Shoving open the large metal doors, I was glad the sound they made covered up the loud, angry 'snarl' that came from my stomach as soon as I saw the mouthwatering feast that had been blocked from my view: along with the torturous smells that came with it. Spread precisely along the long dining table: rested baskets of piping-hot rolls that have been goldened to perfection, various meats on hotplates: the most recognizable were hams, baked chickens, turkeys, meatloaves and prime rib roasts. Judging from the smells, various meat-based stews and other creamy and hearty soups lay waiting in large, silver pots: with plenty of bowls, China and silverware to easily serve a dozen people. Though I couldn't see them, my nose also picked up dishes filled with steamed vegetables and herbs that ticked my nose pleasantly: which was even more torturous to my insistent, grumbling stomach.
'Hush. I hear you.' I mentally griped, watching the maids dressed in aprons and other kitchen staff rush around the room and prepare it to perfection: moving in practiced chaos that made it look as if their very lives depended on their performance, and knowing Alcina and her daughters, that passing thought probably wasn't far off from the truth. Stepping off to the side and out of the way, I briefly wondered if I would be able to get away with sneaking a buttered roll that was practically calling to me from its basket near the corner of the table: only to crush that idea as they probably knew the exact number of everything they brought out. Focusing on the silk, embroidered tablecloth instead of the meal, I subconsciously grit my teeth as my ears picked up the sound of the daughters as they trilled and giggled amongst themselves as they approached the Great Hall: cueing a shared, terrified 'flinch' of all the staff that had also heard it.
'I'm starting to see the source of the 'entertainment' around here.' I thought, brushing off the morbid thought as I went back to watching the staff set the table, raising an eyebrow as they picked up the pace and rushed to finish: with the last item being a large, dark bottle of red wine in a bucket of fresh ice and several crystal wine glasses set to each seat. Curling my lip at it, I decided the liquids in the soups and stews would suffice over having to literally drink blood again: as I was definitely not interested in indulging in it again. 'Interesting, considering you had no issue with letting our blood run in rivers.' one of the voices hissed, the vehemence in the scathing tone snapping me out of my daze long enough to hear it: and while the voices' constant screams and empty threats were hardly anything more than white-noise now, there were times when they were actually clear enough to sound as if they were standing over my shoulder or agonizing in their volume: such as now.
'Fuck off.' I mentally snarled, clenching my jaws and forced myself to remain grounded enough to ignore them: and having the 'Head Chef' steel herself and ring out a large, silver bell that apparently signaled the finished meal was a greatly appreciated distraction. That distraction didn't last, however, as the resonating and repetitive sound sang throughout the Castle in such a way that that single bell could be heard clear across the expanse of the building: how, I had no idea, but what I did know was this upcoming interaction wasn't going to be pleasant. As soon as the double doors cracked open, the entire room went silent: being replaced with the addictive stench of fear as the sisters entered the Dining Hall, 'giggling' the whole way.
"Oh my…what delightful entrees we're having tonight! I just can't wait to sink my teeth into them!" Cassandra announced, causing several of the serving maids to openly 'flinch' in terror: some even choked on sobs that they tried in vain to hold back. "I know! But I can't decide what to sample first! Shall I blindfold myself and choose randomly? I always did like a bit of mystery to my diet." Daniela chirped, sharing a sinister look with her sister: too busy with deciding the order in which they choose the courses of their meal to notice Bela scanning the room with purposeful intent: eyes flashing in recognition as she spotted me leaning with my arms crossed over my chest against the metal doorframe and out of the way of the busy foot traffic. Making her way over, I noticed that while she held the same predatory gleam in her eyes as her sisters: she was also wearing a shameful and apologetic look on her face, and I had a nagging suspicion as to why that was.
"Auntie…have we…offended you in some way?" she asked, paying no mind to the maids actively trying to avoid her, while doing everything in their power to appear respectful at the same time. "Not that you would've known, Bela. But there are things about me, things that I'm not fond of talking about: and asking about personal things is one of them. It may not have been your intention, but it did upset me, and I would appreciate it if you treaded carefully with that sort of topic: if only to appease Mother Miranda, she doesn't take too kindly to 'Outside' talk." I replied, using Miranda's obvious desire to keep the residents of the Village in the dark about to outside world as a scapegoat instead of the legitimate reason: and while I despised talking about it, I also knew that it would be a very easy blackmail tool to use against me, especially if they figured out that it was a sensitive topic with me.
"I understand, Auntie. Please, forgive us: and Cassandra, she means well, but has always been the most…brash of my sisters: and tends to let her mouth speak for her thoughts." she said, and while it was an odd choice of words, to say the least: I knew what she meant, especially when I came to that conclusion as soon as I first heard her speak. Tilting the pointed beak of my hood down in a wordless 'nod', I broke my hidden gaze with her and turned my attention back to the wooden doors: which was an action that was quickly followed by everyone else as the 'stomping' footsteps of Alcina's heels echoed against the wooden staircase as she made her way to join us, quickly silencing all nervous sounds and chatter as we waited for the 'Lady of the Castle' to make her appearance.
Ducking inside the Dining Hall, I watched as she cast the meal and the staff an appraising 'sneer' for several seconds before apparently finding what she saw adequate and stalked around to the Head of the long table and took her seat: where several maids wasted no time in prepping her extra-large, crystal wine glass to the brim with a very dark red wine that made my nose curl. Following her example, the daughters took their places at the table and received identical treatment as their mother: who raised her perfectly groomed eyebrow at me as she caught me leaning against the doorframe instead of joining them at the table. Tilting my head at the empty seat, I silently asked if the remaining seat was for me: not actually caring, but appealing to her aristocratic mannerisms with some semblance of 'proper manners' by waiting to be seated would more-than-likely make interactions easier and relieve me of at least one migraine during my unwilling stay in this Village.
Casting me a mildly-impressed look, she answered my silent question with a nod of her own: gesturing to the empty seat with a wave of her fingers, giving me 'permission' to join them as I complied and settled into my own cushioned seat. Ignoring the maids as they filled my own crystal glass with the blood-filled wine, I busied myself with unfolding the silk napkin and placed it on my lap: feeling grateful that at least one of the lives I've taken and rendered as a part of myself knew at least some form of etiquette, which was quite-possibly saving my ass right now.
"Well…at least someone understands the concept of proper manners: quite refreshing, if I must say, it seems you just might earn yourself a favorable opinion from me, Sister. In truth, I admit I originally had a commonsensical label of you during our first encounter: as all Outsiders thus far have expressed a quintessential approach in even the most basic interactions with the 'Superior Class', it was positively deplorable and medieval. It pleases me that you seem to at least understand your station: which was going to take up the majority of your lessons with me, per Mother Miranda's request. Fortunately, it seems as if there will be no need to induct that particular step further." she announced, sending me a coy smile full of teeth as she gestured to the maids: who quickly rushed to the table and began filling our plates to the edge with a bit of everything: respectfully backing away when I lifted my fingers and signal that I was satisfied with my selection.
'Thank God, because I'm not sure how I would be able to handle being here longer than I need to be: just goes to show how the 'Upper-Class' never was my scene.' I thought, mindlessly joining the other infected in some toast or other, before resting my wrists on the edge of the table and started digging into some of the mouthwatering prime rib that I had been eyeing earlier. Despite that Alcina and her daughters treated their staff as little more than playthings and food: they sure did know how to put a meal together: roasted to juicy perfection, it took everything in my power to refrain from tearing into my plateful with gusto. I wasn't starving, but I had been so busy with my manhunt that I had forgone a meal for the better part of a week: which was doing 'wonderful' things for my…'higher-than-normal' requirement for protein.
Sending the maids an appreciative 'hum', I caught sight of the looks of relief shared among them: which led me to believe that in procuring a satisfactory meal, I had quite possibly saved them from…disappearing. Over the course of twenty minutes or so, I had cleared my plate of prim rib, steamed vegetables, roast chicken with basil and rosemary, a soup that the Head Chef called 'Ciorba De LeGume' and three buttered rolls. And while I was pleasantly stuffed and ready to slip into a food coma: I made it blatantly clear that I was not about to indulge in their wine: I had had enough human blood grace my innards, and wasn't keen on doing so out of sheer enjoyment: which I was positive that Alcina noticed, judging from the questioning 'lift' of a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
"No offense to you, Alcina: just not really fond of 'bibens sanguinem'." I said, using the Latin term for the shared habit in order to avoid causing a panic amongst the maids: which was totally unnecessary now that I actually had time to think about it, all things considered: but she seemed to be impressed with my fluency and knowledge of multiple languages all the same. "Pity. For House Dimitrescu is infamous for producing the finest wines in the region, shame it isn't to your liking, Sister: though I do appreciate your unwillingness to offend with your…selcouth tastes." she said, paying no mind to her daughters as they entertained themselves with their own conversations, complete with the occasional giggle or sinister smile.
"Appreciate they you're accepting of that." I mentioned, finished up my roll and wiped my face before laying the silverware in the right order on the plate to signal that I was finished: which was quickly tended to by the serving maids and were rushed to the kitchens to be cleaned and put away. Heaving a contented 'sigh', I patiently waited for the daughters and Alcina to finish: feeling a creeping unease that I was about to be included in some conversation or other that I had no interest in partaking in, thankfully, it never came. Glancing at Alcina as the maids gradually cleared the table and tended to the dishes and leftovers, I caught sight of an insidious gleam in her blue eyes: a look that immediately set my nerves on edge, especially once I noticed the girls had fallen silent and were staring at me with similar expressions.
'Christ, talk about being thrown to the piranhas.' I thought, pursing my lips and narrowed my eyes at them from beneath my hood: silently daring them to make a move, if only to have an excuse to flay the sinister grins right off their faces. "Well now, I trust that dinner was satisfactory, Sister? If not, it can always be rectified later: I can assure you, there's plenty for everyone." Alcina said, letting a dark chuckle grace the Dining Hall as several maids scurried through the door and made themselves scarce as fast and as respectfully as humanly possible. "It was wonderful, Alcina: compliments to your staff for making one of the best meals I've had in a long while." I said, feeling a tired, snappish tone start making its way into my words: but not having the energy to give a shit. "I see. Then I suppose its time to show you to your sleeping quarters for the evening. Daughters." she replied, and before I could get up to react: the girls let out their insidious laughter and literally swarmed me again, blinding my vision as the bugs' shrieking in my ears nearly sent me reeling as I was shoved out the doors again.
Clenching my jaws to prevent any noises that gave away my aggravation, I couldn't do much but let the bugs push and shove me up the grand staircase and down several more hallways and passages in a twisting dance that nearly made me nauseous: breathing a silent sigh of relief when the spinning, laughter and tripping stopped: leaving the swarms of deafening bugs to dissipate and reform into the girls as I took in the room I had been forced into. True to her word, Alcina had the girls 'escort' me to a spare bedroom: and a very luxurious one, at that. Ignoring the crimson wallpaper, white and gold trim, filigree and other pieces of furniture to match the rest of the Castle: was a very large four-poster bed that was decorated with thick mahogany posts with animals carved into them, thick duvets that were probably stuffed to the seams with goose feathers, same with the pillows and a mattress thick and soft-looking enough to swallow me whole.
Across from the inviting bed, was a full-length mirror in an oval shape and was bordered with the same golden filigree as everywhere else and I wasn't in the least bit shocked that Alcina demanded consistency with the shiny metal. 'Never have been one for the lavish life, but I don't exactly have a choice: and sleeping on the floor would fuck myself over more than anything. Whatever, as long as they finally leave me the hell alone, I guess I can deal with it.' I thought, scanning the room for anything that would have both myself and the virus on edge: and for two very different reasons. Sending a subtle pulse of my Sonar through the room: I nearly recoiled at the intense overload that the girls' bugs caused, I was not looking for that sort of analysis. Ignoring their curious stares, I finished my silent search of the room and was thankful I couldn't find anything: else Alcina and I would be having a very intense conversation that would probably put her interactions with Heisenberg to shame.
Turning my attention back to the daughters, I silently raised an eyebrow as they shared a secretive smile amongst themselves, 'giggled' in unison, and dissipated under the door in a loud swarm that left my ears ringing painfully for several minutes after they left. 'The hell was that?' I wondered, feeling apprehensive as to why they decided to leave without saying anything: and it definitely left me certain that they had some shit planned, because of course they did: everyone here does, one way or another. Heaving a sigh that was heavy enough to shift the vertebrae in my spine: I focused my senses and listened, watched and felt the floor for any vibrations that would give away anyone trying to eavesdrop on my small semblance of privacy. Satisfied that I found myself completely alone for the first time in forty-eight hours: I kicked the slippers off my feet and made my way to the window and pushed aside the lace curtains, not surprised to find the glass protected by cast-iron mesh or that the window itself was at least a hundred feet in the air with nothing below but frosted granite and borderless forest that stretched as far as my eyes could see.
Giving the glass an experimental 'tap' with my gloved finger, I knew it wouldn't take any effort to shatter the window, nor would the fall actually hurt me if I decided to make a break for it. However, if I did, Miranda and her 'pets' would be all over my ass and would most definitely try to find an alternative method of control over me: if the Cadou around my neck didn't snap it for 'disobedience' first. 'Best to wait it out, might get some fun information out of it later.' I thought, despising having to play their game, but would ultimately make it even more satisfying to turn around and throw their 'generosity' back in their faces in the form of brutality. Shaken from my daydream by movement down below: my sharp eyes caught side of a shadow flitting between the trees in a way that differed from the Lycans, oozing caution and its deliberate slowness sparked my curiosity.
Keeping watch, I was able to pick out the finer details of the figure: which only heightened my curiosity as soon as I spotted the cherry of Heisenberg's cigar glowing dimly in the growing darkness. 'Now I wonder what you could be doing with that.' I thought, catching sight of a full-sized shovel slung over his shoulder in place of his hammer and had appeared to be coated in dirt and rust from years of use. Smirking to myself as he looked around for any unwanted eyes: I noted that even Infected didn't think to look up when searching for threats, a dangerous flaw that all living things shared. Clearly finding nothing, I watched him make his way along deer trails and shrubs until he became difficult for even my enhanced eyes to see: leaving me to intently watch the area he had gone for the better part of an hour, only to perk up again as movement retreating from that direction refreshed my curiosity as Heisenberg reappeared through the trees.
"Well now…now you've got me curious." I muttered interestedly to myself, watching him trudge through the underbrush with the shovel over one shoulder: and a decomposing body-bag over the other: which he carried with very little effort, hinting that he was much stronger than he looked. Seemingly feeling my eyes on him, he paused in his hike and glanced around again: before common sense seemed to kick in, prompting the graverobbing Infected to look up and freeze like a deer in the headlights as he spotted me leaning against the window-frame with my arms crossed as I regarded him. 'Busted.' I thought mischievously, sending the man a smug 'smirk' as we made apparent eye contact: giving me a special kind of satisfaction as what color I could see drained from his face as soon as he realized he was caught.
Luckily for him, I didn't make it a habit to make someone else's business mine unless it concerned me: and the fact that he was sneaking around in the cover of darkness made it clear to me that he didn't want anyone knowing what that business was. That being said, I made that intent obvious as I raised my hand and ran my thumb and pointer finger across my lips: signaling that I had no intention on letting his little endeavor slip and would keep it quiet. Apparently catching him off guard with that, he remained frozen in his place for several long seconds: glaring dangerously up at me over the top of his sunglasses and biting hard enough on the cigar that it was a wonder he didn't chomp it in half. However, once he realized that I really had no intention of actually saying anything, he sent me a short, curt 'nod' of appreciation: which I returned with a two-fingered salute as he picked up the pace in a rush, hurrying back to continue whatever task that required a corpse before anyone else got curious of his late-night snooping.
Once he was gone, I turned my gaze skyward: marveling at the building storm clouds as they covered the dark-indigo sky and millions of stars that were clearly visible with the lack of the moon. Nothing I hadn't seen before, but even after all this time: I enjoyed a quiet moment to take in the surroundings of 'The Wilds', where there was no evidence of concrete walls, two-way glass, or bickering, compassionless voices anywhere. Despite being a prisoner of sorts for the time being, it was still a much better alternative than what I had been living-no, existing through while I was in the possession of the facility. 'Possession. What a kind way to put that living nightmare: there's no negative words in any language I know that can properly describe that shit.' I mentally snarled, before shaking my head to clear those thoughts before they soured my semi-decent mood as I shut out the noise and focused on the clouds until they started releasing the rain that hit the glass in fat droplets: their repetitive noise reminding me just how tired I actually was.
Turning from the window, I headed into the connected bathroom and gave my teeth a thorough scrubbing in the sink as well as I could: scowling at the lack of a toothbrush, but wasn't going to use it even if there was one: purposefully ignoring my reflection on my way out as I shut off the lights: plunging the room in darkness and approached the bed. Giving it a once-over, I knew the sheets were spotless: as was everything else in the Castle, but wasn't exactly comfortable with letting my guard down enough to indulge in the comforts that Alcina was 'ever-so-gracious' to give. However, as the Cadou shifted its grip around my neck, I knew that I was in for some shit that was going to push my limited patience to the limits: and needed all the sleep I could get in preparation for that. Ignoring the creature, I huffed a 'growl' and pulled the sheets back and jumped in: struggling to find my balance as the thick, plush mattress easily yielded to my form and cocooned me in an embrace of feathers and silk.
'God-damn, how the hell do they expect me to sleep in this thing without suffocating?!' I thought, struggling to get comfortable in the almost-too-soft bed: 'hissing' as a spark of pain shot through my bad shoulder as I flipped over on it, intending to guard my bad side while I slept, but only ended up jarring it instead. "Shit!" I hissed, clenching my teeth as a white-hot flash of pain flared throughout my entire body as both my shoulder and shredded wing angrily protested at the unexpected treatment. Once the pain stopped, I was able to settle myself enough to relax: it would take much more than that to actually rest, however. 'And I wonder why that is?' I thought, heavy sarcasm lacing my mental voice: knowing exactly why I had trouble sleeping, exactly why I hardly ever found enough peace to sleep at all anymore.
That being said, I struggled to let my mind rest enough to be mentally prepared for whatever bullshit Alcina and Miranda had planned for me as a whole: and knew that the task was a war in itself. "Well, well. Look at you." a cold and condescending voice echoed in the dark, lonely room. 'No.' I thought, immediate denial shooting through me as my eyes squinted shut: trying in vain to ignore it as it came again. "Rolling over for strangers again, I see." the scathing, hateful voice taunted again. 'No!' I mentally shouted, gritting my teeth as cruel snickering hissed throughout the room: seemingly finding amusement as I buried my head in the overstuffed, goose-down pillows and did everything in my power to ignore its very existence. "Trying to ignore me again, are you? How pathetic. Just like you. Look at you, collared like a fucking dog: begging for treats and praise, cowering from beatings, what? Are you so desperate for companionship, that you would stoop so low as to remain chained as you are? Are you that desperate to serve a Master, that you would play the servant to these insignificant Mutts?" it spat, making my eyes snap open as I launched myself upright to glare hatefully at the source of the voice: wanting nothing more than to permanently shut it up, which sadly, wasn't an option.
Glaring at the source of the voice, I wished for nothing more than a slow, agonizing death upon the source of my current annoyance, and it was something that would immediately bring a lesser creature with some semblance of reality such disarray, that it would immediately call its current mentality into question: if not outright panic. Instead of an unwanted intruder, there, casually reflecting back at me in a languid stance: was a mirror-image of myself. Looking the same and dressed the same: the Shade's vibrant turquoise eyes glittered dangerously from beneath her hood, complete with a Cheshire 'smirk' that showed off the vampire-like, predatory fangs that had taken the place of normal human canines.
"Oh, did I disturb your sleep, Princess?" she taunted, making me bare my own teeth at her and longed to shred her dismal existence in every way, shape and form. "Fuck off!" I snarled, grinding my teeth as she widened her grin and laughed: a sound that would appear musical to the unwary, if it wasn't usually followed with a slash of metal claws and indescribable bloodshed. "Why? So you can continue playing pretend with a pretend family of half-assed Pretenders? You? The 'Top of the Food-chain', the 'Combatant without Equal'?" she said, not at all phased by the low, dangerous 'growl' that rumbled from deep in my chest: the only warning many have gotten before they found themselves ground like fresh chum.
"I said-" "Oh no, I heard you: I just don't fucking care. And why the hell should I? You used to be a terror among men: the Femme Fatale that everyone desired to tame, 'Lady John Wick', remember? Remember what you did to those who so much as hinted that they wished you harm? Who dared challenge you? Remember Blackwatch?" she taunted, making a truly horrible noise escape my jaws at the mere mention of that name…that accursed name. "Did I piss you off?" she laughed, spreading her jaws in a wide, maniacal smile full of teeth as I lunged out of bed in a deadly pounce: both arms extending the lethal metal Claws outward in an instant and more-than-ready to disembowel this tormentor that I will never truly be rid of. Huffing and puffing through flared nostrils and open jaws, I stopped short at the base of the mirror: just barely refusing to shatter the mirror and draw unwanted attention to my current predicament.
"If I ever hear that fucking name again-" "You'll do what? Enlighten me, or are you that fucking stupid to think that we're separate entities? I am you, you are me: we are the Bane of this fucking Earth and here you sit: playing the PET of a winged woman and her little band of misfits like they have any power over you. Quit stalling and rend the flesh from her bones, pluck her feathers, grind her into paste! Do to her…what you did to McMullen! Amputate her legs and watch her scramble! Get creative! And if the others try to get in your way of your fun: fuck 'em! Nobody tames you, nobody can challenge you: they can't hurt you because you'll heal, they can't contend with your mind because you carry so many of the most brilliant minds on the planet in that fucked-up little head of yours! Just end it already! What are you waiting for?! Are you THAT ashamed of what you are, that you'd rather play the part of a meek…little…human?!" she said, taunting me into the senseless violence that the facility, that god-damned facility had beaten into me since I was a fucking child: a state that I had no intention of slipping into ever again.
"Oh…I get it. I see now. You still miss them." she sneered, paying no mind as my entire body tensed like an overly-wound spring: Biomass rising in a visible mass of porcupine quill-like protrusions from my shoulders and were just as sharp. "You don't want to follow your instincts because of them, its always them: you still feel guilty! Guilty for doing what you were made for!" she accused, glaring at me as the world around me shifted colors as a brilliant orange tinted my surroundings as my glowing, neon orange eyes made contact with her turquoise ones through the glass: a frightening sight that has been more than enough to send onlookers into cardiac arrest on several, different occasions. With a savage 'screech', the mirror shattered in a loud explosion of glass and gold: with five large, frightening gouges dug deep into the wallpaper, plaster and through the thick, clay bricks behind it as my Claws whipped through the air with blinding speed and would have taken the head off the offending Shade in several diagonal chunks of bloodied meat and shattered bone.
Panting heavily and wired for bloodlust, I completely ignored the 'pounding' of rushing footsteps and made a break for it: dashing through the window in an explosion of glass and Biomass, feeling the semi-sentient substance build and thin out between my torso and the gaps in my arms and legs: forming a crude wingsuit that caught the storm's winds and carried me as far from the Castle as the angry, protesting parasite would allow. I didn't know what I planned to do or where I was going: but if it was one thing I've learned, is that once I got worked up enough to rend something's flesh from its bones in the slowest, must brutal way I could think of: it was time for me to make a swift exit, if only to prevent myself from rampaging on every living thing my senses could find. That being said, I ignored the shocked cries and outraged yells as I used the cover of darkness and violent storm to cover my tracks as I made a mad-dash for freedom: Cadou be damned. Unfortunately, my 'freedom' only extended to the Castle's roof: as I learned very quickly that said parasite started screaming and writhing something awful if I tried to cross the property line.
"Yeah, fuck you too. You piece of shit." I snarled, swiping at it with my Claws again: and immediately started choking as the damned thing nearly snapped my neck again in retaliation. As soon as it loosened its grip enough to let me breathe, I tensed my legs and leapt into the air: before using that momentum to swing and throw myself higher and higher, jumping off ledges, balconies and towers until I found myself perched on the highest point on the building that I could reach. 'With any luck, I'll serve as a lightning rod: maybe that'll get you off.' I thought in annoyance, opting to perch on the metal rod as well as I could and let the frigid rain soak through my body suit to the point where my high body temperature dropped enough to make me shiver: effectively cooling me off and helped in bringing me out of my bloodthirsty state.
While fighting against that particular side of me was no easy task by any means: it was the part where I would have to face Alcina after marring her precious Castle that I wasn't ready for. And even though I wasn't sorry, nor did I regret it: it also meant that they got a pretty interesting clue in the mystery that was my arsenal of abilities. They thought they were sneaky and subtle: but I knew that every single one of Miranda's 'children' were dying to know what made me so special…what made me tick…why Miranda was so invested in me: and I knew they would find out, eventually. The real question was…how would that secret be found out, and whether or not any of them would be alive to tell about it.