Hello everyone!
In this chapter, Bela and Daniela will join their mother in the cellar to be taught how to drain the maidens of their blood. Cassandra will not be pleased to find she missed out on this fun activity. Enjoy!
Normality had returned to the castle. Alcina gathering a new staff with Anya remaining at the head, and held at a much shorter leash. Her daughters able to return to the nursery, though Daniela would sneak her way into the bedchamber and spend the night with Alcina. Even Bela had done that occasionally. Alcina did not mind. Not having the heart to scold them or force them to go back.
While Cassandra was very pleased to have an entire room all to herself. The girls continued to join their mother whenever she would go down to her 'workshop'. Watching her torture the maidens, or go through the process of draining their blood for the wine.
Alcina also made sure Cassandra continued to hone her skills. Curious when Bela and Daniela would figure out how to use their abilities. They would both watch Cassandra, but no matter how hard they tried and practiced, no fruit had been bared.
Daniela would start to cry in frustration, wanting to give up and go to the library to read.
"Nu." Alcina spun her right back around, hands rested on her shoulders as she made her watch Bela continue to work. "See how Bela does not give up. Watch her forge ahead, for that is what flows in the Dimitrescu blood. We do not give in, nor concede to defeat."
Daniela wiped away her tears, her mother's words striking a chord in her as she marched back to her sister. The two talking about different methods and consulting Cassandra, who would explain over and over:
'Mind must go blank. Focus on a certain point in your body.'
It was not exactly a riddle as much as it sounded to the others. Alcina knew precisely what Cassandra meant. Once they were able to find that space the rest would do itself. The bugs would become part of them, well, they already were. The girls just needed to figure that out.
They remained in the nursery a little while longer. Waiting for lunch to be prepared, Alcina focused her attention on Cassandra, who was yet again by the window. She was staring out intently. This was Alcina's new worry. Cassandra and her curiosity. She knew her child was growing bored and restless. Wanting to stretch her legs and head further away from the castle, but time and again Alcina warned her of the dangers. Warned them all of the cold.
Her words did not seem to have the same effect on Cassandra like the others. And the more she said it, the less of an impact it made on her middle daughter. The reason why she had them be with her everywhere she went. Afraid if Cassandra decided to do the unthinkable, she would try to drag the others along, too. Or rather Alcina would be prepared to stop her.
"Mother!" Alcina was pulled from her thoughts at the sound of Bela's elated voice.
She looked over and smiled proudly. Finally her eldest had achieved what felt to be a most trying task.
Right before her eyes Bela had turned into a mass of bugs and was gliding about the room. She then stopped and the bugs disappeared into a long flowing cloak behind her.
Extraordinary!
"Well done, my darling, well done," Alcina praised her, pecking her on the lips.
Even Cassandra observed her with astonishment. Her eyes focused on the cloak and how exactly Bela managed to do that.
"Come on!" Daniela could be heard saying. Holding her breath and looking like her head was about to explode as she attempted to will her ability to manifest.
"Dearest breathe!" Alcina snapped, terrified the child was going to pass out.
Daniela did as she was told, gasping for breath as she took a seat on her bed.
"I just can't, Mother."
"Is that so?" Alcina mused, walking up to her and cupping her daughter's face in one hand. "Look at me."
Daniela looked up at her with fresh tears in her eyes.
"This is not a race. In order to accomplish something successfully, one must take their time and have patience with themselves. True you may be last in accomplishing this task, but that means nothing to me. Nothing."
Cassandra snickered at them, which did not go unheard by Bela who growled at her. The two staring one another down for a brief moment before Cassandra made a 'tsk' sound and refocused her sights out the window.
"Would it help," Alcina went on. "If you were to practice alone and away from distractions?"
"Yes," she squeaked. "But I wish for you to be with me."
"Very well," she released her hold on her daughter. "Where would you like to go?"
"Your study."
"As you wish. Bela, Cassandra, we will return shortly. Both of you remain here."
"Yes, Mother," Bela said, walking over to the bookshelf to pick out something to read, while Cassandra ignored her.
Alcina just sighed, uncertain what to do with her. Following behind her youngest as she led the way to the study.
It took a little longer than Alcina had bargained, but finally Daniela had awoken her ability. She was gliding about the study, giggling wildly when she would stop and materialize on the opposite side of the room.
"Come find me, Mother," she giggled louder, appearing right behind her mother with arms securely locked around her neck.
"Daniela!" Alcina said, happy her child was so thrilled by her achievement; however, she was growing tired of the game. "Come along, dearest, I am sure lunch is ready. Let us collect your sisters and be on our way."
Daniela flew straight down the hallway and left her mother behind. Unable to contain her excitement upon showing her siblings.
Despite her great pride in all of them, it occurred to Alcina how dramatically this changed many things. The first would be locking them in the nursery was pointless. They could just easily slip in and out of anywhere they chose.
"Watch! Watch!" she heard Daniela saying inside the room, ducking through and observing Bela watching her baby sister with a smile. Even Cassandra had turned slightly to look at Daniela.
"Come along, my brilliant girls. It is time for lunch."
At the mention of food, Cassandra was already out the door before Alcina had even turned. Daniela continuing to talk to Bela all the way down to the dining hall.
'Bela, how patient you are with her. I am truly blessed to have you take care of her. She needs that considering how cruel Cassandra can be to her. I entrust you to look out for her at all times.'
Bela suddenly glanced back at her mother and winked.
Alcina merely grinned.
Yes, yes. I know you already know that…
{…}
The weeks gave way to a few months. Bela, Cassandra, and Daniela changing in every way with each passing day. Their differences and similarities coming to light before Alcina's eyes. Bela spent the majority of her time with Alcina in the study. She was finding her sisters to be more of a nuisance as she matured. Growing tired of Cassandra, especially. She was turning meaner and meaner as she grew. Not only tormenting the servants, but Daniela as well. Then came all of Daniela's whining and complaining. She would follow Bela everywhere and the only way for Bela to get away from her was to hide in her mother's study.
From there Bela would watch over her mother's shoulder as she worked on paperwork. Finding the mathematical portion the most intriguing.
Alcina teaching her math little by little, it had not taken Bela long before she was managing the money.
"My very own teller," Alcina teased, watching Bela who was focused completely on the paper she was working on. Dipping the feathered pen in the crimson ink and scribbling more on the parchment before she set the pen down. "Tired?" she observed Bela covering her mouth as she yawned.
"A little, Mother." Bela rose out of her chair, wandering about the room to stretch her legs and stopping by the window. The weather had heated up significantly. The sun beating inside the room and warming Bela's skin. How cozy she felt. Arms wrapped around her midsection as she took in the sun. Her eyes closed, smiling.
Alcina said nothing. Sitting back in her chair and staring at Bela with deep adoration. She was transforming into a fine woman. Her mannerisms. The way she carried herself so gracefully; elegantly. Her temperament. Everything that made an aristocratic; high society woman. Then there was…
"Mother!" the door burst open and in came Daniela. Tears streaking down her face as she ran to her mother and crawled up in her lap.
"Daniela," Alcina said holding in a sigh, as she wrapped an arm around her youngest. "Shall I take a guess and say Cassandra has been tormenting you again?"
It took a few moments for Daniela to find her voice.
"S-she will not let me play with her."
"And why not?" Alcina said softly.
"B-Because she thinks I-I will only slow her d-down," she sniffled.
"Well, we both know that is ridiculous, isn't that correct, Bela?"
"Yes, Mother."
Daniela rubbed at her eyes, staring over at Bela who remained by the window. The sunlight surrounding her in an ethereal glow.
"I will speak to Cassandra about this if you like," Alcina went on. "Or you can spend some time with us. I have a little chore I must finish in the cellar."
"I will join you in the cellar," Daniela said, deciding she did not want Mother speaking with Cassandra, for it would only reinforce Cassandra being mean to her further.
"Good," Alcina said, winking over at Bela who gave her a smile. "I need to stretch my legs for a little while."
Daniela had stopped crying as she skipped merrily behind her mother with Bela close behind. She gliding alongside Daniela, who had started to hum.
"What is it we are doing?" Bela asked once they had reached the kitchen and neared the back storage room.
"I have a few recent maidens I have been draining. It is a slow process. I will show you each step once we are below."
The trek did not take long and soon all three were standing by a cell containing five young maidens. Alcina puckering her lips as she decided whom she would use, she then turned her sights down to her children. Both girls were giggling at the sight of their fear. The way they backed all the way against the wall to keep away from them.
"Bela, Daniela… go ahead and pick one for yourselves. You will need to start learning this process, and there is no better way than getting in with a hands on experience."
"May I pick first?" Daniela piped up, glancing at Bela submissively. Being the first born she was always allowed first pickings.
"Bela?" Alcina said.
"She may, Mother," Bela said.
"Thank you, Bela," Daniela said, materializing inside where the girls scurried further back. Pointless since there was no more room to go. "Mmm." Daniela tapped at her chin, eyeing them over until she pointed to a maiden with brown hair. "You." Daniela snatched her by the throat and dragged her back to the door. Alcina unlocking the cell to allow Daniela through, Bela was the next to enter inside.
Her method much different from Daniela's. Using her bugs to take samples of the remaining girls, she cracked a smile and pointed to a black haired child of about fourteen.
"Her blood will make a fine vintage for you, Mother."
Alcina laughed, amused by her daughter's bold statement.
"I will trust your judgement, darling."
Once Bela had exited with her prize, the two followed their mother passed her workshop and through another corridor. That led to a space called, 'Tasting Room'.
"In here," Alcina said, opening a single door. Inside contained dozens of small storage tanks that were connected to dozens of thin, long tubes. "This way." Alcina walked further into the room where victims of the draining were already dead or close enough.
"Amazing, Mother," Bela commented in awe.
Daniela was left speechless in her own admiration.
"Dearest bring me your maiden first. I will use her as an example before you both work on the second."
Daniela did as she was told.
The child trembling and crying for mercy. All fell on deaf ears as she was chained by her wrists to the wall.
"The process begins by drilling holes in key areas of the body. This being their wrists, forearm where the median cubital vein resides along with the cephalic vein, and the jugular. The jugular is used only if fast draining is necessary; however, these two will be drained slower. Which means we will take the blood from their wrists and forearm."
"How will we drill, Mother?" Daniela asked.
Alcina walked over to a table and took hold of a wood drill. Grinning at the sound of the girl now screaming.
"Hold her still."
The task was simple for Daniela and Bela, both laughing at the maiden feebly attempting to wiggle from her imprisonment.
"No! Please!" she screamed again as the cold tip of the drill dug into her wrist. Blood spurting out as Alcina cranked the handle.
"Now girls I need you to keep pressure on the holes for me. We cannot allow her blood to be wasted on the floor." Alcina then rushed back over to the table to fetch spouts. From there she inserted them into the holes.
"What are those, Mother?" Bela inquired.
"These are called spouts. It is these handy parts that will direct the blood to those tanks, which lead to a large boiler farther back in the room. See! Look." She pointed to the tubes. Bela and Daniela watched as the maidens blood flowed through it and directly to the tank on the opposite side of the room, just as their mother had said. "There is so much." Bela licked her lips.
"It moves very slow," Daniela commented, following the blood she then stopped at the sight of the other maiden who was slumped over by the door. She had tried to flee once Bela had released her upon dealing with her friend. The door, however, was locked. "Oh, do not worry." She cooed to the girl. "You will be joining your friend soon. And take great comfort in knowing that your blood is what will keep us alive. You will be part of each of us forever."
The girl whimpered as Daniela approached with a crooked grin. Reaching down and snatching her by the hair, dragging her back to where Alcina was awaiting with the drill.
"String her up, my darlings. It is your turn."