring somewhat.
Hilda knew the look.
"Well, for someone else no longer with us." Alcina smiled with greater effort now, offering the one in her hand to Bela. "You may do with them what you wish."
Sofia's brow knotted at the change in her tone.
But nothing more was said.
Bela knew something was wrong. She glanced down at Sofia, who had seemed interested in the ornament all of a sudden.
O
Irina and Sofia were working on setting the table.
Sofia practiced a few sentences as she did, the stutter in her voice making it difficult for her. But Irina was patient with her.
"The-The plate isn't clean." Sofia said, holding up one of the plates and revealing a little speck of food stuck to it.
Irina's eyes widened in surprise and she took it. "How'd I miss that?"
Sofia made a face. "Bad if found."
"Yes. I agree." Irina replied, with a grimace of her own.
Irina set the plate aside to clean it later. She glanced at Sofia, watching her for a moment.
"Could I ask you a question?"
Sofia looked unsure, but nodded anyway.
"Did you ever celebrate Christmas?" Irina asked.
Sofia seemed relieved that was all she wanted to know. She laughed softly, then shook her head. But then, she looked thoughtful as she recalled the memories.
"F-Father didn't." she tried. She closed her eyes, pursed her lips with frustration as she fought to find the words internally. "Mother did."
"Oh." Irina looked sympathetic. "I suppose there were few things he liked to do."
Sofia sighed quietly through her nose in response.
"I suppose this won't be so bad," Irina offered, with a half-smile. "I've never seen our Mistress want to celebrate Christmas. She's usually very unpleasant around this time."
Sofia wrinkled her brow and looked at her, eyes questioning. Irina caught the look, frowned thoughtfully and shook her head.
"I don't know." she told her. "No one does."
While the kitchen was prepared, Hilda was assisting Alcina with her dress; she ran a lint roller through it while her Mistress smoked from the long cigarette holder in her hand. She seemed to be looking at her reflection in the mirror as she waited for Hilda to finish.
"You're not happy." Hilda confirmed.
Alcina glanced down at her briefly. She sighed heavily through her nose.
"You don't have to say it, Mistress. I know what this holiday does to you." Hilda replied, quietly. "But the girls are excited. And not for reasons they typically are."
A small chuckle from Alcina. "Yes, I know."
"You're doing well raising them." Hilda continued, to alleviate some stress.
"Thank you."
Hilda set the lint roller down and removed Alcina's gloves. She studied the little claws of her hands and retrieved a file. She worked on filing them down while Alcina watched her expression in the mirror. She seemed sullen as she took a long drag of her cigarette.
"I've spent time with Sofia," Hilda eventually spoke, "Her speech is improving."
"So now it's 'Sofia'." Alcina let out an amused laugh, regarding her pointedly. "Getting soft, are we, Hilda?"
Hilda laughed and shook her head. "Hardly. Still, I think she has what it takes." she continued, watching her Mistress' hands. "But if she is to address matters of the castle, she needs to speak more than just simple sentences about food and other nonsense."
Alcina had been silent, thinking about that. She wrinkled her brow in surprise. "You mean for her to be your replacement."
Hilda paused, sighed quietly through her nose. She didn't look up at her. "Well...I'm not getting younger, Mistress." she pointed out. "And who is to take over my job? That Irina girl?" She laughed sarcastically. "As if she could barely organize tasks."
Alcina had thought about that; for a while, actually. She knew that Hilda was getting older. She'd seen the woman have a difficult time moving around lately. Still, she was fond of her and she had been one of the humans she'd adored.
She knew how Hilda had felt about changing. But the woman would not surrender Hilda's humanity and risk having her in agony. Hilda had earned a quiet, peaceful death. She'd lived and fought with such loyalty for her and her alone for many long years.
O
Well, at least the decorations were lovely.
Alcina marveled the way the main hall appeared; the girls had outdone themselves and the maids even took to enjoying the festivities. She'd never seen her servants and staff as happy as they'd been. Perhaps the gloom of the evening could be ignored. After all, her daughters were happy with themselves. That was enough for her.
"Mother!" Daniela approached her eagerly. "Do you like what we've done? The hall looks lovely! Also, Cassandra wanted to hang up body parts, but we said no. Too vulgar."
"It was JUST EYES." Cassandra snapped, drifting up to her now. "And they were pretty."
Alcina's smile was pleasant, free of the distracted frown on her face. "My daughters. I am truly delighted to see you enjoying yourselves."
A few giggles from them and looks exchanged. Alcina put her arms around the three, holding them close before she strolled to the dining hall. The settings looked perfect and she noticed Hilda and Sofia standing in the corner, waiting for any orders she would have.
She found herself looking at Sofia; the creature who had filled her head with distractions. Her eyes were curious and soft, pleased to see her better, it would seem.
She licked her lips, glanced down at the setting on the table and gestured for her daughters to sit. Hilda looked at Sofia and twitched her head once, the indicator to do what she was supposed to.
Sofia nodded in return and made her way to the wine sitting nearby. She had begun pouring for each of the daughters. All the while, they had begun discussing the holiday season. Hilda and several other maids were cleaning up after the meals were consumed.
Blood. Something with human remains. They were accustomed to such things. No one reacted to the sights and smells.
Sofia had been in awe of the décor the entire time that she showed no fear or disgust with what she delivered to the tables.
Alcina smiled and her daughters caught the softness in the look that came and went like lightning. Daniela whispered something to Bela, which earned a suspicious frown on her face.
After dinner, they met together in the dance hall. Hilda and Sofia watched as Alcina taught her daughters proper dances in tune with the music of Tchaikovsky. Waltz of the Flowers. Hilda remarked how pleasant it was for dancing, despite the drama of the Court.
"...and if my daughters are up to mischief, then I would be wholly displeased."
A few scattered giggles from them.
"Now then, the form must be precise." Alcina instructed, "Your steps fluid." She demonstrated a long, graceful stroll.
Daniela was making several faces as she watched her, strolling behind her mother in an over exaggerated, playful manner. It earned a look from Hilda, who couldn't resist her light laugh. Alcina caught the laugh, then glanced back at Daniela. The girl smiled pleasantly, crossing her hands in front of her.
"Are you sassing your mother?" Alcina questioned, with a frown.
"I would never." Daniela giggled.
Bela rolled her eyes and Cassandra couldn't help but laugh. It was clear that she hadn't been entirely angry about it and just smiled, shaking her head.
"Well, perhaps you could put that energy to proper use." Alcina said, hands on her hips. "I would like you to practice. Who will be first?"
Daniela whispered to Cassandra with a grin on her face before she pointed to Sofia. "You!" she said, earning a sharp, startled look from the woman. "Dance with me."
A blush lit Sofia's cheeks and Daniela drifted over to take her hand. The poor woman let out a small, surprised sound as Daniela took her and nearly dragged her onto the floor.
"Oh, this should be good." Cassandra quipped.
Sofia looked positively helpless, being carried around the dance hall in Daniela's arms. But she was smiling, even going as far as letting out a breathless laugh at the absurdity of it all. There was something adorable about how her face had lit up, her smile bright - though very confused and clumsy.
"You can't dance at all." Daniela told her, with a laugh. "Come on. I'll dance with Cass instead."
"No, you won't." Cassandra argued, backing away from her slowly.
"Dance with me!"
The two women began to argue with one another, earning an eye roll from Bela and a disapproving frown from Alcina.
This would certainly take time.
O
Hilda didn't know how she'd gotten there; reading an old Christmas tale to the three Dimitrescu daughters crowded around her on the lounge before the fireplace. The girls were enraptured by the tale and Sofia had watched them from the corner, awaiting her next orders. She had not seen her Mistress since the dance lessons had ended.
"...eternal youth is possible an unexpected event awakens in him the longing to return home, among the mortals." Hilda had explained.
"But why would he want that?" Bela questioned.
"Sometimes immortality can be lonely." Hilda told them. "Especially when you've lived it for so long."
Daniela was leaning against the old woman's shoulder. "You've been here for a long time." she said. "Why does mother hate Christmas?"
"Yes. She's distracted." Bela frowned and Hilda met her gaze. "We asked and she told us we shouldn't worry so much."
"Then if she says so, then you mustn't."
A long-suffering groan from Daniela and the woman draped herself dramatically across Hilda's lap, and over the book. It earned a frown of irritation from the older woman and Daniela smiled up at her.
"Come on! You're old, Hilda."
"You noticed." Hilda said, dryly.
"I mean!" Daniela continued, "You've seen everything here and know mother so well."
Hilda rolled her eye dismissively. She glanced up at Sofia, watching how she smiled a little at the sight of them.
"Yes, you would find this amusing, wouldn't you?"
A grin from Sofia.
"Alright, you won't get anything out of me, little bugs." Hilda dismissed them with a few waves of her hands. "Now, up. You need rest for tomorrow. All things and creatures of the night must sleep. And so must I."
Groans from the three of them. Sofia watched Hilda bid them away before she departed for the servant's quarters. But she stopped, her attention focused on the dance hall. She ventured into it and found that it was empty.
Sofia approached the nearby gramophone. She took the needle, placed it onto the record and it began to play the waltz from earlier. She smiled and began to dance along with it with herself.
She failed to see Alcina stepping into the room. The taller woman observed the sight with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. How long would it take for Sofia to notice her? She wasn't so certain it would be quick this time; after all, the girl looked quite lost and happy in her own little world.
It was precious, in a way; it reminded her of the innocence she'd lost so long ago. The woman could certainly move when she wasn't under the pressures and eyes of the others.
She delicately cleared her throat when her senses had grown clouded with dark thoughts once more. The scents of the other woman had grown sharper now.
Sofia had stopped dancing, turning to her with a start. She blushed, embarrassed. The redness that crossed her cheeks brought Alcina back to that dangerous place again. So pretty and flushed, this little one was; she imagined her in various scenarios, all of which were thoroughly indecent. This is why she'd been avoiding her for so long. But she was here, drawn to the little lamb like the wolf.
"Dancing..." Sofia said, snapping her free from her violent thoughts. "Fun."
Alcina blinked, staring at her strangely. She managed a smile, torn from the red haze of bloodlust. "Yes, I suppose it is." she admitted, "Though for some of us who dance with better grace than a demented harlot, it can be better."
Sofia giggled abruptly at that and it earned a bemused laugh in response. Alcina had never heard any servant laugh so often and at her. They were usually not so foolish.
"Your laugh." she said.
Sofia blinked, as if caught. "Oh. I-I'm sorry."
"No. I've never heard it before."
Sofia suddenly seemed shy in the wake of such a confession. She smiled, lowering her eyes. Alcina found such a timid gesture almost endearing. If the pain in her head hadn't returned and the smell of Sofia's various scents hadn't pulled her closer, filling her with new distractions.
"How about we listen to one of my favorites?" Alcina suggested, turning to the collection of records. "Ah! There you are."
Sofia waited, watching her Mistress' back as she prepared the gramophone. It took a moment before the sounds of Danse Macabre filled the dance hall.
Camille Saint-Saëns.
Alcina gestured with one hand. "Come here."
Sofia approached, struck by such a request and yet, clearly happy with it. She timidly reached up with one hand to take the larger one and Alcina chuckled, the sound deeply alluring. Sofia barely came up to her waist, so it was easy to just hoist her up in her arms with ease.
Sofia let out the smallest of gasps, stunned and delighted to be level with her face. It also earned a deep blush on her cheeks. It made Alcina smirk at her, hold her smaller hand in hers and waltz around the room with her.
Alcina could smell the various scents; cleaning soaps, dust from the wood and varnish on her shoes. Perfumes and powders. She was hyper aware of the physical change that had come to Sofia's face as she held her gaze. The rest of the castle was lost to her.
She felt the dragon chewing at the bars behind her eyes.
She was also keenly aware of their close proximity now and could feel the beat of Sofia's heart through her chest. It was racing now, the rapid pulse timed nearly perfectly with her own pounding headache. But she'd grown attuned to the sounds of certain heartbeats; the fear and pleasure had a difference she could taste in blood and smells.
The dark look, the wonder and desire to know was there again. Alcina was aware that she'd stopped dancing with her.
Why had she done this?
The dragon was peering through to her and Sofia was looking right at it. She was reaching into the bars for it.
Why? What are you, little goat?
Do you truly want to know the thing I am?
Alcina's mind was lost to dozens of questions and she hadn't realized her lips had been nearly a breath away from Sofia's throat. It was only the little shiver, quiet moan and goosebumps against her lips that brought her back to reality.
Sofia's eyes were glazed over, unseeing. She blinked, looking at her Mistress with confusion, unsure of why she had stopped. Alcina studied her, their faces so very close. She could taste the subtle need in Sofia's breath. The desire to be claimed by her.
"You want this." she confirmed, her voice gentle.
Sofia stared up at her, a hesitant smile lighting her lips.
"Why?"
Sofia struggled to find the words. She pursed her lips, concentrated as much as she could. "Make...you ha-happy."
That was it, really; her innocent response twisted something within the Countess. She blinked rapidly, staring at the woman in her arms with disbelief.
"You don't know what you offer me, little one." Her voice was husky, dripping with honey.
No, she truly didn't. The sweet smell of her had been a torment in her head for a time. She could have easily killed her and been rid of that ache. But the urge to understand had kept such things from happening.
But Sofia didn't argue with her. She only nodded once. She did seem to understand.
No one offered themselves to her. Not willingly and certainly not without being coerced to do so. Sofia was giving herself to her.
To make her happy.
What absurdity.
And she delved right in.
"My chambers. Wait for me there."
