Hello everyone! Thank you to all who have been following along and reading. This next chapter continues with Vivian attempting to save her sisters from Lady D. Will she succeed? Read to find out.

"Stay back!"

Vivian eyed around the room for anything she could use to defend herself and managed to grab hold of a lamp.

"What have you done to my sister?!"

"Vivian," Alcina said. "Allow me to explain."

She stood her ground and watched Vivian begin to circle around her. The intensity in her eyes mesmerizing and seductive to Alcina. She was like a fierce lioness prowling around her prey; sizing up the situation and calculating where to strike that would make the most damage.

'She already has it in her. That killer instinct. Attack first and ask questions later… how like me you are, child. I feel much pity for the poor fool who crosses your path, Vivian the Huntress.'

"Sybilla!"

Hearing Vivian call for her sister snapped Alcina from her thoughts.

"She cannot hear you, nor can Ezrabeth."

She glared at Alcina murderously.

"Why?!"

"They are under a deep trance. The first stage of your transformation into House Dimitrescu," Alcina said, watching Vivian futilely trying to shake her sisters' awake. Calling their names to no avail. "I thought this is what you had wanted, Vivian? Was it not?"

"This? This is outlandish! Madness. I presumed you meant power as in influence! Money! Not by practicing in vampirism! Witchcraft." For the first time Vivian was afraid. Afraid for her sisters. Could she protect them? Save them from this…, this… monster?

Alcina took a step forward again.

"Do not take a step closer!" Vivian held the lamp out like it were a sword.

"Tell me, Vivian, what is your plan here? If you were to somehow defeat me, how would you get your sisters out? Where would you go? Back out into the world that does not care about any of you? Return to the cold; the hunger, the nights where you would sleep under a bridge, abandoned sheds or just collapse in exhaustion on the spot?"

"How do you know that?"

"Your sisters told me through their blood. I saw everything you three went through. Your bastard step-father; the wicked nuns at the orphanage. Everything."

Vivian gritted her teeth, and then unexpectedly she relaxed and started to laugh. Shaking her head.

"My sisters. How needy they are. I'm sure they did not put up a fight, did they? Especially Ezra. They gave in to your charms and tender words, but I am not like my sisters. Do you honestly think you will allure me with all that pish-posh!? No, you see when we were out on the streets, it was I who stole. I who did all the dirty work to ensure we had food, clothing and even money. My sisters could not stomach it."

"Ruthless" Alcina said, a smile forming on her lips. Recalling what her own mother had told her so many years ago. "Where so many would look down on you and underestimate your true potential; I see it, Vivian. And I respect you for that, but your ruthlessness also makes you blind and impulsive. Point being you standing right before me with the intention to kill me with a crude weapon. Think for a moment before you proceed here…"

Vivian glanced down at the lamp and then back to Alcina, hating that smile on her face. She thought she was so much superior than everyone else. Just like those god damn nuns. Looming over her and beating her with the paddle, or whatever instrument that was within reach. Hitting her over and over when she would speak out. When she wouldn't follow the rules, because they were wrong. So very wrong! And still they shut her up. Kept her silent, and made her stand in line like all the other sheep.

She was no sheep!

She was a wolf. A huntress. That is what they had started to call her and they tried to kill that prowling wolf, but what they did not realize is it only made the wolf hungrier; angrier; stronger…

Vivian released a cry of rage, charging straight at Alcina with the lamp raised high over her head. She would hit Dimitrescu's knee as hard as she could and hopefully she would drop down.

'Now!' Vivian thought to herself, making contact with her knee. The lamp shattered in her hands, a piece of the glass cutting her wrist. Wincing in pain, Vivian covered the wound with her fingers and started to stumble back when Alcina grabbed her around the throat, hoisting her up off her feet with ease.

"Let me go!" she gasped, kicking Alcina in the stomach as hard as she could.

Alcina at first was finding Vivian's tantrum amusing; however, her smile had completely vanished and she was growing annoyed. Barely putting any effort behind her next attack, Alcina slammed Vivian into the wall.

Vivian's attacks stopped at once, but the defiance in her eyes lingered.

"Are you finished, dear?"

Vivian spit in Alcina's face.

Smack!

Alcina hit her reflexively, grabbing the back of Vivian's neck to force the girl to look directly into her eyes. Once their gazes locked, Vivian was all hers just like her siblings.

"I look forward to tasting you, Vivian," Alcina said, keeping her fingers latched around the back of her neck and wrapping her other arm around the girl's waist. "What a treat you will be. I expect your blood to be sharp and burning in comparison to your sisters' sweet blood." She laughed, leaning up to the side of her neck and running her tongue along Vivian's jugular vein. "All mine," she said breathily, using her teeth to bite into her.

Her grip tightened. Her sucking hard and fast. The child's blood was indeed what she had been hoping for. Moans of pure ecstasy escaping her as she pushed Vivian's body further up against the wall. Not wanting the girl to move in the slightest position.

Vivian did not make a sound. She was growing limper and limper as Alcina drained her, but there was still part of Vivian who tried to will her limbs to move to strike back. Hating how helpless she was, and disgusted this creature was taking her blood. Yet once she tasted Alcina's blood, Vivian's urge to consume it manifested. She had to have it! More! More!

The blood was so warm and soothing to her throat. Creating a burning sensation throughout her body she greatly enjoyed.

Yes! Yes!

The flow was then cut off.

She moaned in protest.

"None of that, my dear," Alcina hummed, setting Vivian back down on her bed. "Soon you will have plenty of blood to consume, but for now you must rest."

Vivian released a great yawn, eyelids continuing to droop until they completely closed and she fell under a deep sleep.

"Sweet dreams, my darlings…"

{…}

Entry 1: Mother Miranda arrived today to see the girls. It has been over a week since the blood transfusion. All three bonded with my cells and remained alive. I can feel their presence. No matter how far away I am from them, I can hear their breath; the beat of their hearts.

Entry 2: The three had awoken from their sleep. I could not believe my eyes! They should have remained under the blood spell. Regardless of the shock, it brings me great hope they will survive the experimentation when the day finally arrives.

Entry 3: Mother Miranda has informed me we can begin the procedure in the next three days' . I feel both happiness and fear at the prospect. I CANNOT lose them like I lost Akila. I cannot… I cannot…

Entry 4: I decided to have a portrait done of the sisters. Just in case if the experiment shall fail, I wish to capture their unique beauty for all eternity. How excited they were. I almost forgot what the sound of girlish giggles sounded like. It took two day's for the painter to complete, but it was well worth the wait. Afterwards we dined our last supper together and now they rest, for tomorrow Mother Miranda arrives with the Cadou…

Alcina stopped writing. Sensing Sybilla was in great discomfort. She set her pen down and hastily walked to the nursery. Continuing to feel Sybilla's pain grow. Unlocking the door with her key, she ducked through the doorway and saw she was twisting and turning in her bed.

"Sybilla?" Alcina approached her bed and found she was fast asleep. "Sybilla." She shook her firmly. The girl stopped moving and blinked sleepily up at Alcina.

"Lady Dimitrescu?" she said, beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Are you all right?" Alcina rested her hand on her cheek.

"Yes," Sybilla murmured. "Just a bad dream is all. I will be fine."

Alcina smiled weakly, leaning forward and placing a kiss to her forehead.

"Would you like me to stay until you fall back to sleep?"

Sybilla just nodded, her eyes already closed.

Alcina remained in the room the remainder of the night, ensuring all three were fully under the blood spell and would not awaken during the procedure.

'Mother Miranda told me never to get wholly attached and involved to the candidates. Even now I do regret having gone as far as I have with them. The portrait; dining with them; digging deep into their minds and pulling out much of their memories. I cannot explain why I did all of it and so much more.' Alcina thought to herself, watching the sun beginning to rise over the mountainside. The sky a beautiful blend of red, pink and orange. A cloak of fog hovering just above the village to give it an ethereal look.

Rather appropriate if she did say so herself.

"Mother Miranda will be here soon, my dears," she said. "I thank you for the time we have shared. How each of you ebbed away my loneliness, and in return for your sacrifice, you will return to me as /my/ daughters. Blood of my blood. Flesh of my flesh. Where your souls will linger in these new bodies and mine. Together. Now and forever, always."