~O~

Good Enough to Eat

"All around the Mulberry bush, the Lycan chased the farm girl..."

Hilda heard the playful, albeit menacing song from Daniela coming from the dungeon. She ventured below and found her dancing around a maid with her sickle out, scraping across her collar. She stood there, raising an eyebrow at the sight.

"Miss Daniela, what are you doing?" she asked.

Daniela paused, grinning at her. "Aww, I was only playing. She's having fun, aren't you?"

The woman looked toward Hilda and rapidly shook her head.

Hilda sighed. "I would like you not to kill my kitchen staff." she said, with annoyance. "At least until Rednic brings more girls."

Daniela pouted with disappointment, but followed Hilda out of the dungeon. A few of the mutated girls were still in their cages, feeding from scraps. Hilda ignored them and Daniela found that fascinating; the old woman showed no sympathy for her fellow humans.

"So, you don't think it's sad they are like that now?" she asked, glancing in one of the cages.

"No, not really." Hilda replied, "Whatever serves my Mistress' needs, I provide."

Daniela grinned at her, quite amused by Hilda's apathy. "Wow! You're cold-blooded."

A quiet murmur, a funny frown from Hilda.

Hilda stood on the ladder as she measured Alcina's waist, then her back, taking notes. "Hm. You've grown another inch since last I checked." she said.

Alcina looked a little bothered to hear that. "I was told the changes would stop."

"Well, they are slowing." Hilda assured her. "So that is a good sign."

A seamstress had been watching the entire time, gawking at her with shock. She'd never seen such a woman of great stature before.

"Well?" Alcina said, with a disapproving frown. Her eyes were darker, tone bordering on malicious. "Will you just stand there gawking, or do you intend to begin?"

"O-Of course!"

Alcina smiled her approval, the storm in her gaze dwindling somewhat. Then, she looked at Hilda, tone smoother. "Be a dear and fetch me a glass of fresh...wine. I'd like it warm."

Hilda raised an eyebrow, then nodded her head. "As you wish."

She strolled down the halls, passing several maids. Her features never betrayed her as she ventured below, stopping at a gramaphone. She brought the needle up to play "Lacrimosa". Wolfgang Mozart. Quite loudly to avoid problems.

Her fingers traced over several sharp tools set on the table before settling on a razor blade. She tested it at the edge of her thumb and the simplest contact split the skin, drawing a small portion of blood.

Perfect.

Hilda calmly strolled down deeper into the dungeon, the music playing loudly behind her. She spotted one of the women still hanging by her arms. Bruised. Battered. Suffering, really.

The girl barely registered the blade going into her throat, Hilda collecting the fresh, warm blood into a cup. She looked up at her as she finally twitched a few times before stilling; the remainder of the blood poured down her chest, dripping into a pan below.

"Such a waste..." Hilda sighed, shaking her head.

Hilda blinked, returning to reality when she found Daniela joining her sisters into the main hall. Bela looked annoyed and Hilda tilted her head, studying her.

"Something troubles you, Miss Bela?" she said.

Bela sighed, shaking her head. "It's this place." she complained. "We've been stuck here for too long! I want to go out!"

"And I told you what happens when you do, did I not?"

"Yes! The cold, I know!" Bela thinned her lips with frustration. "I know..."

"Spring isn't far away and I understand the gardens are quite lovely hunting grounds, really," Hilda told them. "Wonderful for relieving one's tension as you watch those troublesome, nosy humans suffer. You girls will have quite a lot of fun."

A few excited smiles from the three.

"Mistress is busy at a meeting for her wine distribution," Hilda continued, "Come with me."

Cassandra made a face. "Why? What are we doing?"

O

"I will literally disembowl you."

Hilda smiled calmly as she studied Cassandra dressed in a flowery white gown. "Ahh, just like your mother used to wear."

Daniela was giggling and Bela had an enormous grin on her face. They were also dressed in similar gowns, but didn't have nearly as much of an issue with them as Cassandra.

"You will be called to play a role when Mistress plays host to parties; she so enjoys seducing the common folk with her charm before she strikes, as is her perogative." Hilda explained, pacing around the taller woman. "You will be presenting yourself as an image of Castle Dimitrescu. You must put on an air of cleanliness, pride and above all elegance."

"Where would I put my knives?" Cassandra complained, struggling to adjust herself.

Hilda cracked a smirk. "Knives? Mm, oh no, little bug. Knives aren't allowed at these. That comes later." she told her. "If you behave, you get all the meals your heart desires."

"I don't like it; behaving for some humans."

Hilda chuckled. "Neither do I. But we all must do our part for the Lady of the House."

An annoyed pout from Cassandra. "Fine. But I still want to disembowl you."

"I know you do..." Hilda replied, disinterested as she adjusted the dress sleeves.

O

Sofia ran her fingers across the surface of the desk, testing them for dust. Irina watched her as she checked every detail of the room to be certain it looked perfect. She focused on the woman's marks that she knew had been left from Alcina's teeth. It bothered her, so she sought to ask.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Sofia looked at her, confused by the question.

"I mean..." Irina gestured to her own neck.

Sofia touched her neck with a few fingers, smiled thinly and nodded.

"It's just...most of the maids here are talking," Irina continued, hesitantly. "We're all worried about you. Some of them said you gave yourself to the Lady of the House willingly. That's just...not something anyone here does."

Sofia frowned at her. She opened her mouth, struggled with the words before shutting her eyes, taking a moment to collect herself. She reached into her pocket, removed the notepad and pen, writing down a message for Irina.

When she held the notepad to her, the other woman took it, glancing down at the page.

"'You have nothing to worry about'." she read, "'It isn't as if'..."

She paused, looked at Sofia sympathetically. The other woman turned sharply away, resuming her work without further words.

Meanwhile, Hilda was in the process of educating the three daughters on proper table etiquette. They sat at their assigned places, listening to her.

"I have a serious question for you, old woman." Daniela said.

"I shall make an effort to contain my excitement..." Hilda said, dryly as she wiped down a wine glass without looking up.

Daniela held up a fork for study. "If someone use the wrong fork at dinner, is that worse than death or just social suicide?"

A small chuckle from Hilda. "Impossible to say, really." she answered. "Anyone who ever made such a blunder would possibly stabbed to death with the proper fork."

Bela smiled now at that idea. "Mm, maybe these social events won't be so bad after all."

"Yes, good attitude, Miss Bela." Hilda continued. "Now, I - Oh, Mistress."

Alcina entered the kitchen and Hilda looked up at her. She seemed to be in good spirits after her meeting with the other Lords. That rarely happened.

"Daughters!" she said. "Oh, you make me so happy to endure those foolish meetings if it means I am welcomed by you."

She took her proper seat at the table and Hilda ventured off to find suitable wine to serve her. The three daughters had begun chatting and Alcina's features just lit up listening to their discussions about Hilda's tutoring and future plans. She made her way into the dining hall and gathered a list of tasks when she spotted Sofia polishing the staircase banister.

"Finished your tasks?" she questioned.

Sofia nodded her head. "This is...almost." she said.

"Good. I have to talk with you anyway."

Sofia followed her when she beckoned with one hand. The two ventured through the castle halls and Hilda sighed through her nose.

"Surely you understand by now why I've been spending time educating you, little goat." she said.

Sofia nodded her head.

"I intended for you to replace me."

Sofia looked surprised to hear that, stopping and staring down at the old woman. Hilda paused as well, raising an eyebrow.

"What?" Sofia exclaimed.

"You didn't know? Would I have spent my time trying to get you to muster better words?" Hilda continued, amused. "You work hard, girl. But that isn't what is always expected of the Lady. Are you prepared to kill for her as well?"

Sofia seemed uncertain and Hilda shook her head. "Yes, I thought as much..."

The younger woman was puzzled by the question, but Hilda continued walking and she followed alongside her until they found themselves in a dressing room. Hilda scanned the rows of dresses lined in the closet before looking back at Sofia.

"My Mistress is inclined to pursue whatever she desires," she said, "But it's my duty to ensure that she is not hurt. And her emotional well-being is often put to the test with such...delicate matters. Still, you are a pretty thing for what you are. Perhaps Mistress can't help herself. Maybe that's why she has you wearing the necklace I gave her."

Sofia blinked, stared down at the little thing she was still wearing, hidden mostly by the collar of her uniform. Hilda had stared at her for a while in silence. She looked only disappointed. But Sofia didn't know what disappointed her most.

O

Sofia stared at herself in the mirror.

Her blank, sad eyes seemed almost unfamiliar as she was filled with distractions. She didn't know how long she'd spent time in that dressing room before she departed. She had been thinking of the idea that she was pretty, but also, she never saw it.

She could hear Alcina's voice coming from the chamber nearby and she stopped at the door, watching as Alcina read a storybook to her three daughters. She was surprised by the normal sight; Bela was resting her head in her mother's lap, Daniela was perched on her arm and Cassandra on the other side of her. Alcina was explaining something to them.

"...this is my dear cousin, Mathius." she explained, "Dreadful man. He had a tendency to draw attention to himself at court. Such attentions had him butchered in his lavender bath by two of his suitors."

"Two?" Bela grinned.

"Yes, he made his attempt to court two men. Mathius always considered himself a hunter of fine stallions." Alcina curled her nose. "So he liked to brag often during family gatherings. Well, his courtship earned him several knife wounds in his chest."

Cassandra let out a trilling laugh.

Daniela pointed at a young girl standing next to an older woman; both of them looked grim for the photo and rather tense.

"Who's that?" she asked.

"Mm?" Alcina looked at the photo before chuckling. "That's Hilda and me."

"You both look happy." Bela quipped.

"Oh, we certainly were." Alcina said, with a drawl. "Mother had left for the evening. I remember that day because we'd gotten into a fight."

"Wow. You had fights with your mother?" Daniela grinned up at her. The thought seemed to confuse and surprise her most. "I can't imagine fighting you."

Alcina's features softened and she kissed her on the forehead. A fondness was there in her tone and eyes. "That would never happen."

She glanced up at the doorway, finding Sofia there watching them. Such an act would merit severe punishment; she'd often been quick to strike any maid who peeped through doors without her permission. But Sofia seemed softer as she watched them together. Maybe there was even a light of longing dancing in her eyes.

The dragon watched her sharply from behind the bars now, fixated on her and her alone.

A scratch against her skull as it stretched, languid and filling with hunger again. It's scratching brought that headache back.

Once her daughters had retired for the evening, Alcina called for Sofia in her chambers. The human had readily arrived and she felt herself smiling at the necklace she was wearing beneath her uniform. It was a trifle thing, really; but that it was something that was HERS.

"Perhaps as a reminder of what you are to me." she said, gently.

Sofia looked at her with a timid smile.

"You walked far to reach me again, didn't you?" Alcina's nose brushed against the soft skin of Sofia's throat, taking in the sweet scent of blood. "Such a loyal servant."

The dragon was scratching at the bars again. Sofia's mind was clearly distracted, her eyes filled with questions. Alcina wanted to know.

"What is it? I see much is on your mind." Alcina continued, brow wrinkling at her expression.

Sofia's lips parted, staring at her hesitantly.

"Come now. Speak."

"I'm..." Sofia struggled with the words as usual. "No. Not...pretty."

Alcina stared at her incredulously. "Excuse me?"

She wasn't surprised by the self-deprecation, but that she had outright spoken it. What she learned from her little servant was that she rarely spoke these things. She accepted and she was willing and nothing else shattered her resolve. What had changed?

Well, that would not ruin the night.

Her fingers stroked her sides and she pulled her into her lap once more. Her lips brushed against that pulse in her neck, feeling the warmth, tasting the salt of her flesh with little, open-mouthed kisses. It made Sofia shiver and the sharp, heady scent of want was there again. It seemed it didn't take much to stir her - but of course, the girl was inexperienced and sought to please.

"You know, there's nothing I couldn't give you," Alcina's voice was husky, dripping with hunger, "There's nothing I'd deny you if you would not deny me. You are pretty, little one. And you are mine."

The dragon rejoiced. It salivated. It sought more and she succumbed.

"You ARE mine, are you not?" Alcina felt the urge to question. To be certain. Hilda's remark about her sanity made her doubt.

Sofia's smile was genuine, sweet and adoring as she looked back at her. "Yes." she breathed, her voice trembling.

Oh, she wanted. Very much, so.

Alcina moved her lips closer, gently slipping her hand to cup Sofia's cheek. She ghosted her lips against hers. A little indulgence that had the dragon groaning, teeth gnashing, licking its lips. Anticipating the taste and feel of her everywhere.

Oh, yes, it would have what it wanted. It had waited enough.

Her larger hands were moving slowly against her chest, massaging handfuls of her smaller breasts, feeling her nipples hardening in her palms, earning a light gasp from Sofia's lips. She could smell her blood roaring in her vents, hear the little sounds of pleasure against her cheek as Sofia shifted pleasantly against her, leaning back as far as she could.

A deep inhale against Sofia's neck and her breath was thick, growling deep in her chest. "My darling...I will have you, tonight." she husked, voice dripping with honey. Lust scorched her order, withering the weight of it. "I will have all of you."

Sofia shivered with anticipation and she smelled the pulse of heat and wetness at her core. The deep arousal that pooled from her voice.

Alcina's mouth brushed against her ear, moving inward to tease her lips. Sofia's breath was hot against her, her heart thudding rapidly in her chest. The same as when she had offered herself to be fed from; and Alcina wanted to feed from her again.

Oh, yes, she wanted that.

A groan in Sofia's throat when their lips finally met. It made Alcina smile at the neediness of it; the way she molded herself so well in her larger arms, melting into the way her hands groped the soft flesh of her chest, moving slowly down to the hem of her dress. Her fingers teased, fisting handfuls of her dress before pushing further in to touch the bare skin of her thighs.

Muscles there from the farm work, little dips and small imperfections. Even the slightest twitches gave her away that she wanted her to touch more. Alcina purred softly against her throat, licking a scalding trail over the cord of muscle there before meeting her lips once more.

Her mouth parted, slipping her tongue inside. The tentative response of Sofia's own tongue brought a guttural growl from her throat. Sofia shivered with a small whimper in response. Such a sweet, darling little sound, but it tested Alcina's resolve to simply ravage her as she'd done so many others.

She loathed this slow pace, but the woman was a rare treat to be savored and had earned it for such loyalty and adoration. She could not simply rush this. She would not break her.

(Eat.)

Sofia settled back against her chest as much as she could and Alcina's hands spread her, heard the thick swallow from the younger woman. Her left hand from her thighs toward the hot, aching place between her legs.

Sofia's lips parted and Alcina scraped her teeth against her cheek, closing her eyes as she grew lost in the woman's soaked undergarments. She rubbed her with a few soft fingers, quite enjoying the little twitches of her hips in time with the pace of her hand.

A thick chuckle and she sucked the space beneath Sofia's ear, encouraging her with a breathless whisper in her ear.

"Mmm, such a good girl..." she hissed, voice shaking with subdued excitement.

Fingers dug into the arm wrapped around her waist. Sofia's jaw dropped, eyes closed and the little smile on her face was precious. Alcina adored her expressions as she lost herself in her touch, pushing her hips down for more.

Her fingers slipped her underwear aside, finally touching the soft, damp folds of her, hissing sharply. Sofia gasped, twitching into the touch as that large hand begun brushing deftly to either side of her clit, drawing a louder groan from the woman. The fire kindling in her thighs ignited into a blazing inferno.

"Hm?" a light question in her throat had Sofia nodding her head eagerly.

A thick finger pressed deeply into Sofia and she immediately set to work. The girl was rolling her hips into her finger, clenching and rippling around her as if her life depended on it. God, it was heaven, feeling her just fucking her fingers, moaning lowly and kneading her arm. The girl's voice was lovely and, dare she admit, beautiful in the throes of passion and lust.

She could certainly get used to those sounds.

Her own voice was thick against Sofia's throat as she rubbed hard and fast against her, plunging her finger deeper. When she heard an attempt at her name, she growled, teeth pressed into the supple flesh of her, aching to bite down.

(No, not yet. Not yet.)

She found that little place deep inside of her, rubbing hard against it and there was no hope for the woman in her arms. Sofia stiffened, letting out a shameless, guttural sound as she came. Alcina smothered her mouth with a deep, probing kiss, holding her trembling form tightly to her chest. She savored feeling her spasming and pushing down on her finger a few more times to ride out the last sensations of her orgasm until she stilled, the only sound in the room their heavy, slowing breaths.

It only lasted a moment before Alcina removed her hand from between Sofia's thighs. The woman had let out a surprised sound and looked up into the glowing yellow gaze of the larger woman. Her eyes were brighter than she'd ever seen them and they were all for her tonight.

Alcina grinned at her, hungry as she worked to remove her uniform.

"Hush, darling. We've only just begun." she breathed. "My bed. Now."