~O~

Carousel II

Diego bowed to Salvatore, earning a surprised noise from the Lord.

"A good evening to you, small Lord," Diego said, with a friendly smile. "It isn't often that I come across a creature as curious and rare as you."

Salvatore grunted, perplexed by the comment. "Huh?"

Diego held out a hand to him and Salvatore was confused for a moment. Then, he reached up and they shook hands, earning a warm chuckle from Diego. It was clear to the taller man that this Lord hadn't received respect much.

"Ah, that is how a proper man shakes," he said, "You were a fisherman, yes? I have heard of the Moreau family. Where would we be in this country without its fishermen and doctors to aid us? This village owes you quite a debt, Lord Moreau."

It earned a surprised smile from Salvatore. He'd never heard of such praise and he loved it. It was nice to be offered such benedictions.

"Are you a tea man, Lord Salvatore?" Diego questioned, placing a hand on his back as they walked.

"Whiskey." Salvatore replied.

Diego chuckled. "Yes, a man of refined taste!"

Salvatore grinned, delighted with the compliments.

They passed a carousel Sofia was standing next to, watching villagers on the horses as it made several circles; they were laughing happily, their sounds almost blurring in Sofia's ears.

Her mouth was dry. Her head had begun to pound.

The carousel sounds had begun to slow to a low, eerie whirring sound. She saw flashes of faces laughing at her, swirls of screeching crows.

Her teeth ached, gums burning.

Thirsty.

It had grow harder to focus, even when she heard Daniela approaching her with a laugh.

"Sofia! What are you doing - Oh no."

Daniela's smile drained from her face when she saw the veins around Sofia's cheeks and eyes; the darkening of her red eyes, the way her mouth had begun to water. Sofia looked at her, brow tightening with fear.

"H-Hungry." she groaned. "I... I don't."

"Okay, come on." Daniela's playful tone disappeared as she took her hand, leading her through the crowds, back toward the castle. "Let's go eat."

Sofia nodded her head and was led toward the castle gates.

"There are a few maidens - "

"No! No, no maidens..." Sofia argued, pleadingly. Her voice was hoarse, less human and more animal. "M-Might...hurt them."

Daniela didn't argue with that. She simply shrugged her shoulders before looking over her shoulders. "Okay, how about one of the horses?"

Sofia withered at the thought, but didn't argue it either.

"Don't worry. I'll tell mother it was an emergency."

A sharp nod from Sofia.

O

Eating the horse was easier after Daniela killed it.

Sofia wiped her bloody mouth, looking at Daniela who had also indulged in the meal. The woman smiled at her, tilting her head. It had been easy to tear the beast apart for her, but she had remained puzzled; Sofia was capable of rending anything in her path to pieces. She didn't understand her hesitation to use her full strength, even after all this time.

"Feel better?" Daniela asked.

Sofia nodded. "Yes. I'm...sorry you had to...leave the fun."

Daniela chuckled, licking her fingers of blood before she smiled reassuringly at her. "It's alright. I don't mind helping a member of our family."

Sofia smiled hesitantly. "Family?"

"Yes!" Daniela gave her a playful push of her shoulder. "You're family, aren't you?"

Sofia thought about it and her mind went to the cruelty of Miranda's words. She was still haunted by the torment of her surgery, but she didn't dare share it with the others, especially Alcina. The trouble she knew it could cause wasn't worth it. Still, it tormented her and she put on a face to keep it hidden.

"Y-Yes. Thank you." Sofia eventually told her.

Daniela smiled with a note of approval before she looked up at Irina who had been approaching them. The maid looked stunned by the gory massacre before her and Daniela shrugged thoughtfully before holding up one hand.

"It's fine!" she assured the maid, "It was an emergency!"

Irina smiled nervously. "I suppose horse lessons will be postponed?"

Daniela laughed as she watched her walk away. Then, she looked at Sofia and her tone was serious. "But you do have to eat other things eventually." she reminded her. "You have to start making your own kills. That's part of this. You can't be weak."

Sofia sighed, but nodded her head. "Yes..."

"Still, no more of that." Daniela stood up and took her hand. "We can clean up and rejoin them below before the sun comes up. We have plenty of time."

That was true. And there was still much to see.

The two women ventured down to the carnival again.

"D-Do you like it?" Sofia asked.

"Hm? What?" Daniela questioned, looking at her.

"The car-nival."

Daniela flashed a toothy grin. "Of course I do!" she told her. "I do so enjoy these games, Sofia. Plus, we see our share of odd little men and women. They see the world, don't they? Don't you want to?"

Sofia thought about it for a moment. She never really considered what the outside world would be like. She didn't know what to expect. The carnival was a fun reprieve from the doom and gloom of the village under Miranda's rule.

What was it like, indeed?

Her eyes focused on the torches that the traveling carnival had put around the village; peculiar smells burned from them, filled with sweet incense that filled her senses. She didn't quite understand it, but it was pleasant and added to the relief and charm of the evening.

O

Miranda observed the performance of fire and dances, all performed by the carnival folk; grand and elaborate, even she had to admit. Once the performance had finished, Diego had been making a speech, though she barely cared for it. Still, the villagers were grateful, she could see that as much. Her time would be better spent on her work.

Oddities and human peculiarities. The traveling carnival had its share of humans changed from birth. They were unlike her own creatures, of course. Perhaps she could use them in some experiment. That would be -

Diego gestured to her with one hand before she could depart, interrupting her thoughts. "...and we have our very own Mother Miranda to thank for her warm welcome!" he announced. "If not for her allowing us into your village, we would not be enjoying tonight!"

Applause from the villagers and Miranda smiled thinly in response. Diego winked at her and she grimaced with disgust at the gesture. Such blatant audacity. She wanted to teach the impudent man some manners in front of the whole village.

"Thank you, Mother Miranda!" a small child nearby told her, grinning.

Miranda's expression softened and she sighed quietly through her nose. What an absurd compliment, but one that earned her praise from them. That diminished her need to punish Diego. It wouldn't do to have the village disapprove, especially when she needed them to provide her subjects.

Still, perhaps a few words were in order.

She noticed Alcina and Sofia were talking, with Daniela at their side. Sofia appeared to be saying something horrid as it made Alcina's eyes widen. Daniela was assuring her of something else and Alcina was relieved, though still uncertain.

Whatever the reason, Miranda had been observing Sofia. Something could make her useful, of course. One day.

Miranda had begun to feel a dark churning at her shoulders.

Her Children.

Flaws in her design, of course.

But they looked at her with yearning that came elsewhere, she knew that.

O

Miranda was in the chapel when Diego entered.

"I did not call for you." Miranda told him.

He removed his hat and gave her a polite bow of his head. "No, you did not, madam," he said, his tone gentle with all the manners one was expected to have when addressing her. "Still, I thought it prudent to speak with you alone."

"Prudent, but presumptuous." Miranda did not look back at him.

"Hm, forgive me," Diego continued, with a half-smile. He looked toward a chair. "May I sit?"

Miranda looked back at him now. "Fine."

Diego smiled and took a seat. "You are most generous."

"As they say." Miranda was disinterested in the conversation.

Diego pondered something; his expression was darker, deep in thought. "My family has wandered the country seeking shelter," he explained, "We are but remnants of a time forgotten. Though few would remember us."

Miranda wrinkled her brow. "I don't know what you mean."

Diego looked haunted for a moment, before smiling broadly at her. "Do you know of Las Plagas, dear Lady Miranda?"

Miranda's eyes narrowed. "Yes."

Diego rose and Miranda rose with him. He chuckled quietly, seemingly distracted for a moment. "Yes, I understand you'd know of what it is." he continued. "We are simple byproducts before the Americans claimed what wasn't theirs to claim. Such is their way."

Miranda sensed the change and watched his expression change from the cool, pleasant warmth to a frigid iciness.

"And I know what you are," he told her, "One who would play the part of Benevolent Mother. But she is just as we are. A pernicious, diseased creature who would enslave her people instead of stand equal to them."

Miranda's smile was vicious. "And who are you to accuse me of - "

"Me?" Diego chuckled, unfazed by her tone and smile. "I'm leftovers."

Whatever that meant, Miranda didn't know. She simply watched with a glare as Diego tipped his hat to her before departing. She would swear that she would teach him manners; she would teach his entire menagerie of animals what it meant to disrespect her.

She heard cheering and laughter from the village outside. What would they say about it, she wondered?

O

Daniela, Bela and Cassandra cheered and laughed, applauding a man who swallowed fire.

"How does he not burn himself?" Daniela questioned, laughing with her sisters.

"If he did, that's be something to talk about, wouldn't it?" Cassandra grinned.

Bela looked up, noticing Sofia and Alcina walking together. She smiled at the sight of them, then looked at her sisters.

"What do you think, sisters?" she questioned. "Sofia's one of us now. Does that mean mother intends to keep her permanently?"

Cassandra let out a short laugh. "You mean...?"

"I do." Bela said. "Mother's already made a painting of all of us together. She did that once before with Mother Miranda. Remember?"

"You were spying." Daniela gave her sister a shove. "You know how she feels about that."

"I WASN'T SPYING." Bela argued, with a glare and show of teeth. "Mother needed me to check the cattle below and I was coming up to give my report. I saw her making the painting."

The three women looked over at Sofia and Alcina once more as they stood in front of a carousel, watching the villagers on the horses. Sofia had said something that made Alcina smile affectionately at her, though she attempted pride and manners.

"Mother's happy, that's what matters," Daniela assured them, with a pleased smile. "And she always wanted a family. I think Sofia's perfect now for that."

Cassandra looked hesitant, but nodded. "Yes. Maybe so."

Bela smiled thinly and looked at her. "Doubts?"

"Well, not exactly but..." Cassandra made a face. "The help?"

The other two crowed with laughter at that. Cassandra merely winced, rolled her eyes and shook her head before they approached their mother and Sofia.

"Daughters!" Alcina brightened when she saw their smiling faces. "How have you been enjoying yourselves tonight?"

"Very much so, mother." Daniela told her, with a grin. "The sun may rise soon. So maybe we should get back to the castle."

Sofia caught their looks and smiled sheepishly. "Don't... Don't stop for me."

"It's alright, I was hungry anyway," Daniela assured her, putting an arm around the other woman's shoulders. "I have a little side dish we could share. Mother gets first bite, of course."

Alcina chuckled warmly. "A family supper. I look forward to it, dear daughters."

They departed, but Alcina paused at the torches lit, taking a few sniffs of the incense with a frown before following her family home.

The sun had risen over the village as its people departed for their homes. Diego was standing on the carousel with a thin smile on his face. His eyes were glowing yellow. The carnival folk among him were also watching the village with glowing eyes.

"My dear friends, do they know?" Diego questioned.

"I don't know, Diego." a man covered in tattooes said, hesitantly.

Diego smiled thinly now.

Such a shame.