Hello everyone! Thank you all for reading! And again thank you SuperSabrichitason for the review! In this chapter, well, the title says it all. The maidens will no longer stand for Lady D's tyranny over them, and they decide to do something about it. Also, Cassandra uncovers the sisters' unique ability. Hope you guys enjoy!

Journal Entry: I cannot believe how rapidly my daughters are growing. They still have much work to do on their speech, but they are maturing before my very eyes. That being said, they are still vulnerable. I still cannot piece the mystery together of how Cassandra had managed to get into the cells. Clearly she has uncovered an ability, but she has yet to demonstrate it to me. I speak with her about it only for her to stare back at me blankly. She, too, either unable to recall how she did it, or simply playing the fool.

All three are sound asleep now. I have gotten them to eat solid food now, but their diet consists mainly of just blood. Their bodies are having some trouble digesting flesh; Daniela having vomited up most of it, while both Cassandra and Bela winded up with terrible stomach aches. They still want to nurse, but I have put my foot down. Cassandra so bold had tried when I had fallen asleep in the chair just the other night. Brazen little thing she is.

I stare out from my private chamber windows now and wonder about the mercenary Mother Miranda had told us about. How many of the villagers has he infected and pitted against us? I even consider the possibility of a mutiny occurring in my own castle. Some of these maidens look at me with just a flicker of defiance and malice. Though it may only be embers, it can still be the start of causing a wildfire.

Alcina set her pen down, rising from her chair and taking a long drag from her cigarette. Was it just paranoia? Never had any of her servants defied her, but still. As a mother she never stopped thinking of her children and their safety. She could dispatch anyone and was immune to harm, but her girls. The fact of the matter was she did not know much about them. Not personality wise, but their own immunities. Abilities. Yes, she had uncovered the cold weakens the flies. Yet she sensed there was so much more to be revealed.

"If only my journal had not gone missing!"

Four days' had passed since she had become aware of the journals disappearance. Informing Anya to keep a watch for it and telling the staff there would be a reward to whomever finds it. No one had yet stepped forward, making Alcina more and more frustrated. She had written everything in that journal about the girls including their weakness to the cold. In hindsight she now realized that was a foolish mistake, but she wanted to keep records for Mother Miranda, who did so love learning about the scientific process.

Of course Alcina neglected to inform the servants of what would happen to the one who had stolen her journal. Then again, they could probably already imagine.

Closing her second journal and locking it safely away in a drawer, Alcina prepared herself for bed. Two maidens already waiting for her in the dressing room, they helped her out of her dress and into her nightgown. All of her attire either red or white in color, she chose to wear her ruby red nightwear.

"Fetch me my night robe. The white one."

"Yes, my lady."

The girl quickly grabbed what her mistress had wanted, helping her to don it before Alcina rose back up.

"Leave."

They bowed their heads and left the room where Alcina turned her focus over to the back. Within the room was a little nook of a space where there was a ladder that led down to the dungeons. She could have sworn she had heard someone speaking below. Her size preventing her going any further, she strained her ears and inhaled to catch any foreign scent, but there was seemingly nothing out of the ordinary.

She remained there for another five minutes before abandoning it. Exiting the room and going to her bed chamber. She was thoroughly exhausted. She had forgotten what it felt like to take care of children. The mental, emotional and physical exhaustion she felt every day.

"How much I have missed it and yet how much I haven't," she whispered. "But they are worth every moment."

She covered her mouth as she yawned, trudging through the halls and down what felt like a never ending staircase. Finally she reached her destination, removing her heels and kicking them off to the side. The fire burning strongly in the hearth, Alcina released a content sigh and got into the bed.

Alcina was asleep the moment her head hit her pillow. How long she had gotten her shut eye was hard to determine. She was unexpectedly awoken at the feel of her heart galloping painfully in her chest. It left her clinging to the bed, her head spinning and making her nauseous.

"Wh-what is this?" she said, sweat sticking to her face. "What is wrong with me?" she could barely catch her breath, slowly sitting up in the bed and taking slow steps not to risk falling. "Wait!" her eyes suddenly widened. "This is the same feeling as before. When I had felt much sadness and despair." She forgot to don her heels and night robe. Moving as fast as she could in the direction of the nursery.

'What is happening to them to make them feel this much fear?' she was in a full panic by the time she reached her daughters' room, the feeling only heightening at the sight of the door open ajar. 'Who did this? How did they break in?' and… 'It's freezing in here!' Ducking through the doorway, she went rigid. Staring in open-mouth shock to see the glass of the windows had been shattered. Fresh snow was soaring into the room. The wind whistling ferociously as it continued to blow into the room with no mercy. "Girls!" she looked to the beds and nearly dropped to her knees. They were empty. "Daughters, where are you?!"

She tore off the blankets. Almost toppling over the beds to see if they were hiding underneath.

"Where are they?" tears welled in her eyes. Afraid. Truly afraid for them. They were the most important things in the world to her. Her legacy. The last of her bloodline. The bond they shared. A bond only mothers and daughters could ever truly understand. A sacred tie that could not be severed. "I will find them. I need to calm down. Concentrate." She took in a deep breath, focusing her ears, nose and mind on them. "There!" she exited back out of the room, going back in the direction of the Main Hall when the chandelier suddenly dimmed.

She frowned, stopping in the middle of the stairs.

What was the meaning of this?!

The chandelier then completely went out, leaving only the fireplace as the source of light, but Alcina did not need that to see. Her eyes permitted her to see in the dark, though not as strong as an animals. Her vision was more like a snakes vision. Able to detect body heat and see her prey.

"Do you think this will stop me? Dimming the lights?" she started to laugh, continuing down the steps. "In fact, you have only doomed yourselves. Taking out your only source of light. How foo—" Alcina was cut off, suddenly falling to the floor. 'No!' she thought. 'How?'

With the lights gone, Alcina had not seen the thick wire near the bottom of the stairs. It was impossible to think she had been caught off guard. And what was more… the sound of doors opening and dozens of heels click-clacking towards her made her look up.

There were so many bodies clustered together it was hard to tell how many there were…, but from the smell she knew they were her maidens. The damn servants!

All was still and silent. The maidens not moving an inch until someone snapped their fingers. All at once the maidens roared out in rage, their heels clicking rapidly as they charged for her.

Alcina could feel them stabbing her with different instruments, but with her regenerative abilities she was able to heal quickly. That being said, there were too many and she was losing too much blood.

'I must rise. I cannot lay here!' releasing a deep growl that made the maidens stop their attack, Alcina extended her claws and started to slash at them. Screams filled the Main Hall as her claws tore through flesh and bone. The maidens nearest her having lost their legs or been sliced completely in half, Alcina released another guttural roar as she got up to her knees and slowly rose back to her full height. "You will all die!"

The maidens who were still alive scurried back in the direction of the doors leading to the entrance hall, save one. She stood facing Alcina with a large knife.

Wait…

No, that was impossible. It could not be.

"You," Alcina said, hoarsely, having been stabbed in the throat causing her voice to crack. "Charlotte. It was you all along?"

The girl did not speak, though her heart did all the talking. Beating rapidly in her chest as she faced off against this giant monstrosity.

"You wretched child! How dare you betray me?! After all I have done for you!"

"No, how dare you!" the girl yelled back. "How dare you destroy so many lives. How dare you. All the families you destroyed! You will pay for it!"

"Charlotte! We must go. Everyone is out. Please hurry!"

Alcina glanced over to see a blonde haired maiden named, Bridget, waving her over to the double doors leading out to the entrance hall.

"I cannot," Charlotte answered back. "This may be our only chance to kill this bitch!"

A scream coming from the direction caused Bridget and Charlotte to stop their argument. Both turning their focus over by the doors, they watched in wide eyed terror as a maiden staggered towards them. She had blood pouring down her face and both her arms had been ripped off.

"What the hell?" Bridget croaked, tears welling in her eyes at the sight of the girl.

"W-we are trapped." The girl said robotically, her gaze unfocused. "Dead. All are d-dead." With that final statement she fell to the floor, dead. Blood pouring out from the wounds and running straight to where Charlotte and Bridget stood frozen.

Alcina could not help but laugh, though she could not help but ponder what had caused this. Who had butchered all the girls?

'There will be time enough to answer that, but right now…' Alcina extended out her claws and started towards Charlotte, ready to chop her in half when the sound of bugs halted her.

"What now?" Charlotte said, echoing Alcina's own inner thoughts.

Like before another scream joined in with the chorus of bugs.

"Bridget!"

Bridget released an agonized cry.

"Wait."Alcina watched as a cloud of black bugs had swarmed around the girl. "C-Cassandra?"

"Mother…" the sound of bugs started to die away and Cassandra appeared out of the swarm, Bridget in her clutches.

"Release her!" Charlotte snarled.

"Make one move towards my daughter and your friend will die," Alcina shouted at the maiden. "Give yourself up and my daughter will release her."

Cassandra looked most disappointed to hear that, but upon her mother throwing her a quick wink, she knew her mother had other plans.

"Charlotte! You must leave. Forget about me."

"No," Charlotte said. "I cannot."

"You must!"

"Enough of this nonsense," Alcina said. "I will count to five and if you do not surrender, I will tell Cassandra to tear out her throat."

Charlotte closed her eyes, gritting her teeth in frustration. Listening to the dying cries of the maidens' who had been injured by Lady Dimitrescu. To Bridget screaming at her to just run.

"One… Two… Three… Four… Fi—"

Charlotte released a cry of rage and tossed the knife straight at Alcina.

Clink!

Alcina just barely managed to deflect it with her claws. The weapon clattering behind her and landing on the staircase.

A scream then erupted. She turned and watched as Cassandra bit down into Bridget's throat just as Charlotte sprinted towards the two. Alcina could see she was wielding another knife and aiming it straight for Cassandra.

Alcina opened her mouth to tell Cassandra to move, but her daughter reacted all on her own. Shoving Bridget directly into Charlotte's path, the poor wretch had stabbed her friend by mistake.

"No!" Charlotte cried out. "Bridget. Oh god. Please."

"Cassandra! Kill her. Kill her now!"

"Go," Bridget gasped, eyes slowly closing.

"I will avenge you. I swear. I will return here and finish the job. I will!"

Cassandra giggling madly as she soared down at her, Charlotte ducked down just as Cassandra's fingers grazed passed her throat. Out the doors she went, hearing Lady Dimitrescu ordering her daughter to stop.

Cassandra looked back at her mother, disappointed. Hoping she could have gone after the wretch, she turned her sights on the dead blonde at her feet.

"Cassandra."

The brunette looked up at her mother, who scooped her up into her arms and nuzzled her face against her child's. Cassandra giggled at the affection she was receiving.

"Mother."

"Well done, precious. I am so very proud of you."

The room fell silent with the exception of the dying moans of the remaining girls on the floor, and then there was Cassandra purring. For the moment Alcina's thoughts were only on her children. Cassandra in her arms safe and clearly exhausted. The fight and using her ability had drained her.

"Cassandra," Alcina kissed her child's cheek. "I know you are tired, my sweet, but you must show me where your sisters are."

"The army… the armory," Cassandra corrected herself.

"Good girl. Well done."

Cassandra smiled up at her mother, resting her cheek against her shoulder and beginning to drift off to sleep as Alcina walked up the stairs and up to the Hall of Pleasure. Once inside she called out for Bela and Daniela.

"Mother!" they both crawled out through the broken hearth and embraced her.

"My darlings," she hummed, wanting nothing more than to return their affections, but with Cassandra fast asleep in her arms. "Come we will go to my bed chamber. From there you can tell me what happened to you."

The two nodded, fingers clutched tightly to their mother's nightgown as she led the way. Making sure to step over the booby trap, Bela and Daniela stared at the dead maidens as they passed. Licking their lips at the sight, but stopped upon realizing that would mean releasing their hold from their mother. That was something they would not do.

Alcina smiled at them.

'Thank Mother Miranda they are safe and unharmed, but still.' She looked down at Cassandra, the mystery of how she had broken into the cells all piecing together. 'You clever little tyke. Leave it to you to figure that part out, Cassandra… and clearly this will be something you will need to hone. All three of you for that matter. Yet you used the ability and it completely sapped you of energy. Could that have been the result of the cold weakening you?'

Alcina far too exhausted to think much more deeply on the matter, ducked through the door leading into her bed chamber. Once inside she placed Cassandra into the bed and took a seat in her chair. It was then did Daniela and Bela stumble up into her lap. Alcina wrapping her arms around them to pull them as close as possible to her, she lavished them with kisses, which they returned without hesitation.

"You gave me quite the scare," Alcina whispered.

"Snuck in and shattered window, Mother," Daniela said.

"Blood bags broke in and smashed window," Bela said.

"It was c-cold," Daniela said.

"Cassandra saved us from them. We hid in the armory and she went back out to kill them…" Bela said.

Alcina listened to them in silence, smiling.

"You need not fear them ever again, my loves. For with this incredible ability your sister has uncovered, it will be /they/ who run from you in terror. They who hide and quiver just upon the mere mention of your names."

The girls giggled at that.

Soon Alcina had all three tucked into her bed and she remained in her chair. Once again she would not get much rest, but just watching them. Listening to their breaths was soothing to her. Calming her after such a harrowing experience, but there would be much work for her.

'This Charlotte… I will have to go back in my records to figure out who she is and where she came from. The orphanage? Or perhaps in the village?'

Alcina yawned, resting her left hand against her cheek.

'We have so much work to do, my darlings. And we will piece this all together and we will start in the library. Perhaps gather more information about this Charlotte…'

{-}

The next morning Alcina was awoken to the sound of whiny girls, especially…

"Cassandra!"

The child had crawled into her lap and was nuzzling her face against her breast, salivating. Stomach growling. Huffing and vocalizing to her in want of breakfast.

Alcina did not want to give into this; however, she found herself giving in to them just this once. She had much work to do, which involved cleaning up the mess from last night, calling Mother Miranda and Rednic, and lastly was going through the remainder of her staff. She was making plans to dispose of whomever was left. Not wanting to risk the chances of them being corrupted, and worse yet, knowing the secret behind her daughters' weakness.

"Momma," Cassandra mewed.

"I know, my sweet," she said, using her nail to make a small laceration across her partially exposed breast. From there Cassandra suckled at the blood, kneading at her as she did so. Not wanting to share with her siblings who were sitting up in the bed, watching their sister drink with a ravenous hunger in their eyes.

"Enough, Cassandra," Alcina pulled her child off with some resistance, setting her down on the floor where she sat cross-legged and scowling up at her.

Alcina ignored her and motioned for Bela and Daniela to come over. Each took one side and started to suckle once their mother made a new cut on her breasts. Wrapping her arms around them securely, her mind drifted back to last night and the rebellion of the maidens.

Never has anything like this happened before. That damn Charlotte. Perhaps she is in league with that bastard mercenary. No. That would be too coincidental.

'I will have to bring them to the library to help me once I have dealt with my other chores. They can help me go through the filing. I am sure they will enjoy that, well, Bela and Daniela. Cassandra on the other hand. I am sure I can find something to entertain her.'

Bela stopped suckling first, smacking her lips together and resting her head against her mother's shoulder in satisfaction.

"Daniela…, Daniela that is enough now."

She grumbled a little like Cassandra, her youngest having started to pick up some of her sister's bad habits, Alcina set them on the floor next to Cassandra (who was indeed still pouting). Alcina feeling the familiar wave of exhaustion overcome her, as what always occurred after feeding them, she took her time rising out of her chair to prevent falling from a dizzy spell.

"Now listen to me," Alcina said, the three turned around and watched her closely from where they sat. "You must stay here for a short time. I have things I must do before I can allow you to join me. This is for your safety. You must remain here in case more danger lurks out there."

"Like night last?" Bela said.

"'Like last night', Bela," Alcina said, correcting her sentence structure. "And yes that is correct. It is imperative you obey me and do as I tell you. This is very important."

"Yes, Mother," Bela said, ever the obedient one.

"Daniela? Cassandra? Do I need to repeat myself?"

"No, understand," Daniela said, smiling at her.

Alcina could not hide a smile at the sight of her youngest. Her dearest Daniela. So sweet and kind.

Then there was…

"Cassandra?"

"Mmm," she responded, falling back against the floor and staring up at the ceiling.

"I am trusting you three. Do not let me down."

Alcina turned away and closed the doors behind herself. Waiting a moment and listening for any sounds within the room. She could hear Bela and Daniela giggling while Cassandra had not uttered a peep.

"That child…" she shook her head and ducked through the next door. Her attention fixed on her first task: the staff. Sadly this would mean removing Anya, too. The older woman having been a crucial asset to running the castle, but even she had to go. The risk of all the employees having been infected by Charlotte's revolt was too high a risk. No one was worth as much as her children. All would perish in order for them to be safe. Yes. They were all that mattered.

Alcina climbed up the stairs leading from the Hall of Four where the sound of hissing met her ears. She stopped in the middle of the staircase, watching as the Moroaica were consuming the bodies of the deceased maidens. Even the ones they had been alive were now dead. A total of ten. Such a waste of blood and flesh.

"Enough!" Alcina boomed, the creatures stopping at the sight of her. Shrinking back as she loomed over them. "Take them away! They should satiate your appetites. And do not ever step foot in this part of the castle again. Go!"

They hissed again and dragged the corpses away. Crawling back into whatever hole they had come out of. All that was left now was a bloody mess on the floor. Nothing Rednic couldn't clean up when she summoned him. Not to mention fixing the broken window in the nursery.

With that Alcina wandered in the direction of the Entrance Hall to see the carnage Cassandra had rot there.

"My god." Alcina stared at the massacre with mouth agape. At least twenty bodies covered the floor. Limbs severed. Blood. Such precious blood wasted on the floor in puddles. "This… this is nearly all the staff, which leaves at least fourteen still alive in their quarters… unless they somehow slipped out with that wretch." She sighed, the smell of the blood and flesh on the floor making her stomach growl. "I cannot reprimand Cassandra for this. After all, these girls were all at fault for their treason. Cassandra was, well, being Cassandra I suppose. Quite the risk she took, but still. If she had not arrived in time more damage would have occurred upon their escape."

She turned away and focused her sights in the direction of the servants' quarters. It did not take her long to count how many maidens were left. She had had a total of 25 at the time and now only fourteen. All were shivering and staring at her in wide eyed terror. All in their nightgowns and looking most unkempt, well, Alcina too was only wearing her nightwear. Blood still visible on her breasts from her daughters' feeding and her hair… we will not discuss that.

"I suggest you do not put up a resistance," Alcina said to them. "Even if you manage to get away from me here. There is no escape."

"My lady, please. We do not understand what is happening."

Alcina snatched the maiden by the throat, pulling her right up to look straight into her eyes.

"Is that so?"

"Y-yes, my lady," she gasped.

"You mean to tell me none of you knew about this little escape plan?"

"Escape plan?" the girl stared at her in shock. Many of the others looking to one another just as surprised.

"Mmm? Are you trying to tell me you were all ignorant of this?" Alcina said. "Or perhaps you were left behind in order to finish the job, is that it?"

"My lady if I may," Anya stepped forward and dropped down to her knees. "I can vouge for these girls. They had nothing to do with the plot. I; however, was fully aware of it. I understand my punishment for my act of treason against you will be death, but please spare them."

Alcina released her hold on the girl, turning her full focus to her once most trusted worker.

"I am afraid I cannot simply trust you at your word, but perhaps putting them under much pain will prove how innocent they are," she grinned, revealing her bloodstained teeth. "As for you, Anya, it truly saddens me you would scheme against me. You who I trusted above all others, but in the end it does not matter now. I will get what I want from you. I only hope you will make it easy on the both of us." Alcina extended her arm out, palm facing up. "Give me your key."

Anya did as she was told, exiting her room minutes later and dropping it into Alcina's hand. Closing her fingers around it, she motioned for them all to go back into their rooms. She would deal with them later on.

"Last warning to you. I will have my guards patrolling within the halls. If any of you even attempt to escape, they will kill you without any hesitation."

Once the servants were shut away in their chambers, Alcina made for her private chamber to call Rednic. Ordering him to come to the castle. Once that had finished, she held the phone and hesitated. Should she call Mother Miranda and tell her what had occurred?

'I will no doubt sound like a foolish child. Explaining to her my maidens rebelled. She will think little of me if I did that. Someone such as myself calling upon her, like a sad little girl. Unable to handle a crises.' She puckered her lips and set the receiver down. Her pride winning over the risk of this Charlotte indeed being a bigger threat than she thought.

Leaving her private chamber, Alcina stopped in the hall and glanced over at the Hall of Ablution, a spark of an idea forming. It had been a while since she had had a blood bath. The last time was a few days after her daughters had been born. What a nice little treat for them. She could sense they were growing antsy. Ready to leave the confines of the room and venture out.

"This will be a long day for them, but they will gain much from it. We will work in the library for a little while and then after…, after we will relax in a nice blood bath."