Hello everyone! In this chapter Mother Miranda takes Alcina to the village where she will be experimented on along with bringing her to Castle Dimitrescu. Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 15:

Miranda could not believe how easy it had been to manipulate Alcina. And in a small fraction of a way, she felt guilt for having the method she had used against the proud noblewoman, but sacrifices had to be made. Her happiness; her goal to bring her Eva back to life far outweighed all else. She would use whomever she had to. No matter the cost.

The two had rode together in her vehicle where Miranda explained some of the process. Alcina more curious about this 'power' she had spoken of, Miranda did her best to explain in terms that would make sense to a mortal. Not that Alcina would get away if she learned the whole truth. Miranda could easily subdue her if the need arose.

Miranda rested her hand underneath her chin, eyes glued out the car window. It was a shame, though. Helena had also made mention of Alcina's blood disease, which could prove fatal and kill her if she was too weak to support the parasite.

'What a shame you were killed, Helena,' she thought. 'I truly believe you would have been the perfect vessel. With your noble blood that was not tainted by the blood disease, but nothing can be done about it now.' She turned her gaze over to Alcina, who was staring out her window with a set, determined face. 'All has not been completely lost…'

{-}

The car had stopped in the middle of nowhere. There were trees scattered here and there, allowing Alcina to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a village a few miles away. The sky had darkened considerably; the air cold and getting colder. She shivered, suddenly feeling Miranda touch her shoulder to indicate for her to follow.

The two walked down a well trampled path where they appeared out into an open area. The area looked like something from medieval times. There was an old structure from a castle, or fort scattered across the place.

"This way, Lady Alcina," Miranda said, walking passed what looked like part of a tower, and then lowered herself to the ground.

Beep. Beep.

Alcina gasped as the ground started to shake while the beeping grew louder.

"What is that?" Alcina asked.

Miranda chuckled, rising up to her feet when a new sound met their ears. One that sounded like an old door 'creaking' on old hinges. Small red, orange and yellow lights came to life around them.

"I-is this a platform?" Alcina said.

"Have you ever been on an elevator?" Miranda suddenly asked.

"Of course," Alcina said, frowning in growing confusion.

"Good. Then this little ride will not be so bad for you…"

'Ride?' Alcina thought, nearly losing her balance as the platform dropped half an inch and then started to go down. For the first time since meeting Miranda she felt unsettled. A gnawing feeling in her gut telling her something was wrong. Very wrong.

The platform finally stopped and out they exited in a bleach white hallway. The lights were too bright, making Alcina feel dizzy and then came the sounds of voices. Other researchers, doctors in their own separate rooms. One room in particular they had passed, Alcina caught a glimpse of x-rays that did not look human nor animal.

'What is this? Where the hell am I?'

"In here," Miranda said, opening a door to reveal two other doctors standing around a table with restraints on it.

Alcina did not move at first. Considering the option of running…

Miranda stretched out her arm and offered her hand out to Alcina.

"Do not be afraid. This is what you want. What you have always wanted. Your revenge. Now take it."

She closed her eyes and saw Josie bleeding out on the floor. Fredric's mutilated body in the shed; his head posted on the stake. Roderick's sneer as he proclaimed what he had done. The feel of his fists. His breath. His words.

"Remember." Miranda nodded, smiling when Alcina placed her hand into her own. "Keep that fire. Use that anger…"

"What will happen to me?" Alcina whispered, allowing Miranda to guide her over to the table where she was then laid down, her breath catching at the cold steel on her back. The other doctors placing the restraints around her wrists and ankles, but she barely noticed. Her full attention fixed on Miranda, who leaned forward and placed a kiss to her forehead. Her mouth moving, but Alcina could not hear the words spoken.

She was aware she was slipping away. The room growing dimmer and dimmer until there was nothing. No pain. No one…, but wait. Yes, she could hear her voice. Feel her touch.

Her mother.

Mother Miranda.

No matter how much pain she was in, Mother Miranda was always there to comfort her.

"You are doing so very well, Daughter. So very well."

All sense of time was lost to her, and in time her memories. Who was she? She started to open her eyes at the sound of voices. They sounded so faint, but she recognized the female voice. Yes, her mother.

"She has responded well to the Cadou, however, there have been major changes to her physically. She continues to grow. This is the fourth time we've had to move her to a longer table. It took ten men just to move her."

"That will not be your concern anymore. Her time here is over. I'm afraid she will not be the vessel," Miranda said, approaching the table to look at Alcina up close. "Soon, Daughter, soon…"

'Mother?' Alcina could hear the disappointment in her tone, but why? Had she done something to disappoint her? If so, what was it? She was leaving. Walking out the door and back to the surface. 'No, Mother, please do not leave. Wait!'

"What the hell did she mean by that?" another unknown female spoke up.

"I have no idea," a male responded, unnerved.

Alcina started to move her body. How heavy it felt. Awkward. And with the restraints it made sitting up impossible.

"How are her vitals?" she heard the man speak again.

"Stable, but her heart rate has risen."

"I will inject her with this, then. Let's pray she doesn't lose control like the others have."

Alcina started to raise her arm, she had to find Mother. She had to!

"She is moving!"

"Incredible. She should be fast asleep."

"Her heart rate has dropped a bit."

"Mo-ther…" Alcina murmured, the bright light in the room temporarily blinding her. "Wh-er-e is sh-she?"

"Give her the injection, quickly!"

Alcina tried to open her eyes again and what she saw threw her into a rage. She saw his face, she could not remember his name or who he was, but her instincts were screaming for her to kill.

"YOU!" She tugged and yanked at her restraints. Releasing an inhuman scream as she pulled with all her might and freed herself. "DIE!" Blood red eyes locked on to her prey, her fingernails turned into long claws as she sliced at the doctor.

Blood splattered the walls and floor, coating Alcina's half-naked body as she used her new fashioned claws to tear a female doctor in two. She moved awkwardly. Her bulk causing her to stagger and tilt precariously. Barely able to make her way over to the door, she stood straighter and hit her head off a ceiling fan. Luckily it was not moving, but the impact still rattled her skull.

"Mother… I must find her."

Using her claws to break out of the room, she was forced to duck down and entered a bright hallway. She shielded her eyes. Hating the brightness.

"I must find her…" she said, almost stumbling over her own two feet, grimacing as a sharp pain hit her skull. The lights not helping her growing headache, she used her claws and shattered them until an alarm started to blare. She growled, slashing at the walls to end the sound. The bright lights changing to a blood red, and then came the sound of footsteps. Shouting.

"Oh my god!"

Alcina turned at the sight of twenty doctors headed straight for her; however, at the sight of her they came to an abrupt halt.

"Go back!"

"We can't. The Lycans are back there."

A roar echoed up and down the hallway no sooner had the woman spoken.

"Run!"

Alcina swiping at the doctors as they passed her by, looked up at the sound of a second roar, and there where the doctors had just stood were five creatures that looked like a combination of a man and a wolf, only they walked on two legs.

The beasts did not hesitate to charge straight at her. Alcina swiftly taking the heads off two, grunted as one leaped towards her and slashed its blood soaked claws at her waist.

"Die!" she snarled, sinking her claws into its skull and tossing it away.

The other two using the walls to leap straight for her throat, Alcina then retracted her claws and snatched them both around their necks.

Crack!

She used all her strength and slammed their heads together. Dropping their limp bodies to the floor, she stepped over the corpses and continued to search for Mother Miranda.

Outside on the surface, Miranda watched the carnage from her computer. The cameras still fully functioning, she smiled in delight at the sight of Alcina killing the doctors and even the Lycans.

"She is a triumph and a disappointment. I had hoped the blood disease would ebb away with the Cadou in her body, but sadly it remains…" Miranda fell silent, observing Alcina coming to a halt close to the platform and leaning forward. "What is happening? Is she vomiting blood?" Miranda spoke more from a curious perspective than a concerned one. "She has been off her medication for a few weeks; I wonder what that coupled with the Cadou parasite will produce?"

Miranda did not have to wait long to find out.

Alcina started to transform.

Miranda losing camera visuals after that, suddenly heard a roar from below. The ground under her feet beginning to quake.

Boom! BOOM!

Miranda sprinted away from the spot, and just in time, too. The ground exploded. Dirt, grass and metal raining down over the area.

"Alcina."

Never had Miranda seen anything like it before. The creature flew around the treetops and then landed back down. The power of it causing many of the trees to fall.

"My god! She is changing the very landscape." Miranda shielding her face from the vicious wind Alcina was creating with her wings, she looked up at the sound of Alcina's distorted voice calling out to her. "I am here, Daughter." Miranda walked out from where she had hunkered down, observing Alcina's distorted form infused to the dragon-like beast.

"H-Help me," she gasped. "Please… I-I cannot turn back."

"Do not fear," Miranda said, keeping her full attention on the mouth of the creature; not exactly trusting it, she raised her hand and outstandingly the beast bowed. "Just close your eyes, Alcina, and I will have you back to your true form…"

Alcina once again had fallen into darkness. Awakened days' later to find she was in a bed with a fire going in a hearth directly across from her.

"Hello, Daughter."

"Mother Miranda?" Alcina slowly raised herself up in the bed, examining herself over to ensure this was all real. "How did you?"

"That does not matter," Miranda said. "Now listen closely…"

Miranda explained how she needed to feed on human and even animal flesh if you are in desperate need, and blood in order to sustain her body.

"If you do not, you will go back to that other form. I will also teach you how to control your other form. Therefore, you will be able to transform willingly."

Alcina shuddered at that.

"The village below is overflowing with humans who are natives and foreigners who trickle in from time to time. There is a man by the name of Rednic who will be under your employ. He will deliver all your produce for you."

"Thank you, Mother Miranda," she said.

"You and I will speak more tomorrow. In the meantime, I have brought you a little treat to welcome you into your new home."

Mother Miranda left the room and returned a moment later with a young woman. She was around the age of sixteen with big brown eyes and sandy colored hair.

"You have served me well, child," Mother Miranda spoke, petting the girl's hair. "Your devotion to me will not go unrewarded. Your soul will forever be part of me. There you will live on…"

Alcina watched her mother in awe. The way she so easily swayed this young girl from terror to love and trust. It was in that moment did Alcina truly understand what her mother was: a goddess. Oh, and how she longed to be just like her.

Mother Miranda caressed the child's face, guiding her over to the bed and sitting her down in the chair she had been occupying. The girl stared straight ahead with a blank expression. Not indicating any sign of being in pain when Miranda used one of her claws to make a laceration across her throat.

"Drink, my child."

Alcina grabbed hold of the girl, practically drooling at the smell of the crimson flow. She pulled her forward and latched her mouth on the gushing torrent, sucking and sucking until the child's heart stopped.

"Mmm," she moaned in delight. She had never felt so strong. So powerful.

"I am glad you enjoyed that," Mother Miranda tittered, handing her a handkerchief so she could wipe the blood from her lips. "But you must also remember to quell the bloodlust. You must be able to maintain balance."

"Yes, Mother Miranda," Alcina said, continuing to stare at her in admiration.

"Now, I must leave you, but as I have already said—I will return tomorrow. This castle is now yours, and I bequeath to you this." Mother Miranda pulled out an iron insignia key from her pocket. "I trust you to keep this safe for me. It unlocks many of the doors and gates down in the village, including some of the doors in this very castle."

Alcina had no words. To be given not only a /castle/, but Mother Miranda was entrusting her with her key? Her pride swelled along with her growing love for her. She would /never/ let her mother down. Whatever task Mother Miranda assigned to her, she would accomplish without fail.

"I will be sure the servants I have hired will meet your every need. I hope you have a lovely rest of your evening, Daughter…"

{…}

Alcina had indeed been well cared for by the servants, but all she could think about was Mother Miranda. She did not sleep at all that night, for her curiosity to investigate the castle would not leave her alone. Finally, she decided to take a short walk from her room and return in ten minutes.

Lighting a candelabra, Alcina headed out of the bedchamber and ducked through the door; this new adjustment was already becoming tedious. And even now she was still feeling growing pains. Cursing as she had to duck through a second door, she was able to rise to her full height upon entering into a hallway.

There were some candles and lamps alight, which allowed her to examine the paintings on the walls, vases and statues. She was enchanted. Venturing further just to see more of the artwork and antiques the castle had to offer.

Alcina glaring at another doorway, once again ducking through and found herself in a spacious area that contained statues of women. Each with their own unique facial expressions.

"Joy, pleasure, sorrow and rage," Alcina read aloud, intrigued. "I wonder where that door leads?" she walked over and read the plaque written in Romanian before trying to open the door, only to find it would not budge, and there was no way for her to unlock it for she had left the key back in the room. Foolish. "I suppose I will go this way, then…"

She walked up a staircase and entered into a Main Hall where an enormous chandelier hung.

"My god," she whispered, going up another staircase to get a better look at it. She knew she was meant to go back to her chamber, but onward she went into another hall with more doors. One in particular caught her eye and made her stop. ""Wine Room'." The wheels in her mind started to turn ever so slowly. There was something familiar about that.

Pushing the door open, Alcina tried in vain to fit through the doorway and finally had no choice but to concede. Growling in frustration, she was able to lower herself enough to get a full look inside. She could see vintage wine bottles and some barrels within.

"It is familiar to me, but why?" Deciding to ask Mother Miranda questions tomorrow, Alcina made her way back to the bedchamber all the while struggling with her thoughts. There was something blocking her from remembering, and yet why did she find it so important to know? Did it really matter?

Yes, part of her brain said. While the other half said no…