~O~

Being Human Again

It had been hard for Hilda to get out of bed that morning.

She sighed, wincing at the popping in her knees, slipping her feet into her slippers before walking to the bathroom. A daily ritual of looking at her withered features and a reminder of what she had become in time. Old and grey, moving closer to her inevitable death without fear. Such was how things were and how they were meant to be.

A pause and Hilda noticed a dead rat laying on the floor nearby with a note attached to it. She wrinkled her brow, bent down and plucked the note to read it.

"'Hilda, I found the rat that was giving you trouble. I snapped its neck slowly. You're welcome'." she read out loud. "'Cassandra Dimitrescu'."

The old woman chuckled and shook her head. Well, the girl was learning proper manners and even brought her a gift. How thoughtful.

Hilda prepared for her day then; a simple dress into her uniform, proper grooming and shoes before she ventured into the halls toward her Mistress' chambers. She passed various maids who were in the middle of cleaning; they gave her a few nods and greetings and she returned them with a nod of her own.

Once she arrived at Alcina's chambers, she found that the woman was laying in bed with an arm over her head, sighing.

Hilda stood nearby, watching her with amusement. She knew very well what this day meant. "Mistress, I know. You don't like it. But it is the day of the meeting."

"I cannot believe I am to be associated with that childish rat..." Alcina complained. "And I must endure it every day."

Hilda moved to the nearby dressing room to retrieve the dress the larger woman was to wear. She raised an eyebrow, staring pointedly up at her.

"Well, you always have Sofia to come home to." she quipped. "I'm sure she can alleviate some of that much collected tension."

Alcina frowned at her. Hilda caught the look, smiled thinly.

"I know the two of you played around last night." she said, dryly. "As is your prerogative, Mistress. Still, I'd appreciate it if my replacement wasn't bedded to exhaustion while I need her to prepare the dance hall for the girls' education."

A smirk lit Alcina's lips and she raised her chin somewhat. Hilda sighed, shaking her head. She still worried about her mental health and what a dying woman would mean for her. She knew how often Alcina would break her own heart from her human yearnings. Mother Miranda often assured her those feelings would eventually fade away.

Hilda didn't want to see that happen.

"Well, do what you wish," Hilda said, with a grimace. "At least to alleviate the gossip. Your daughters are making my ears bleed."

A laugh from Alcina and she rolled her head across her pillow. Hilda's gaze softened and she watched the taller woman eventually rise from the bed. She knew that the laughter was meant to be a little distraction from the stress of the day that she would soon have.

"Let's get this over with." Alcina said, with much disapproval.

Having Hilda always assure her was nice. The older woman was good at that.

She heard Hilda outside in the halls, cursing under her breath. "Am îmbătrânit prea mult pentru asta."

It made her laugh. A genuine one.

Meanwhile, Sofia was cornered by the three Dimitrescu daughters in the library who sought answers for what had happened.

"Spill it, little rat." Cassandra hissed.

Sofia blinked up at them with a helpless look on her face. Daniela seemed to thrill at the idea of what happened between her and their mother. She looked at her sisters with a light, airy laugh and the other two didn't share her amusement one bit.

"Aww, mother found a new plaything!" she said. "I thought she liked this one more than the others. She kept her alive for much longer, too!"

"She can't even talk properly." Cassandra sneered.

"Cass, don't be so mean to her," Daniela pouted, putting an arm around Sofia's shoulders and squeezing her cheeks. "Look at this face. I can see mother's allure with her, can't you?"

Sofia stood there, blinking with her cheeks mushed in Daniela's hands. The other two women didn't look impressed with her at all. Bela's expression softened only a degree before hardening once more. She didn't want to appear to agree with Daniela.

"What are you girls up to?" Hilda questioned, as she stepped into the library.

"Just playing with her." Cassandra said, with a smirk and shrug.

"Well, I need her in the kitchens." Hilda took Sofia's hand. "Mistress is going to her meeting and she will be in poor spirits, surely. I'm preparing her favorite meal and I intend to make sure this one understands how to do it."

The three daughters groaned with boredom as they watched them start to go.

"Come on!" Daniela griped. "These two don't want to play! Can we just play for a little while before you do that?"

Hilda glanced at Sofia, then sighed through her nose. "Ah, very well. Do what entertains you, Miss Daniela. But I need her at lunch."

Daniela grinned excitedly and nodded, taking Sofia's hand and dragging her down the halls in half-form. Sofia yelped somewhat and she was led into Daniela's room; filled with collections of every kind, books and statues. It had been the first time that Sofia was allowed there.

"Sit!" Daniela told her, pushing her into a chair in front of a vanity mirror.

Sofia blinked, looking up at her as she smiled, studying her like an appreciative predator.

"Okay, I'm going to dress you up nice for mother," she said. "Then we're playing 'true' or 'false'. Okay? Do you know how to play that?"

Sofia nodded her head. She'd read about the game before.

"Okay!" Daniela smiled with satisfaction. "Mother gave me makeup to use right... Ah! Here!"

Sofia sat perfectly still as Daniela began to work on applying makeup to her face.

"You slept with my mother." Daniela said.

"True..."

"You like my mother?"

"True."

Daniela made a thoughtful note and studied Sofia's face in the mirror for a second before she grinned. "Now, let's try a little color to your cheeks. Mother likes a good shade of red."

She chuckled and Sofia blushed a little, laughing weakly in response.

"You think you're good enough for mother?" Daniela asked.

Sofia didn't response right away. Her smile disappeared and she studied her expression in the mirror. She sighed quietly through her nose.

"False." she eventually said.

Daniela's amusement was gone from her face. She tilted her head, petting Sofia's shoulders before leaning down and resting her chin there.

"Aww, why not?" she asked, forgetting the rules of the game. "You're pretty and mother likes the pretty ones. You're happy with her, right? Mother's happy with you. I just saw her smiling before she left. She likes you."

Sofia opened her mouth, hesitated before shaking her head.

"Don't worry. We'll make you so pretty that you'll feel good enough in no time!"

Sofia was a bit taken by the attention, but it did help distract her as Daniela worked on the makeup for her face. She seemed to enjoy the act of it and turned her away from the mirror. It was nice, really; Daniela always had a child-like way about her and Sofia knew her other sisters just saw her as delusional.

A red dress with slits in the arm sleeves. Sofia was delighted with it.

"Now, do you want to see how pretty you are?" she questioned.

Sofia couldn't help but be eager. She nodded and Daniela turned her to the mirror. It made the other woman grin and laugh, hands at her face. Daniela let out an excited noise, clapping her hands.

"Oh! I could just eat you up!" she gushed.

Sofia giggled, blushing once more.

"Now, what about going for a walk?" Daniela asked, hands on her shoulders. "Let the world get a good look at you."

Sofia was suddenly nervous, lowering her eyes. "I - I can't."

"That's okay. How about you walk with me?"

It took a moment before Sofia nodded. She took Daniela's hand and the taller woman hummed as they walked down the halls. Sofia nervously watched the stunned looks from maids as they passed by. She felt like she'd been walking naked. But she felt proud and excited all at the same time. It had been the first time in her life that she truly felt real and alive.

Irena had been staring at her, eyes widening. Sofia smiled brightly, raising her chin. Daniela laughed and looked at her. She grinned at the way Sofia had grown somewhat more confident in herself. It was a good look for her.

Hilda had walked into the main hall, noticed Sofia and raised an eyebrow. "You want to work in the kitchen looking like that?" she said, "Miss Daniela, I assume this is your doing."

"Yes! Mother says I'm the most creative." Daniela told her, with a smile of pride.

Hilda looked up at Sofia, arched her eyebrows with a thoughtful murmur. "Well, look at that. The goat can dress pretty." she admitted.

It earned a bright smile from Sofia.

"Mm, well, I'm sure Mistress would be happy to see you in that state," Hilda quipped, "I suppose we could always train another day."

"Really?" Daniela questioned, surprised. "No witty retort? You getting soft, old lady?"

Hilda had turned, paused and shook her head. "No. Just a little tired."

Sofia's brow knotted somewhat and she watched Hilda depart. She looked at Daniela and the other woman shrugged her shoulders.

O

Alcina had returned home, staring up at the castle, stone-faced.

She never expected to return home again. She never expected to see the village had changed its religious views and she certainly did not expect to see Hilda living in a shack by the water, lunging out with a pitchfork in hand.

"Hey!" the woman shouted, "Get away from the castle before I - "

Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Alcina standing there. The woman smiled at her, raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.

"Well, I didn't expect to be greeted this way by an old maid of mine." she quipped.

Hilda grinned, dropped the pitchfork and rushed up to her, putting her arms around her in an embrace. Alcina laughed and returned it.

"It's so good to see you again!" Hilda said, grinning. "How did... Why did you return? You know what the war did to this castle."

Alcina's smile was grave. She nodded, glanced up at the lifeless castle. There were stories she'd heard about the war and how it had brought her home to ruin. But Mother Miranda had given it back to her and allowed her there again. And yet, Hilda was still here; still alive, still living with it.

"I want to see the inside." Alcina said.

"Of course. Right this way." Hilda gestured with one hand.

The two women made their way up to the castle doors and Hilda unlocked them with a set of ringed keys. Alcina made a thoughtful note and nodded her head. It seemed that Hilda had still remained loyal to her job long after she had been gone.

The castle was empty, paper and furniture strewn about. Alcina had passed a few skeletons lying on the floors. Some had bullet holes in their heads, others looked to have been cleaved into with swords. The castle residents had fought, but not hard enough.

"We have much work to do, don't we, Hilda?" Alcina said.

Hilda nodded her head. She certainly understood.

"What will we be doing?"

Alcina smiled at her. "Wine."

Hilda washed the olives in her hands, barely making out the sounds of chatter amongst the maids. Irina was talking to Sofia as they observed the older woman preparing lunch.

"You know, maybe it's her birthday." Irina whispered. "Maybe that's why she's in such a sour mood today. Well, more than usual."

"Hey, chattering little goats, my eye is missing, but my ears work just fine," Hilda snapped, glancing back at them. "Irina, I'm preparing Salată de icre. Put that energy you use for gossip into something useful, then. Sofia, you too."

Sofia was surely overdressed for kitchen duty, but did as Hilda asked; she took an apron and Irina did the same. Both women stood on either side of Hilda.

"Now, get the oil and lemon juice," Hilda instructed, gesturing to the cabinets nearby.

Irina did just that and Sofia watched Hilda with confusion. Hilda sensed her stare after a moment and wrinkled her brow, looking up at her.

"Don't look at me that way." she snapped. "Do your job."

Sofia shook her head, resting a hand on her shoulder. It made Hilda seize for a moment. "H-Hilda?" Sofia questioned, quietly. Sad. "You... are sad."

Hilda scoffed, annoyed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm not sad."

Sofia, once more, shook her head and Hilda glared up at her before her features smoothed out. She sighed impatiently, rolled her eyes and prepared a bowl of salmon roe.

"I am simply focused on how this castle will remain intact when I die," she told them. "Years of planning, favors dealt and bones broken just to keep it in one piece. I want assurance it will remain that way."

Irina laughed weakly. "I thought you were upset because it was your birthday today."

"My what? Oh," Hilda blinked, then laughed and shook her head. "I'd forgotten that was today."

"Really?"

"Well, when you get to be as old as I am - the only one in this house who's lived to see such an age, you forget birthdays." Hilda explained.

"Oh." Irina looked uncomfortable now.

"Don't think too hard on it," Hilda glanced at her briefly. "You don't want to hurt yourself."

Sofia made a face.

"Now then, help me prepare this dish and stop with your questions."

No more had been said about that.

"You will grow old in time, Sofia." Hilda said, with a glance in her direction. "Unless you become like the Lady of the House. But let's be honest; you wouldn't survive such a process."

Sofia had paused in her work, suddenly troubled by that. She'd been the second person to tell her such a thing.

O

Sofia hadn't meant to fall asleep in Alcina's bedchambers.

Daniela had told her to wait there until her mother had returned from her meeting, but it had taken an age; sometimes they did, and she wouldn't return for an entire day. The dress she wore had gotten wrinkled, the split in it displaying her thigh in a way she'd hoped would look lovely enough for her Mistress. Daniela had insisted she looked "good enough to eat".

The sound of the handle rattling lifted Sofia's head to the door. Alcina had entered, features haggard from her meeting and dressed only in her nightgown. When she saw the younger woman laying there, she blinked in astonishment before her smile broadened, eyes glittering with dark stirrings.

"Well, well, well," she said, tone filling with smoke as she sauntered over to the bed. "Someone left me a little sweet treat on my pillow."

Sofia smiled, cheeks darkening. She shivered at the look she received as Alcina moved closer to the bed.

"Did you dress up like that all for me?" Alcina purred, reaching and gathering Sofia into her arms.

"D-Dan..." Sofia struggled with the name.

Alcina's grin broadened when she realized who she was speaking of. "Ahh, Daniela did this," she confirmed. "My daughters always have my well-being and happiness at heart."

She lightly teased her lips against Sofia's, stirring the dragon behind the bars. It was aggravated, sought comfort in her warmth. And she had been such a delectable treat prepared for her. How could she refuse such a gift?

Sofia made a soft, happy sound, parted her lips to accept the next kiss against them. The quiet noise in Alcina's throat, thinly veiling the hunger there filled Sofia with joy. She did this. She made such a powerful, beautiful woman want her.

Large hands slipped beneath her, pushing her down into the bed. Sofia did not protest, but let out the faintest groan when a bare thigh pushed between her legs. Alcina's gaze sharpened, her lips parting in a grin when she felt herself welcomed by warm dampness.

"Oh, already, darling?" she hissed, voice thicker, "I've barely touched you. You must have been missing me quite badly."

Sofia smiled up at her, nodding her head. It brought a warmth to Alcina's eyes that came and went quickly; her eyes adored her for the moment, then that hungry grin stretched across her face. Sofia had seen it, though and it made her heart clench.

Alcina didn't shred the dress - far too nice and far too expensive - but undid the laces to have it slip down Sofia's shoulders, giving the naked skin of her shoulder a caress with her tongue.

The taller woman hissed, her breath tickled her earlobe as she straightened to kiss her beneath it. Her teeth ached to bite into the supple flesh offered beneath her, but she wouldn't want to mar the lovely skin further while it healed from her previous bites.

Alcina felt her heart warming at the sight of Sofia admiring her body when she opened her nightgown; it filled her with pride to see such a genuine adoration on the other woman's face. The way those fingers lightly brushed against the softness of her belly, the stretch marks at her sides from her increased body mass. Sofia didn't show a single sign of disgust in her.

Determined to maintain control, Alcina took her wrists in one hand, pinning them above her head. Sofia let out a throaty groan, unable to stop her hips from twitching into the older woman's thigh, pressing her sensitive clit against the skin, rubbing just the way she needed.

"I-I'm sorry..." Sofia gasped.

Alcina's brow pinched, confused by the word. Her voice was raspy, her thighs aching. She couldn't fathom what the woman was sorry for.

Sofia looked pointedly down between them, rubbing herself constantly against her leg. A rosy blush ran through her entire body and she whimpered, soaking Alcina's leg in her body's excitement. Poor thing. She really was insatiable.

"Well?" Alcina rasped, pushing her thigh harder into Sofia's cunt. "What are you waiting for, then?"

Sofia moaned, straining against her clutches, still rutting on her thigh. She drenched her, all the while Alcina watched breathlessly, struck by the sight of the woman pleasing herself so readily; taken by the lovely look on her face, the sounds and the motions of her body.

Poor dear. She didn't last long.

A strangled cry and Sofia arched, finishing herself against her with several more harsh jerks of her hips to follow. Alcina didn't give her a moment to collect herself as she was already reaching between her thighs to stroke at the swollen folds of her lover. It earned a light gasp and Sofia leaned up, getting quite a nice view of her breasts in the process.

"Aww, such a good girl," Alcina purred, her tone husky.

She found it easier to fill her with two fingers, it had Sofia arching her hips up against Alcina's hand with a whimper that she tried to stifle by biting her lower lip. But the sight only challenged Alcina's resolve. Sofia's hands grasped at her arms for purchase, eyelashes fluttering as she moved her fingers inside of her, filling her so deeply.

"Mm, what a lovely thing you are," Alcina breathed, leaning down to kiss her and give her lower lip a little suck, mindful of her teeth. She removed her fingers from between her thighs, much to Sofia's disappointment.

Sofia simply looked down, suddenly shy by the words. "N-No..."

"Hush, darling. I wouldn't offer such praise if it wasn't true." Alcina hissed, cleaning her fingers of the other woman's fluids, earning a deep blush at the sight. "You really should taste yourself. You're divine."

Sofia shut her eyes with a gasp when those fingers pressed gently against her lips. When she delicately licked them, that was all it took.

Alcina bodily lifted her, shifting on the bed in a sitting position and tugging Sofia between her legs. She quite happily obliged her; loving the hand threading in her hair, nails scraping her scalp.

Sofia relished the beautiful stream of moans from the woman above her and even more so that she had drawn them from her lips. Her hand found its way into her folds, stroking through them and inquiring her for more. Alcina immediately whispered out a lust-filled "yes".

At that, Sofia continued to press into her with several of her fingers until Alcina began to pant and hoarsely call out her name again. She couldn't take her eyes away from her as she applied pressure against that spot deep inside of her with her fingers, sucking on the swollen bud of her clit.

The Lady look down at her, eyes glowing, teeth displayed in a grin herself. It took very little time as her features changed; her brow wrinkled, twisting into a look that resembled a woman weeping. It was breathtaking and so beautiful on her that Sofia refused to let her tear her eyes away.

"Getting confident, aren't we, little one?" Alcina gasped, laughing breathlessly. "You want to watch me? Very well."

In a few moments of thrusting her hips against Sofia's mouth, she finally seized up and came apart with a passionate shout to the heavens above, thrusting her hips against Sofia's face harshly enough to nearly knock the other woman over if not for the rough hand in her hair.

Sofia pulled away after a few moments, running her hands through Alcina's inner thighs. The older woman reached down, pulling her into her arms.

"I must certainly look a fright." Alcina quipped, when her breathing had evened out.

"No. Pretty."

Alcina felt a stab of vulnerability that she couldn't help. She cleared her throat and looked away, but not before coming back to look down at Sofia. Her fingertips stroked her cheeks and she gave her a rare, genuine smile as she traced them down her chest. Sofia's lips parted with a small gasp when that hand pushed her thighs open and got lost into her folds again.

She was still so wet and dripped down her hand as Alcina stroked her. She barely noticed when the woman lowered her to the bed once more, slipping two hands beneath her to lift her into her waiting mouth.

Sofia's head dropped, her mouth opening in a low moan when she felt that warm, wet tongue press against her. She fisted the sheets near her face, squirming pleasantly as Alcina immediately set to work. She wanted more of those delicious sounds and more responses.

"M-My Lady!" Sofia cried out.

"Alcina." the other woman parted just a moment to correct her.

Her hands were large enough to hold her right there, licking a steady, languid path across the woman's soaked center.

She would have laughed with amusement at her premature responses. Perhaps even urged her to calm down a little. But she was enjoying herself far too much indulging the young, pure maiden. How often did they come around, after all? She didn't want to rush the night.

"Hm?" The light note of pleasure seemed to make her shiver and Alcina lifted her head once more from her task, smirking down at her, "You're not going to finish too quickly before I've finished enjoying myself, are you?"

Sofia, through heavy eyes and flushed cheeks shook her head rapidly, then another uncertain look touched her expressions and she seemed unsure of that. She looked close already and Alcina chuckled deeply, shaking her head and resuming her task. Alcina never took her eyes from the woman below her and she rumbled with amusement when Sofia shut her own after a moment when it became too much.

Her tongue pressed flat against her, finding a new pattern that had Sofia's thighs jumping in tone with each stroke. Alcina's strong tongue dipped through the slickness of her folds teasingly before flicking against that delicate, sensitive bump. She sucked on it, humming lightly before pulling away to resume the pattern over and over again. Torturously slow.

"Please...!" Sofia whimpered.

"Not yet, darling." Alcina hissed, nipping the insides of her thighs, sucking the skin enough that a mark would be left.

A tormented moan from the woman above her.

Poor thing. As much as she tried to resist it, it didn't take long before she finished with several short gasps that she made an effort to muffle in the skin of her hand. Alcina eagerly consumed every bit of her release, drawing a squeak from the woman in her hands when she licked at her sensitive clit.

"Mmm," Alcina sighed, admiring her handiwork; little marks on Sofia's thighs, "What a darling thing you are, preparing yourself all for me."

Sofia smiled up at her, nodding.

Alcina's smile seemed hesitant for a moment, as if something bothered her. But it quickly vanished in place of lingering hunger. She gathered her into her arms and Sofia found that she liked the idea of sleeping in her bed again.

Alcina's hands were stroking her sides, holding her close.

"Al..." Sofia attempted, "Al...cina?"

"Hm?" Alcina's note was relaxed, content.

Sofia looked at her, brow wrinkling. Alcina found the look curious and continued to stroke her sides with her fingers. She was warmer now, body heated by their coupling and attentions.

"Tell me." Alcina pressed, when Sofia had grown silent, contemplative.

"Oh!" Sofia shook her head quickly. "Did...it hurt?"

"Did what hurt?"

"Wh-When..." Sofia huffed in frustration when the words lost themselves to her. "M-Mother made...you?"

Alcina stared at her quizzically, trying to understand. "You mean when Mother Miranda gave me her gift?" she questioned. A pause when Sofia nodded. "Oh, yes, completely. It's not like a simple operation, little one. It's having your body torn apart and rewritten down to your cells."

Sofia didn't seem disturbed by that. Only curious.

"Why the sudden fascination with my anatomy?" Alcina frowned now.

Sofia shook her head. "Know...more."

"Aww, you wish to know more about me?" Alcina smiled, somehow relieved to hear that was all it was. "How flattering. Well, I hope you don't intend to sleep much tonight."

O

Hilda prepared breakfast in the kitchen alone.

It didn't take long before Sofia eventually joined her. Hilda sensed the woman behind her, arched an eyebrow at her ravished and quite content expression; she was dressed in her morning uniform, no less. Still, Hilda wasn't ignorant to such sights.

"Did my Mistress have fun with you?" she quipped.

Sofia simply smiled, nodding her head.

"Well, such is her way, really," Hilda's tone was flat, but businesslike. "I have - Oh."

She blinked once, staring down at Sofia's hand when the woman held out something in an envelope. Hilda frowned up at her, took it and opened it. Sofia seemed a little happy with it and Hilda read the letter inside out loud.

"'Happy Birthday, Hilda. I know you don't celebrate them anymore and I know I struggle with words sometimes. But you were nice to me and taught me many things and I want to be nice to you. Thank you for everything'."

Hilda gave Sofia a half smile and Sofia raised her eyebrows with a grin.

"Alright, if you intend on learning, you will learn." she told the younger woman. "Come."

A nod from Sofia.

She started forward and the older woman raised a hand. "No, no, get an apron on and wash your hands."

Sofia tried not to laugh, but moved to do as she said.

Hilda began instructing her on the proper way to wash the vegetables and, for once, she was more gentle in her approach. She seemed content to have the company.