Hello everyone!
Thank you to all who have been reading! In this chapter, you will learn the fates of the maidens who remained after the mutiny. The chapter is called, the gauntlet, for one very specific reason… Hope you guys enjoy!
Alcina led her children in the direction of the library, noticing right away how Bela and Daniela stayed right by her side, where as Cassandra eyed around unafraid. Her eyes focused on the floor where the blood of the maidens remained.
'Is she smiling?' Alcina thought to herself, noting that her middle child was indeed wearing one. 'Such fearlessness, but I must ensure she does not become foolish with such a sense of invincibility. It will lead her to endanger herself and the others.'
Once they had reached the library, Alcina walked over to a chalk board and wrote the word, 'History'. After she explained to them their goal was to collect any book with the word 'history' on it. And to make it more interesting to keep them all sharp…
"Whomever finds the most books in twenty-five minutes, will be given a very special reward."
That got them moving as soon as Alcina said: "GO!"
The three were amassing quite a pile in their own designated spots in the library. It was a good distraction for them as Alcina pulled out a small key and opened a drawer. In this drawer contained files of girls she had purchased from the Abbess. All in alphabetical order, she took the thick pile into her arms and set them down on top of a bookshelf.
"How are we fairing, my darlings?" Alcina said, seeing Daniela's pile remained the tallest while Bela was in second and Cassandra…, well.
"Cassandra! I said find all the books with the word, 'history', on it. Not collect all the books in the library and put them in a pile."
Cassandra growled irritably. Her focus solely on not wanting to lose to the other two, which was why she had ignored the general rule to begin with, though now she was frantically looking on the partially bare shelves. Growing desperate and trying to steal some of her sisters, but Alcina was quick to referee her middle child back to her spot.
"If I catch you doing that again, you will sit out for five minutes and read through the history books you already have."
In this case it was only three.
Cassandra released a dramatic sigh as she half-heartedly looked through each cover and tossed the books over her shoulder carelessly. She knew she would not be winning this special reward, so what was the point? In fact, she started to purposefully toss the books in the direction of her sisters. Managing to hit Bela in the leg and Daniela on the head.
Daniela crying out in pain made Alcina storm straight over to her daughter, grab her by the arm and plop her down in a chair.
"Sit!" Alcina stood right next to her to ensure she would not do anything else.
Meanwhile Bela and Daniela were neck in neck. The minutes ticking quickly by for them, but dragging on for Cassandra. She kept sighing. Making all sorts of sounds to annoy her mother.
"Cassandra."
The brunette glared up at her mother, expecting to receive a tongue lashing from her.
"Mmm."
"I want you to try and tap into that ability of yours."
Cassandra sat straight in her chair, her countenance shifted to one of excitement and then full concentration. Her eyes glued to the wall across from her as she gathered herself.
Alcina watched her intently. At first nothing seemed to be changing, but then. She could hear bugs. A soft sound at first that grew a bit louder with each second. Suddenly Cassandra was gone and all that was left was a swarm of her bugs. Even Bela and Daniela paused to see what was happening.
"Cassandra!" Alcina called out for her.
The bugs suddenly vanished altogether.
That made Alcina's chest constrict. Where the hell had she gone?
Suddenly there was a familiar giggle. All looked up and spotted her sitting atop a bookshelf, grinning like a kid who just got away with the biggest prank ever. Alcina approached her and easily scooped her up, setting her down on the floor with a smile.
"Excellent work, Cassandra. Now all we need to figure out is how you are doing it, and begin to teach your siblings."
Cassandra raised her chin haughtily at them. Being able to do something that impressed Mother made her ego inflate even more. Daniela just shrugged it off and refocused on the collection of books, but Bela. Bela remained where she stood by her pile and held Cassandra's gaze. A shift in one another that was clearly evident in their stare. One announcing to the other a challenge. Who would be the best? The rivalry for Mother's approval up for the taking. Cassandra may have the lead here, but she would not for long. Bela would make sure of that.
{-}
Daniela had won the game. Bela at first was angry, but soon she settled in after her mother whispered they would all be receiving the prize. That being said, Cassandra had picked up a heavy book and was on the verge of throwing it at Daniela; Alcina caught her arm and tore it from her grasp.
"Well done, my darlings. Now that we have the books, I have another task for us to start. One that you will find most enjoyable."
Cassandra perked up at that. All three following their mother out as she led them to the servants quarters.
"Ahh, Rednic, about time you arrived." They found the man standing near the fire in the Main Hall.
"Lady Dimitrescu and daughters," he bowed his head respectfully. "My deepest apologies for my lateness, but Mother Miranda has had my hands full."
"I need you to clean the mess on the floor after you fix the broken window in my children's room. And clear the bodies in the Entrance Hall. Bring them into the kitchen where they will be prepared."
"I have already gotten started on that," he said. "I hope you do not mind the Lycans dirtying up your floor."
Alcina wrinkled her nose at him, hating the very thought of those slobbering, flea bags stepping foot into her castle.
"If they do you will have more work on your hands, or rather stubs if you continue to waste my time."
"As you wish, my lady."
The sisters watched him go hungrily. Never had they seen a man-thing before and the smell of his blood made them very hungry. It wasn't until Alcina started to walk again did they forget about him. Their concern to remain as close to their mother as possible.
"Here we are," Alcina said, pulling a key from her dress pocket and unlocking the doors. "Get out!" her voice rang out, causing all three of her children to jump. The fourteen maidens came out of their rooms along with Anya. "This is where your first lesson begins, my daughters."
"First lesson, Mama?" Daniela said.
"That's right, dearest. Your first lesson in the family business…"
{…}
One by one each of the fourteen maidens were tortured while the daughters watched on in awe. Ten of the maidens would be bled in the tub along with Anya, who would do the honors of slicing open their throats before her own departure. Cassandra, Bela and Daniela watching them hungrily awaited with baited breath for their mother to tell them to strike, or hoping one would make the ill-fated decision to run. It would grant them the opportunity to pounce and enjoy a little snack.
Alcina could sense they were growing hungrier. The small portion of blood she had given them was not remotely sufficient enough sustenance, and quite frankly she was feeling famished herself.
'I will put their skills to the test. They have practiced pouncing and hunting of smaller prey, but I want to see how they fair against large prey. These last four maidens mean nothing to me anyways. I can always allow some of the ones harvested below work until they are to be drained, which reminds me to call the Abbess. I am sure she wants to discuss another business proposal." Alcina chuckled, grabbing her daughters' attention. All three looking at her expectantly.
"Daniela since you won our little game in the library, you may choose the maiden of your liking first, and be sure to choose wisely. This game we are about to play is all about strength and stamina."
Daniela uncertain what her mother had in mind, did not hesitate as she stepped up to the four. Even though they were chained to the wall, they clung back against it in terror of her, she eyed them all over very closely, rubbing at her chin as she considered whom she would pick.
"That one, Mother," she said, pointing to a black haired girl named Deidre. She was shorter than the others, but very bulky. If this was to be a sport focused on running, Daniela started to worry the blood bag would lose quickly. However, if it was a sport focused on lifting heavy objects or fighting, she stood a much better chance. She then turned to her mother, unsure if her choice was right or wrong.
"Very well, dearest," she winked at her, making Daniela feel much better. "Bela you are next."
Bela having considered the options with the same mindset as Daniela, chose a girl who was taller than the others. A blonde named, Winona, who did not have much bulk yet she was lanky.
Cassandra picking last had chosen a brunette who was of middle height and looked like the weakest of the four. She had dark circles under her eyes that were unfocused. She kept twitching and muttering to herself. Cassandra giggled at her. Watching her like she were a bug under a microscope.
'Their choices are clearly part of a scheme. I can see the wheels turning in Bela and Daniela's minds. They are already attempting at calculations, but Cassandra… I do not know if this is all part of a plan she has, or she simply finds the maiden an intriguing specimen to just play with…' Alcina thought to herself.
"What about her?" Bela asked, pointing to the last maiden. A young maiden with brown hair and blue eyes named, Carolyn.
"That one will be mine in this race."
"'Race'?" Cassandra said.
"Correct, my darlings. This game I have decided to call, 'the gauntlet'." Alcina started to explain, going through a drawer and pulling out four syringes. "Are you four listening? Because this means the difference between returning upstairs or remaining down here."
They all nodded, shivering at the sight of Alcina fill the syringes with a strange clear liquid.
"What is this game about, Mother?" Bela said.
"The goal of the game is simple," she said, speaking to the maidens now. "You four must be able to reach the Main Hall before you are caught by us."
"Can we eat them if we catch them?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes."
"What are you going to do with those?" Daniela asked.
Alcina chuckled, not saying a word as she approached the four. All horrified at the realization the odds of their survival had dropped close to zero. Especially for Carolyn. How could she possible evade and get to the Main Hall without being caught by Lady Dimitrescu herself?
"Good luck to all of you," she said, injecting them with the syringe. It would put them to sleep for an hour. Giving her children enough time to prepare for their very first hunt.
"Mother, wait," Bela said.
"Hmm?" Alcina hummed, after she had injected the maidens and placed a key into Carolyn's dress pocket, let's hope she notices it there, and led her brood back upstairs.
"What happen if we catch wrong one?"
"What do you think, Bela?"
"Eat?"
Alcina smiled broadly at her. They were understanding now. The rules she stated were merely for the maidens to hear and believe. This was not an actual foot race that had a finish line. Oh no. The maidens may yet live only because her girls had no experience yet, but still. If the maidens themselves were foolish enough to actually think that was how the game was played, well, they truly were sheep. Their only purpose to serve as her daughters' late breakfast, and that was precisely what they were.
She had no doubt Cassandra would find at least two, which would leave the others to Bela or Daniela. She was truly uncertain how this was all going to play out, and how long it was going to last for that matter. In the end, her girls would have their fill and learned a new skill of how to hunt.